Ryan M. Kolton sat down and chatted with #Powerjournalist Markos Papadatos about competing in the 2026 Mister USA pageant, where he is representing New York.
Vince Lombardi once said: “Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence.” This quote applies to Ryan M. Kolton, 30.
Mister USA
Mister USA is an American beauty pageant, which is held annually, and the winner goes on to represent the United States in the Mister Universe competition. It is a celebration of culture, diversity, beauty, intelligence and empowerment.
It believes in the power of young leaders to make a difference in the world. It is not solely about outer beauty; it recognizes the inner beauty and intelligence of their contestants. The finals will take place later this month in Las Vegas, Nevada.
On competing in this year’s pageant, Kolton remarked, “It feels absolutely exciting. I can’t wait. Every single day has a lot of momentum and excitement. I simply can’t wait to be there.”
Regarding his ties to New York, Kolton shared, “Well, I was born and raised in New York, even though I have Ukrainian heritage. I live and breathe New York City. I know all the best spots and all the different areas like the back of my hand. I also love supporting the different communities that make up New York. It’s a very big passion of mine. It means the world to me.”
“The fact that I get to carry this state is a huge honor,” he added.
Daily motivations
On his daily motivations, he stated, “First and foremost, I am inspired by my family. Momentum, loyalty and respect for where I come from, what I’ve been through, and what I have set myself out to conquer.”
“I think motivation is something that we draw from inside,” he noted. “It’s not something that I’ve had perfectly figured out, but it’s the roller coaster in life that really inspires me because it’s not how many times you fall, it’s how many times you get back up.”
Career-defining moments
Kolton opened up about his career-defining moments. “Recently, I created my book and it should be launching next week. It’s called ‘Built, Not Given.’ I think something that defines me is not necessarily a particular accomplishment or title. It’s the amount of times I’ve fallen, but have gotten up,” he explained.
“I think my defining characteristic is refusing to stay down. If I do fall, it’s not for too long. I learn my lesson, I lick my wounds, and I get back up,” he added.
Advocacy for Mister USA
On his advocacy for Mister USA, he remarked, “I have three causes for this year’s Mister USA. No. 1 is Habitat for Humanity, which is very close to my heart. I build homes, I go to different communities, I do outreach and I raise funds. This has been something I’ve been doing since I was a kid.”
“More recently, Smile Train is very close to heart. Every three minutes, a child is born with a flat foot. So, this is something that is very near and dear to me. I’ve worked with Smile Train and Operation Smile, and I look forward to sharing more news very soon,” he elaborated.
Stage of his life
On the title of the current chapter of his life, Kolton revealed, “Built, Not Given,” which coincides with his new book.
“This chapter is all about balancing myself under the scope of realizing that you don’t need everything in the world,” he said. “You don’t need to chase every road under the sun in order to feel fulfilled and complete.”
“I think that is the key to a happy life. It’s not necessarily how much you conquer. It’s not necessarily how much you gain or acquire. It’s how much balance you find through it all. That’s the key,” he acknowledged.
Superpower of choice
On his superpower of choice, he said, “I love this question because it’s so complex. Every day, I want to have a different power. My superpower of choice would probably be flight. It seems very basic, but there is something beautiful about flying.”
“I fly all the time for work, and there are a lot of constraint there. I think flying — if I had the ability to actually levitate and go up — is a beautiful thing because I can reach all those that I love and be there in record timing,” he added.
Kolton on why he should win this year’s Mister USA
When asked why he should win this year’s Mister USA, he reflected, “Well, first, it’s an honor if I get the chance! It’s already an honor to be Mister New York! To me, this title would not be so much about the prestige. I genuinely believe that I can bring a lot of good to it. It’s about the three causes that I advocate for (Habitat for Humanity, Smile Train and Operation Smile), and it’s about the depth that I really aim to give the title.”
“I really want it to stand for something,” he stressed. “That has been my agenda this year. It has been the agenda for most of my life. I want it to stand for something meaningful. I want to give back to the community. I want to make sure people understand that there is a title and it comes with responsibility.”
“It comes with a responsibility to leave something lasting, as well as to leave something good for the communities that you represent. If that is something that I can bring, which I know I can bring, I would be honored to have this title,” he added.
Success
Regarding his definition of the word success, Kolton disclosed, “Success means balance. Having enough things that keep you safe, healthy and content, but balance is the key because nothing in this world is more important than health and peace of mind.”
Gratitude for his fans and supporters
Kolton expressed his gratitude for all his fans and supporters. “I love every single one of them. My fans and supporters are the most amazing people because, through thick and thin, they are always there,” he said.
“I took hiatus a few years ago, and I just disappeared from the scene,” he admitted. “Through it all, the fans have always been there for me and that is the most beautiful, touching feeling. Some of them have been following me for 10 to 15 years. I read all of their messages. I see them and they are not lost upon me.”
“They are the most wonderful people because they genuinely care, and that is something that is very important to me,” he underscored.
“Emotional depth is key for me. So depth is best friends with authenticity, which is best friends with being real.You know, that’s the New York way of being real. And my fans are real. They are beautiful, they are warm-hearted, and they care. I just want to give them the same things that they give me,” he acknowledged.
Closing thoughts on Mister USA
For his fans and supporters, he expressed, “I want to give them something to be even more excited about! My fans have hunger and they have drive. My fans are strong. They are beautiful, and I want to make sure that going into this, they are all there along with me for the ride!”
“I want them to be excited because this is just starting. The best is yet to come. I can’t wait to share this with them. Thank you so much,” he said, effusively.
American track and field legend Steve Prefontaine once said: “To give anything less than your best, is to sacrifice the gift.” Ryan M. Kolton embodies this inspirational quote, and his life story is an inspiration to us all.
To learn more about 2026 Mister New York contestant Ryan M. Kolton, follow him on Instagram.
