In a groundbreaking achievement, 22-year-old Madison Marsh, a second lieutenant in the US Air Force and a master’s student at the Harvard Kennedy School’s public policy program, claimed victory at the 2024 Miss America pageant in Orlando, Florida. Hailing from Colorado, Marsh made history as the first active-duty Air Force officer to be bestowed with the national title.
Ellie Breaux from Texas secured the first-runner-up position in the highly competitive event that featured 51 contestants representing all 50 US states, along with the District of Columbia.
The pageant unfolded after three nights of intense preliminary competitions. At the onset of the main event, the field was narrowed down to 11 semi-finalists — 10 selected by preliminary judges and one chosen through a public vote that engaged pageant fans and followers nationwide.
The 11 contenders engaged in four rounds of competition, encompassing a fitness showcase with a rhinestone-embellished athleisure runway walk, a dynamic “hot topics” discussion round that diverged from the traditional Q&A, a showcase of talent, and an evening gown presentation. The final rankings included Marsh and Breaux as the top two, followed by Cydney Bridges of Indiana, Mallory Hudson of Kentucky, and Caroline Parente of Rhode Island as second-, third-, and fourth-runners-up, respectively.
During the discussion round that covered diverse topics such as terrorism, technology, nutrition, and climate change, Marsh addressed the issue of “drugs in America” by sharing her late mother’s struggle with pancreatic cancer. In the talent round, she presented a compelling spoken-word piece centered on achieving a pilot’s license at the age of 16.
The five finalists faced an additional question about their goals as Miss America. Marsh emphasized her military background as a testament to her dedication to learning and leading “with passion.”
She succeeds Grace Stanke of Wisconsin, the 2023 Miss America.
In a parallel event, the 2024 Miss America’s Teen pageant crowned 16-year-old Hanley House from North Carolina on Saturday night.
FAQs
Q: Who is Madison Marsh, and why is her victory historic? A: Madison Marsh, a 22-year-old second lieutenant in the US Air Force, made history by becoming the first active-duty Air Force officer to be crowned Miss America in 2024.
Q: What were the rounds of competition in the Miss America pageant? A: The competition included a fitness showcase, a “hot topics” discussion round, a talent performance, and an evening gown presentation.
Q: Who was the first-runner-up in the 2024 Miss America pageant? A: Ellie Breaux from Texas secured the first-runner-up position in the 2024 Miss America pageant.
Q: Who was the 2023 Miss America, and who succeeded her? A: Grace Stanke of Wisconsin was the 2023 Miss America, and Madison Marsh succeeded her in 2024.