In a historic first, U.S. Air Force Second Lt. Madison Marsh has been crowned Miss America 2024, becoming the first active-duty service member to clinch the title in the national competition.
This milestone was reported by CBS News, citing the Air Force as their source.
Marsh, a Harvard University graduate student, had previously been crowned Miss Colorado in 2023. She is an alumnus of the U.S. Air Force Academy, where she graduated in 2023 with a degree in physics, as per her official Miss Colorado biography. Marsh represented the Rocky Mountain State in the national pageant on Sunday night.
Currently, Marsh is a graduate intern at Harvard Medical School, where she is studying the application of artificial intelligence in detecting pancreatic cancer. This research effort holds a personal significance for Marsh. Following her mother's demise from pancreatic cancer in 2018, Marsh established the Whitney Marsh Foundation in her mother's memory. The foundation has since raised over a quarter-million dollars, as stated in her biography.
Marsh, a recipient of the Truman Scholarship, is also pursuing a master's degree in public policy at Harvard's Kennedy School.
During a recent interaction with fellow airmen at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, Marsh expressed her desire to make her journey a positive influence for the Air Force and everyone associated with it, as reported by CBS News.
In a conversation with the Air Force Institute of Technology, Marsh described her Miss Colorado win as "surreal." She spoke highly of the Miss America organization's focus on community service, the importance of a strong resume, public speaking skills, and the ability to connect with people.
Marsh emphasized the importance of leadership both in and out of uniform, stating, "In the military, it's an open space to really lead in the way that you want to lead." She believes her pageant journey, particularly her Miss Colorado win, exemplifies this and sets a tone that encourages others to find their own paths.
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