A Top Gun-trained U.S. Air Force fighter pilot has been crowned Miss America.
Madison Marsh, 22, who is from Fort Smith, Arkansas, won the top honor at a ceremony in Orlando, Florida, on Sunday evening.
2nd Lt Marsh was crowned Miss Colorado in May 2023 before competing in the finals for the top honor.
Marsh is the first active military branch officer to represent the Miss America Organization at the national level.
This year's runner-up is Miss Texas Ellie Breaux, who would step in if Marsh was unable to complete a full year of service.
Miss Indiana Cydney Bridges was third, Miss Kentucky Mallory Hudson was fourth and Miss Rhode Island Caroline Parente was fifth.
The event featured 51 participants representing all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Madison Marsh, 22, a U.S. Air Force fighter pilot training to be a Top Gun, was crowned Miss America. She is seen being crowned in 2023 by Grace Stanke of Wisconsin
Marsh was seen crying with happiness as she enjoyed her historic victory
Gold and silver confetti fell around Marsh after he was crowned the winner
Arkansas State Representative Steve Womack was quick to congratulate the new Miss America.
“CONGRATULATIONS to Madison Marsh of Fort Smith who was just crowned Miss America 2024!!!” I've had the pleasure of watching Madison grow over the years and I couldn't be prouder of this incredible accomplishment! Her remarkable strength and story will be an inspiration to young women across America!'
While Marsh admitted she couldn't dance or sing, she said she had been practicing mock interviews and working on her beauty pageant and other “talents” since contestants would now be allowed to deliver a monologue.
Marsh gave a speech in which she described her first solo flight at age 16. She said this helped her strengthen her leadership skills.
“I really try to captivate the audience by making them feel like they're in the cockpit with me,” she said.
Marsh is a National Truman Scholar, two-time National Astronaut Scholar, eight-time Air Force Dean's List – three Superintendent's List, a National Rhodes finalist, certified private pilot and a black belt in Taekwondo.
Sunday evening's competition came after three nights of preliminary rounds.
Eleven women then competed in the final four rounds of the competition – a fitness showcase (a runway walk in rhinestone-studded athleisure style); a “Hot Topics” panel that replaced the pageant’s more traditional Q&A; a performance of talent; and an evening gown presentation – before the five finalists were announced.
The panel touched on a variety of topics, including terrorism, technology, food and climate change.
Marsh spoke about the topic of “Drugs in America” and recalled her late mother's battle with pancreatic cancer.
For the talent panel, she gave a spoken presentation about obtaining her pilot's license at the age of 16.
The five finalists were then asked questions about their goals as Miss America.
Marsh said her military qualifications embody her commitment to learning and leading “with passion.”
Madison Marsh (pictured) learned to fly and got her pilot's license at the age of 17. She is now a first lieutenant in the US Air Force and has a coveted training position as a fighter pilot
Arkansas State Representative Steve Womack was quick to congratulate the new Miss America
The 22-year-old Harvard University student was crowned Miss Colorado in May 2023, shortly before she graduated from the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) and began her service as an Air Force officer. She is pictured preparing for her introductory flight at Nellis Air Force Base last month
Marsh, who attended Harvard University, graduated from the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) and was promoted to Air Force officer last year.
The Arkansas native decided to try competing in beauty pageants as an extracurricular activity while attending USAFA.
She loves participating in beauty pageants because they have a “charitable aspect” and focus on public speaking. She also praises the development of the competition system, particularly with regard to women's fitness.
“Pageants are changing, and part of that is because of what it means for women to be physically fit,” Marsh explained.
“It's great for me because I have to stay physically fit and go to the gym for military service, so it already coincides with pageant training.”
She entered her first beauty pageant while attending USAFA. She said: “As a first year student at the academy, you may find it difficult to find your identity in a very new and challenging environment.”
“My cousin competed in beauty pageants for a long time, and one of the big things about it that I love is the community service aspect and the focus on public speaking.”
Three years later, Marsh was crowned Miss Colorado, which she said was “very surreal.”
Swamp. The woman pictured preparing for her orientation flight believes she is the first active military branch officer to represent the Miss America Organization at the national level
Marsh (pictured), an Arkansas native, decided to try entering beauty pageants as an extracurricular activity while studying at USAFA and will now compete for the Miss America crown in Florida on Sunday
Marsh, pictured before her orientation flight at Nellis Air Force Base last month, enjoys talking to other young girls about becoming pilots and military service and sees it as an opportunity to dispel existing stereotypes about military women
As Miss Colorado, Marsh enjoys speaking to other young girls about becoming a pilot and military service and sees it as an opportunity to dispel existing stereotypes about military women.
She said: “It's a great experience to bring both sides of my favorite parts of my life together and hopefully make a difference so others can realize that you don't have to limit yourself.”
“In the military, it's an open space where you can really lead the way you want to – in and out of uniform.” I felt that beauty pageants, and especially winning Miss Colorado, was a way to really illustrate this and setting the tone for making other people feel empowered to find out what means most to them.”
Marsh was also quick to address the many preconceived notions and stereotypes about beauty pageants and their contestants.
“The Miss America Organization, which I'm a part of now, focuses entirely on what you can do for the community through your social impact, making sure that you have a great resume, that you're good at public speaking, that You can.” “Connect with people and become empowered to lead in other ways that aren’t just about you,” she explained.
After graduating from USAFA and serving in the Air Force, Marsh (pictured) received a coveted pilot position and is currently identifying the career opportunities and personal projects she would like to pursue
Madison Marsh prepares for her orientation flight at Nellis Air Force Base last month
Madison Marsh poses for a photo with Ricky the Recruiter at the USAFA vs. US Army football game at Empower Field at Mile High, Denver on November 6, 2023
Marsh is the first active military branch officer to represent the Miss America Organization nationally
From a young age, Marsh had a love for science and dreamed of becoming a pilot and astronaut. Her parents encouraged her dreams and sent her to space camp when she was 13, where she met astronauts and fighter pilots.
It was around this time that she met USAFA and began flying lessons at the age of 15. Two years later, she earned her pilot's license and then began working toward her goal of becoming a cadet.
Now Marsh's future could see her as a Top Gun fighter pilot.
After graduating from USAFA and serving in the Air Force, she received a coveted pilot position and is currently identifying the career opportunities and personal projects she would like to pursue.
However, the sad loss of her mother to pancreatic cancer may lead Marsh to pursue a career in cancer research.
She said: “I lost my mother to pancreatic cancer about five years ago and almost immediately started a non-profit organization with my family to raise money and make people in our city aware of pancreatic cancer.”
“I’m now trying to take the next step and use my studies at the Kennedy School to learn more about the inner workings and difficulties of what politics really looks like.”
U.S. Air Force First Lt. Madison Marsh measures a flight suit in preparation for a familiarization flight at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, Dec. 18, 2023
U.S. Air Force First Lieutenant Madison Marsh (right) prepares for her orientation flight at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, Dec. 19, 2023
Madison Marsh (left) disembarks for her orientation flight at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, Dec. 19, 2023
“Issues such as the economic environment and other social constraints could hinder our ability to implement cancer interventions that can affect all Americans.”
In September, Marsh began a two-year master's degree in public policy at Harvard Kennedy School through the Air Force Institute of Technology's Civilian Institution Programs.
She will also work with the Dana Farber Cancer Institute and a Harvard Medical School professor to research early detection of pancreatic cancer.
“Toward the end of my time at USAFA, I realized that my larger passions lay in policymaking and cancer research, which is how I ended up at the Kennedy School,” she added.