Mekyla Li has been stripped of her Miss Grand USA title just one week after she was crowned, following revelations of an alleged 2024 hit-and-run and a previous marriage that violated the pageant's eligibility rules. The Miss Grand USA organization announced the termination of Li's reign and her release from all associated duties, citing contractual policies.
Reasons for the Title Revocation
In a statement, Miss Grand USA officials said, "This decision was made in accordance with contractual policies outlined by the Miss Grand USA organization." The pageant's rules explicitly state that contestants "cannot be or have been married or pregnant" and "must have a clean personal record with no criminal history."
Li, 27, is facing two felony charges stemming from an alleged hit-and-run in Los Angeles in November 2024, according to court records obtained by People. She was arrested on Nov. 24, 2024, and pleaded not guilty to charges alleging she caused a non-serious injury and a permanent serious injury.
Details of the Alleged Hit-and-Run
According to a civil lawsuit reported by the outlet, Li and a man named Michael Scobey allegedly swerved into oncoming traffic on Sunset Boulevard and collided with a vehicle driven by Anna Mercedes Aoun. Aoun alleges she suffered "catastrophic injuries," including "some permanent disability," and lost future income. She also claims Li and Scobey did not call emergency services after the collision and instead "fled the scene" in a rideshare vehicle.
Aoun is seeking a jury trial and damages for medical expenses, property damage, lost earnings and "various and sundry expenses."
Previous Marriage and Pageant History
Court records also revealed that Li was married to Danny Ray Bedwell from Aug. 9, 2018, to Dec. 31, 2019 — a status that appears to conflict with Miss Grand International's eligibility rules. Li was born to Chinese and South African parents and raised "across three continents," according to her website. She previously held the titles of Miss Grand Massachusetts 2026 and Miss Asia USA 2025.
Li won Miss Grand USA on Aug. 10 and said she was already looking ahead to competing at the Miss Grand International pageant in India later this year. "I feel so excited, but I'm also already thinking about the journey ahead," she told Edgar Entertainment.
Replacement Named
Miss Grand USA named Miss Grand Indiana Victoria Oluwakotanmi, who finished as the first runner-up, as Li's replacement on Thursday. Oluwakotanmi was named Miss Black San Antonio in March 2020 and competed in the Miss Texas USA pageant in 2023. "Victoria now steps forward to carry the crown, represent the United States, and begin an extraordinary new chapter with the Miss Grand USA organization," the pageant said.
