Nigerian-American Victoria Oluwakotanmi Crowned Miss Grand USA

Victoria Oluwakotanmi, a 25-year-old Nigerian-American, was crowned Miss Grand USA 2026 after finishing as the first runner-up at the Miss Grand USA pageant on August 10, 2023. She assumed the title following the termination of the original winner, Mekayla Li.

Oluwakotanmi, who hails from San Antonio, Texas, is the daughter of Nigerian immigrants and has publicly embraced her heritage. She enlisted in the United States Navy Reserve in March 2019 as a Logistics Specialist and has been associated with the Naval Operational Support Center San Antonio.

Her pageant journey began in February 2020 with the Miss Black San Antonio competition, where she won wearing her prom dress. She also studied chemical engineering at Northwest Vista College and co-founded the Oluwakotanmi Promise, a scholarship and mentorship program in honor of her late grandmother, who was denied a college education due to her gender.