Miss Grand USA revokes winner’s title amid hit-and-run felony charges

Miss Grand USA has stripped its titleholder, Mekyla Li, of her crown just one week after her win, amid ongoing felony hit-and-run charges against her.

On Aug. 19, the pageant organization announced in a statement that it had terminated Li’s reign and relieved her of the “Miss Grand USA Title and all associated duties,” saying the decision was “made in accordance with contractual policies outlined by the Miss Grand USA organization.”

"We ask that all dialogue surrounding this transition remain respectful. Miss Grand USA stands firmly against bullying, harassment, defamation, degrading remarks and personal attacks of any kind," it said.

The pageant did not specifically disclose the reason, but Li has an ongoing felony charge stemming from 2024. According to PEOPLE Magazine, court documents show that she is facing two felony hit-and-run charges—one involving non-serious injury and another involving permanent serious injury—following her Nov. 24, 2024 arrest.

She pleaded not guilty to both charges at her March 19 arraignment. PEOPLE also reported that Li and another defendant, Michael Schobey, are named in a civil lawsuit related to the alleged incident, which includes claims of negligence, hit-and-run, intoxicated driving, and reckless driving.

According to Entertainment Weekly, court documents stated that Li and Scobey allegedly swerved into oncoming traffic while driving along Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles, resulting in a collision with another vehicle. The pair allegedly struck a car driven by Anna Mercedes Aoun, who claims that Li and Scobey “fled the scene” in a rideshare vehicle without contacting emergency services.

Aoun alleges that she sustained “catastrophic injuries” that have caused significant emotional, mental, physical, and nervous pain and suffering, including “some permanent disability.” She is seeking a jury trial and is requesting general damages, as well as compensation for past and future medical expenses, property damage and loss of use, lost earnings, and other related expenses.