Nigerian-American beauty queen, Victoria Oluwakotanmi, 25, has stepped into the spotlight after becoming Miss Grand USA 2026 under unusual circumstances.

🇳🇬 Here's What Happened

Oluwakotanmi, who finished as the first runner-up at the Miss Grand USA pageant held on August 10, assumed the crown on Friday after the organisation terminated the reign of the original winner, Mekayla Li.

Her new title puts her on an international stage, but her journey to the crown goes beyond pageantry, with a background spanning the US military, education and youth empowerment.

Here are seven things to know about the Nigerian-American who will represent the United States at Miss Grand International.

📌 Key Details

She is a Nigerian-American who has spoken publicly about her Nigerian heritage and her experience growing up in a family of Nigerian immigrants.

Oluwakotanmi is the daughter of Nigerian immigrants who built their lives in the United States.

In a 2023 interview with KSAT 12, she revealed that her father moved to the US about three decades ago and initially worked as a dishwasher before earning a doctorate in nursing.

Her family later settled in San Antonio, Texas, where she grew up.

Her Nigerian heritage remains an important part of her identity, with Oluwakotanmi speaking about cultural representation and the experience of growing up Nigerian-American.

Long before she wore a pageant crown, Oluwakotanmi joined the United States Navy Reserve.

📰 Source: Punch Nigeria