Miss USA 2024 was crowned on Sunday night, and she’s an active duty officer in the U.S. Army!
Miss USA 2024 Is Crowned
Alma Cooper, Miss Michigan, came out the winner of the Miss USA pageant. But she’s not just a pretty face. Aside from being an officer in the military, she’s also a data scientist studying at Stanford University.
After she was crowned, Cooper told Fox News that her victory was “surreal.”
“I just remember being a little girl and watching that moment over and over every year, for one lucky woman each year, and to know that I was one of those people standing there was already a dream come true,” she said. “But then to win, I just, I can’t even believe it.”
One of Cooper’s best moments of the night came during the question portion. It was then that she credited family values for her success.
“I just thought about my family and the values I was raised on growing up and how much that meant to me. And all of the time it took to even get to this point, I’m so grateful,” she said. “I can’t express enough gratitude for this moment, for the people that have uplifted me in times when I’ve been in valleys, and to be this mountain alongside so many other incredible women, this is incredible.”
‘I Am Living The American Dream’
Cooper had the perfect answer to the question she was asked. This question was, “How can we bridge the gap between different cultures and foster understanding and respect?”
In her response, the Army officer gushed over living the American dream.
“As the daughter of a migrant worker, a proud Afro-Latina woman, and an officer in the United States Army, I am living the American Dream,” Cooper said.
“If there is anything that my life and my mother have taught me, it’s that your circumstances never define your destiny, that you can make success accessible through demanding excellence,” she added.
Is there a more American answer than that?
Cooper went on to reveal her “personal motto.”
“Success is accessible and through chasing your dreams, you can break down barriers and make the launch pad for where you’re going to go,” she said.
Miss USA 2023 Resigns
This came after Noelia Voigt, who was Miss USA 2023, resigned from the position back in May. At the time, she cited her mental health as the reason. Miss Teen USA 2023 UmaSofia Srivastava soon resigned for the same reason.
“In life, I strongly value the importance of making decisions that feel best for you and your mental health,” she said. “As individuals, we grow through experiencing different things in life that lead us to learning more about ourselves.”
“My journey as Miss USA has been incredibly meaningful, representing Utah with pride, and later the USA at Miss Universe,” she continued. “Sadly, I have made the very tough decision to resign from the title of Miss USA 2023.”
Full Story: Miss USA Noelia Voight Resigns – ‘This May Come As A Large Shock…’
Miss USA 2023 runner-up Savannah Gankiewicz, who had been Miss Hawaii, then took over the role. It was her who crowned Cooper last night.
An active duty Army officer who loves both family values and the American dream really is the perfect Miss USA. We can’t wait to see what Cooper brings to her reign in the year to come!