From Michigan to Miss USA: Alma Cooper’s Inspiring Victory at the 2024 Pageant
A new Miss USA has been crowned. Alma Cooper, representing Michigan, dazzled the judges and audience alike to win the title during the 73rd annual Miss USA Pageant on August 4, 2024, at the glamorous Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. Her crowning moment follows a whirlwind of drama and changes in the Miss USA organization after a previous titleholder’s resignation stirred up controversy.
The competition was fierce, with Miss Kentucky Connor Perry and Miss Oklahoma Danika Christopherson taking the honors of first and second runners-up, respectively.
At just 22, Alma Cooper is a powerhouse of talent and resilience. She’s not only a U.S. Army officer and data scientist but also a master's student at Stanford University, where she’s making waves with her research on food insecurity. Her journey is as inspiring as it is impressive.
During the pageant’s Q&A segment, Cooper shared her heartfelt story:
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
she told CNN and Today.com.
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Per Cooper's Instagram she made history as the first active-duty Army officer to be crowned. She graduated from West Point in the top 5% of her class, where she was the only female mathematical science major and branched into military intelligence. During her senior year, she received the Knight-Hennessy Scholarship, becoming the youngest recipient in the 2023 cohort. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in the top-ranked statistics program in the United States at Stanford University.
Cooper’s enthusiasm for the Miss USA stage has been a lifelong dream. In a recent Stanford video profile, she revealed her deep-seated passion:
I have wanted to walk the Miss USA stage since I was a little itty bitty girl. I found that my skills, along with this incredible community and the overwhelming support, all helped me become a stronger candidate.
With her vibrant spirit and remarkable achievements, Alma Cooper is set to bring a fresh and dynamic energy to her reign as Miss USA 2024.