Miss America 2024 Madison Marsh is the first active-duty US Air Force officer to win the title

Marsh, who was crowned Miss Colorado last year, is a Master’s student in Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School. She graduated from Air Force Academy with a physics degree.

Madison Marsh, a 22-year-old US Air Force officer and a Master’s student in Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School | Image via X/@usairforce

New Delhi: Madison Marsh, a 22-year-old US Air Force officer and a Master’s student in Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School, made history Sunday as she became the first-ever active-duty Air Force officer to be crowned Miss America.

A second lieutenant in the US Air Force, Marsh told CNN after her win, “I am really excited to be the first military member to be holding this crown because I feel like that holds a lot of stereotypes in pageants and the military for women all across the globe.”

Showing commitment to lead “with passion”, she said people should know they can do anything they want. “Sometimes, there is this negative stereotype about women in the military. And I hope they can see that you can serve beyond your uniform and that’s what I want to do as this year’s Miss America,” she said.

Fifty one contestants participated in the event, representing all 50 US states, as well as the District of Columbia, CNN reported.

Celebrating her big win, the US Air Force wrote on X, “Congratulations to our very own #Airman, 2nd Lt. Madison Marsh, aka Miss Colorado — who was just crowned @MissAmerica 2024! Marsh is the first active-duty service member to ever win the title.”

Congratulations to our very own #Airman, 2nd Lt. Madison Marsh, aka Miss Colorado — who was just crowned @MissAmerica 2024! Marsh is the first active duty servicemember to ever win the title.#AimHigh pic.twitter.com/3RuDu5CulW

— U.S. Air Force (@usairforce) January 15, 2024

Marsh was passionate about studying physics and astronomy, but during her first year at the air force academy, she decided to compete in pageants for an opportunity to engage in community service and strengthen her public-speaking skills, according to a report in The Guardian. In May 2023, she was crowned Miss Colorado and days later, she graduated from the Air Force Academy with a degree in physics.

She joined the army as a second lieutenant during her public policy Master’s degree as well as training for the Miss America pageant, NDTV reported.

In an Instagram post, Marsh wrote: “America, I’m all yours. We made history last night as the first military member to win Miss America. Here’s to showing the world that women can do anything.”

“To my momma – this whole year is for you,” Marsh further wrote. “If you were in the audience last night, I know you would have been my first hug. The world is about to know your story, light and love.”