Beauty with a Purpose: Meet Madison Marsh, the First Active-Duty Air Force Officer Crowned Miss America 2024
Orlando, Florida, Madison Marsh, a 22-year-old second lieutenant in the US Air Force and a master’s student at the Harvard Kennedy School’s public policy program, achieved a historic victory at the Miss America 2024 pageant.
As the current Miss America, Marsh represented Colorado and was also notable as it is not just an honor for any active duty Air Force officer but she marked a milestone in pageant’s history.
Even so, playing against fifty other contestants – one from every US state and the District of Columbia – reaching for his crown involved three nights that he had to struggle throwing off.
The major event also comprised of a number of different rounds, such as fitness showcase where contestants had an array rhinestone-adorned athleisure, unique ‘hot topics’ discussion round with celebrities/judges and talent performances and classy evening gown presentation.
In the discussion, Marsh touched upon “drugs in America” as she tells a personal story about her mother being stricken by pancreatic cancer and how he managed to get his answers from small groups throughout Colorado. Her talent performance was a spoken-word crossfire about her great feat of earning a pilot’s license at age 16.
The full list of the remaining rankings included Madison Marsh, Miss America 2024; first-runner Ellie Breaux from Texas and following by Cydney Bridges in Indiana, Mallory Hudson of Kentucky and Caroline Parente some Rhode Island.
Even Marsh’s elegance, her air of strength and dignity born out of service as a military officer stood the ground better than any beauty queen postures in dresses from wedding bells.
Her words, both graceful (she prevailed by “not looking awkward” when touching on sensitive issues) and seasoned with experience took victory home to Polk County first active officer recipient until
Madison Marsh, the Miss America 2024 succeeds Grace Stanke of Wisconsin who won the title as Miss America in 2019. Her win is not just a personal success but also symbolizes the evolving nature of this pageant which now understands that little barriers stay in between diverse individuals and their respective crowns.
In a parallel celebration, the Miss America’s Teen pageant crowned 16-year-old Hanley House from North Carolina, adding to the excitement of the pageant weekend.
