UNITED STATES: In a historic moment for the Miss America pageant, 22-year-old Second Lieutenant Madison Marsh, a serving member of the US Air Force, has become the first active-duty military service member to be crowned Miss America. The ceremony took place on Sunday night in Orlando, Florida, where confetti rained down on the newly crowned Miss America 2024.
Madison Marsh, who represented the state of Colorado, expressed her joy at breaking barriers, stating that she was pleased to show “the world that women can do anything.” A 2nd Lt. in the US Air Force, Marsh is a 22-year-old physics graduate and a master’s student at the Harvard Kennedy School in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
The top 5 finalists included Caroline Parente of Rhode Island, Cyndey Bridges of Indiana, Mallory Hudson of Kentucky, Ellie Breaux representing Texas, and the eventual winner, Madison Marsh of Colorado.
Along with the prestigious crown, the newly crowned Miss America 2024 will receive a $50,000 tuition scholarship. The crown was handed over by last year’s winner, Grace Stanke of Wisconsin.
In a parallel event, Hanley House of North Carolina was crowned in the Miss America Teen competition, earning a $25,000 scholarship or the option of a four-year full ride at the University of Alabama.
Marsh, who lost her mother to pancreatic cancer in 2018, dedicates her time to fighting the disease. She has a list of accomplishments, including a NASA internship, being a two-time National Astronaut Scholar, and holding a black belt in Taekwondo. Marsh is also a certified private pilot.
In an emotional Instagram post, Marsh wrote, “Here’s to showing the world that women can do anything,” thanking her family, friends, coaches, and dedicating her win to her late mother. The US Air Force celebrated Marsh’s victory, describing her as “our very own.” The runner-up in the competition was Ellie Breaux from Texas.
With 51 contestants participating in the event, Madison Marsh’s groundbreaking win marks a significant moment in the history of the Miss America pageant.
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