Justice Plackard of Arkansas is making his mark in Mister USA 2026. He spoke with #Powerjournalist Markos Papadatos about this opportunity.
At just 23 years old, Justice is preparing to take on a new challenge: competing for the title of Mr. USA.
For Justice, the opportunity came somewhat unexpectedly. After one of his Instagram posts attracted significant attention, he was contacted about participating in the competition.
“I never knew what it was,” he admitted with a laugh. “They reached out to me on Instagram because one of my posts got a lot of likes. I guess they thought I was attractive enough to do it.”
What began as an unexpected message has evolved into an opportunity that Justice is embracing wholeheartedly. One of the most meaningful aspects of the competition for him is the chance to represent Arkansas, the state where he was born and raised before joining the military.
Although he now lives in California, he remains deeply connected to his roots in Arkansas. “That’s my original state,” he said. “I wouldn’t represent anywhere else.”
Representing More Than Himself
Justice brings a unique perspective to the Mr. USA competition as an active-duty military member. He sees the experience as an opportunity not only to compete, but also to demonstrate another side of military life.
“I think it would be awesome to be the first active-duty soldier to ever win Mr. USA,” he said. “I think that would be pretty good for the press too, and we’d definitely get some people talking about it.”
While the competition itself is new territory, Justice already has an idea of what he would like to communicate through the platform.
He hopes to encourage younger men to become more confident in themselves, take care of their bodies, and develop healthy habits early in life.
“I’d most likely just be happy for younger men to be more confident in themselves and work on their bodies,” he explained. “And get a skincare routine, because you’ve got to start that at a young age.”
A Future in Nursing
Beyond the spotlight and pageantry, Justice is focused on building a career centered around helping others.
He is currently working toward his nursing degree, with plans to continue his education and potentially pursue a nursing career within or outside of the military.
“I’ve always enjoyed helping people,” he said.
His interest in medicine began at a young age, inspired in part by medical television shows such as Grey’s Anatomy.
“I always loved seeing the good little stories that come with it,” he recalled. “It sucks because there are bad stories too, but the good will always overcome the bad.”
For Justice, nursing represents more than simply a career. It represents an opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives.
“I’m hoping one day that I’ll be able to help as many people as I can as a nurse,” he said. “That will make me very happy in life because that’s what life is about.”
Proud of His Arkansas Roots
Justice’s journey to this point has been shaped by his upbringing in Sheridan, Arkansas, a small community with a population of roughly 4,000 people.
His childhood was not always easy. He grew up in a large family and experienced financial hardship. His mother was a single parent for several years and worked multiple jobs to support the family.
Justice speaks about his mother with tremendous admiration.
“She’s always been my hero,” he said. “Without her, it would have been an even worse life because she stepped up and showed out.”
Those experiences helped shape his outlook on life and his appreciation for hard work, perseverance, and community.
Growing up in Arkansas also gave him a deep appreciation for the outdoors. Now living in San Diego, he has experienced the dramatic contrast between small-town Arkansas and Southern California.
“This is my first time in a big city,” he said. “It was such a cultural shock from what I was used to.”
He misses the trees and shade of his home state, joking that San Diego’s intense sunshine isn’t exactly his favorite thing.
Still, his memories of Arkansas remain overwhelmingly positive.
“It was a great state to grow up in,” he said. “When you’re close to somebody, you’re very close to them because there are only like 4,000 people in my town. You didn’t really have a chance to step out and get more friends. You had those people.”
Redefining Success
Perhaps the clearest insight into Justice’s character comes from his definition of success.
For him, success isn’t measured by material possessions or status. Instead, it is measured by the number of people he can positively impact.
He even keeps a reminder on his phone that reinforces that philosophy every time he plugs it in to charge.
“The best thing you can value in life is helping others because that’s what really makes an impact on the world,” he explained.
“It’s not about cars, clothes, hotels. It literally just reminds me that life is about helping people.”
That philosophy connects his past, present, and future—from growing up in a small Arkansas town and joining the military to pursuing nursing and now stepping onto the Mr. USA stage.
Turning Adversity Into Opportunity
Ultimately, Justice hopes his story will inspire people who may feel limited by their circumstances.
His message is simple: where you start doesn’t have to determine where you finish.
“No matter your beginnings, you can always come back from that,” he said. “As long as you work on yourself.”
For Justice, joining the military became the catalyst for creating a different future.
“Do whatever you can to get yourself out of a bad home situation or a bad life situation,” he said. “For me, it was the Army. You just have to keep enduring what you can and then overcome it.”
Now, as he prepares to compete for Mr. USA, Justice is bringing that same determination with him.
Whether he ultimately takes home the title or not, his journey already represents something bigger than a competition. It is a story about perseverance, service, family, self-improvement, and the belief that success is ultimately about how many lives you can make better along the way.
To learn more about Justice Plackard, follow him on Instagram.
