Miss Colorado Secures the Title of Miss America 2024
Madison Marsh, crowned as Miss America 2024 on Sunday night at the Walt Disney Theater in Orlando, Florida, holds a remarkable background as a 22-year-old pilot in the U.S. Air Force. Graduating from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 2023, she is currently pursuing a master’s degree in public policy at the Harvard Kennedy School in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
As the first active-duty Air Force officer to win the Miss America title, Marsh is set to receive a $50,000 scholarship and embark on a yearlong reign.
Miss America 2024
During the Sunday finals competition, which was streamed on the Watch Miss America website, Miss America 2023, Grace Stanke, crowned Madison Marsh, presenting her with a glittering crown, a flowing red cape, and a bouquet of roses. The newly crowned Miss America 2024 also received warm embraces from fellow contestants and took her inaugural walk on stage.
Marsh showcased her talent through a spoken-word piece, narrating the story of her first solo flight. Additionally, she participated in on-stage questions, displayed evening gown elegance on the runway, donned fitness attire, and highlighted her philanthropic platform. Marsh is the founder of the Whitney Marsh Foundation, dedicated to raising funds for pancreatic cancer research, named after her mother, who succumbed to the disease in 2018.
A total of 51 women competed in the Miss America finals, where the top 11 contestants were featured in segments focusing on fitness wear, talent, evening gowns, and on-stage questions related to “hot topics in America.” The top 11 semi-finalists included Miss Texas 2023, Ellie Breaux; Miss North Carolina 2023, Taylor Loyd; Miss Indiana 2023, Cydney Bridges; Miss Kansas 2023, Courtney Wages; Miss Colorado 2023, Madison Marsh; Miss Maryland 2023, Kennedy Taylor; Miss Florida 2023, Juliette Valle; Miss Rhode Island, Caroline Parente; Miss Kentucky 2023, Mallory Hudson; Miss Arkansas 2023, Cori Keller; and Miss New York 2023, Amelia Collins.
The competition was further narrowed down to the top five, featuring Madison Marsh (winner), Ellie Breaux (runner-up), Cydney Bridges (second runner-up), Mallory Hudson (third runner-up), and Caroline Parente (fourth runner-up). The finalists returned to the stage for one final question each, focusing on their plans as Miss America.
Terrence Jenkins, known as “Terrence J,” and model-actress Nikki Novak hosted the finals ceremony. The judging panel included Alabama native Cynthia Bailey, reality star from “The Real Housewives of Atlanta”; Nancy G. Brinker, founder of Susan G. Komen for the Cure; Susan Malzoni, wellness consultant and founder of Vitamyna; David Tutera, wedding planner and fashion designer; Elena Cardone, real estate investor and author; and Shelley Goodstein, model, and entrepreneur.
The event also featured a segment called “Miss America Forever,” where previous Miss America winners, including Alabama’s Heather Whitestone McCallum, Miss America 1995, appeared on stage. Heather Whitestone McCallum, a Dothan native, made history as the first deaf woman to become Miss America.
