A fighter pilot in the United States Air Force, currently undergoing training to become a Top Gun, has recently been named Miss America 2024
Madison Marsh, 22, from Fort Smith, Arkansas, was honored with the prestigious top award at a ceremony held in Orlando, Florida on Sunday night.
Second Lt Marsh achieved the incredible achievement of being crowned Miss Colorado in May 2023 and went on to compete in the finals for the top award.Marsh holds the distinction of being the first active duty officer from any branch of the military to represent at the national level of the Miss America organization.
This year's second-place finisher is Miss Texas, Ellie Breaux, who would be asked to take over if Marsh is unable to serve for the entire year. Miss Indiana Cydney Bridges finished in third place, followed by Miss Kentucky Mallory Hudson in fourth place, and Miss Rhode Island Caroline Parente in fifth place.
There were a total of fifty-one contestants who took part in the event, representing all 50 US states, along with the District of Columbia. Arkansas State Representative Steve Womack wasted no time in extending his congratulations to the newly crowned Miss America.
Although she acknowledges her lack of dancing and singing skills, Marsh mentioned that she has been dedicating time to practicing mock interviews and refining her pageant walk. She also mentioned that contestants now have the opportunity to showcase a monologue as their talent.
Marsh delivered a speech recounting her inaugural solo flight experience at the age of 16. According to her, it was beneficial for enhancing her abilities in leading. Marsh has an impressive list of accomplishments, including being a National Truman Scholar, two-time National Astronaut scholar, and achieving eight-time Dean's List at the Air Force.
Additionally, Marsh has been recognized three times on the Superintendent's List and was a National Rhodes finalist. Not only that, but Marsh is also a certified private pilot and holds a black belt in taekwondo. The pageant on Sunday night followed three nights of preliminary competitions.
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Miss America 2024
Eleven women participated in the last four rounds of the competition. These rounds included a fitness showcase where they walked the runway in rhinestone-embellished athleisure, a 'hot topics' discussion round instead of the usual Q&A, a talent performance, and an evening gown presentation. Finally, the five finalists were revealed.
During the discussion round, a wide range of topics were discussed, including terrorism, technology, nutrition, and climate change. Marsh discussed the issue of "drugs in America" while reflecting on her mother's courageous fight against pancreatic cancer.
During the talent round, she delivered a captivating spoken-word performance that revolved around her remarkable achievement of obtaining her pilot's license at the age of 16. The five finalists were then questioned about her aspirations as Miss America.
Marsh expressed that her military credentials reflect her dedication to continuous growth and leading with enthusiasm. Marsh, a Harvard University graduate, completed her studies at the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) and became an Air Force Officer in the past year, as per AS USA.
The individual from Arkansas decided to explore the world of pageants as an extracurricular pursuit during her time at USAFA. She thoroughly enjoys participating in pageants due to the emphasis on community service and honing her public speaking skills. She also appreciates the positive changes that have occurred within the pageant system, particularly in relation to women's fitness.
According to Daily Mail, she took part in her inaugural pageant during her time at USAFA. She mentioned that as a freshman at the Academy, it can be difficult to establish one's identity in a completely unfamiliar and demanding setting. Three years later, Marsh was crowned Miss Colorado, an experience she described as "very surreal."
