Miss Grand USA 2026 title stripped a week after win over hit-and-run charges, past marriage

Mekayla Diehl, crowned Miss Grand USA 2026, has had her title stripped just seven days after the win. The pageant organization announced the termination of her reign, citing breaches of their contract policies. While the exact reasons were not publicly disclosed by the organization, reports have surfaced regarding Diehl's past marriage and ongoing legal troubles.

Diehl is reportedly facing criminal charges for a hit-and-run incident that occurred in Los Angeles in November 2024. Court documents indicate she was arrested on November 24 and has pleaded not guilty to charges of hit-and-run causing injury and hit-and-run causing serious injury. A civil lawsuit filed by the alleged victim, Anna Mercedes Aun, claims that Diehl and another individual, Michael Scobee, were involved in a collision where their vehicle crossed into Aun's lane. Aun's lawsuit states she suffered severe injuries, permanent disability, and future loss of income as a result of the accident, and that Diehl and Scobee left the scene without reporting it to emergency services.

Further scrutiny revealed Diehl's past marriage, which contradicts the Miss Grand International pageant's eligibility rules. Records indicate she was married to Danny Ray Bedwell from August 2018 to December 2019. The pageant's regulations stipulate that contestants must not have been married or pregnant and must have a clean personal record. Diehl, who has a mixed heritage and grew up across three continents, had previously won titles such as Miss Grand Massachusetts 2026 and Miss Asia USA 2025.