Navy veteran Jade Kircus, 36, will represent Georgia at Miss USA in Miami after moving from eight years of military service into her first pageant competition. She says the experience reflects a new stage of life and hopes her story encourages others to pursue ambitions at any age.

Kircus entered an open casting call after feeling called to compete, but paused when she became pregnant last October. She miscarried a baby girl at nearly 16 weeks in January, and says her Christian faith helped her grieve before she decided in February to pursue Miss USA. The wife and mother of three credits the Navy with building the determination, resilience and leadership she is bringing to the competition on 27 August.