LT. ALMA COOPER IS CROWNED MISS USA 2024
The Miss USA and Miss Teen USA pageants in recent history have faced a bit of disruption; however, the show must go on. Alma Cooper was crowned Miss USA 2024 in the latest rendition. Now, the West Point grad and current Army Lieutenant bears the crown, representing our nation in more ways than one.
Lt. Alma Cooper is Miss USA 2024
Miss USA 2024 has been awarded to Lt. Alma Cooper and with it, there are now current winners of both American beauty pageants held by active duty service members. 2Lt. Madison Marsh was crowned as the 2024 Miss America winner, currently serving in the U.S. Air Force (USAF). Now, the Army also has a representative through Miss USA. Both winners were graduates of service academies in 2023, with Cooper now having a platform in which she plans to show her story of becoming a Soldier. Cooper’s win comes after earning the Miss Michigan 2024 title. Currently, Cooper already has a bachelor’s in mathematical science but is working on her master’s in statistics at Stanford University. All of this, of course, while she maintains her duties as a Soldier. Coming from a military family, Cooper’s father was also a Soldier. He even became an armor officer after finishing Officer Candidate School. While figuring out where she would attend college, Cooper’s mother signed her up for a camp at West Point. She fell in love, and from that moment forward, the decision was made. While at West Point, Cooper was a leader of accountability systems organizing thousands of cadets while also being a part of West Point’s Center for Leadership, Ethics, and Diversity in STEM. Furthermore, Cooper has worked to show the effect of body mass index on the Army’s ability to recruit new Soldiers in her undergraduate thesis. Just as her father was a Soldier, Cooper also took after her mother when it came to beauty pageants. Cooper’s mother was a Miss America contestant, sparking a growing interest that would end in the ultimate success with her own beauty pageant victory.
Noelia Voigt Resigned
The 2023 Miss USA winner Noelia Voigt ended up relinquishing her crown in part of what has been a bit of a black eye for the competition. Though Voigt has voiced positive messages for Cooper and others, there have been several complications between her and the organization. At first, it was said that Voigt was focusing on her mental health. However, multiple news outlets received an eight-page resignation letter pointing towards other factors at play. This includes a toxic work environment, which is an allegation CEO Laylah Rose continues to deny. It’s also worth noting that the Teen Miss USA 2023 winner, UmaSofia Srivastava, also left her role around the same time and under similar circumstances. With these issues now in the past, it’s interesting to see where the competition goes next as Lt. Cooper begins her reign.
Who Owns Miss USA and Miss Teen USA?
Laylah Rose, the founder of VVV Global Ent., owns both the Miss USA and Miss Teen USA pageant licenses, as of 2023. If you want to know who owns the title, again, you’ll have to speak to Lt. Alma Cooper. Having a Soldier lead the way in a beauty pageant may not be the first thing that comes to mind. However, people are diverse, women can wear multiple hats, and her victory is a testament to the service she continues to provide. From defending our nation to representing American values through her reign as Miss USA, we should all wish her the best of luck as Cooper continues to make a positive impact in our world. Suggested reads: