Miss Grand USA Loses Crown Over Alleged Hit-and-Run and Previous Marriage

Miss Grand USA, Mekyla Li, has been stripped of her title just one week after winning the crown following revelations concerning an alleged hit-and-run incident and her previous marriage.

The Miss Grand USA organisation announced on Thursday that Li’s reign had been terminated and that she had been relieved of all responsibilities associated with the title for violating the pageant’s rules.

The organisation said the decision was made in accordance with its contractual policies.

Li, 27, is facing two felony charges linked to an alleged hit-and-run in Los Angeles in November 2024, according to court records cited by People.

She was arrested on November 24, 2024, and pleaded not guilty to allegations that the incident resulted in both non-serious and permanent serious injuries.

A civil lawsuit reportedly alleges that Li and a man identified as Michael Scobey swerved into oncoming traffic on Sunset Boulevard and collided with a vehicle driven by Anna Mercedes Aoun.

Aoun claimed she suffered catastrophic injuries, including permanent disability, as well as loss of future income. She further alleged that Li and Scobey failed to contact emergency services after the crash and instead left the scene in a rideshare vehicle.

The lawsuit seeks compensation for medical expenses, property damage, lost income and other costs.

Li’s previous marriage also reportedly conflicted with the eligibility requirements of the Miss Grand International pageant.

Records show that she was married to Danny Ray Bedwell from August 9, 2018, until December 31, 2019.

The pageant’s rules reportedly state that contestants must not be married or have been previously married or pregnant, and must have a clean personal record without a criminal history.

Li won the Miss Grand USA title on August 10 and had begun preparations to represent the United States at the Miss Grand International competition in India later this year.

Before winning the national title, she had been crowned Miss Grand Massachusetts 2026 and Miss Asia USA 2025.

Li, who was born to Chinese and South African parents, was reportedly raised across three continents.

Following her removal, the Miss Grand USA organisation appointed Miss Grand Indiana, Victoria Oluwakotanmi, who finished as the first runner-up, as her replacement.

Oluwakotanmi previously won the Miss Black San Antonio title in March 2020 and later competed in the Miss Texas USA pageant in 2023.

The organisation said Oluwakotanmi would now assume the responsibilities of the crown and represent the United States as Miss Grand USA.

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