Current:Home > InvestAlma Cooper, Miss Michigan, Wins Miss USA 2024 -Edge Finance Strategies
Alma Cooper, Miss Michigan, Wins Miss USA 2024
View
Date:2025-04-11 12:25:14
A new pageant queen has been crowned.
Alma Cooper of Michigan has been named Miss USA 2024 following the 73rd annual competition in Burbank, Calif., Aug. 4.
The 22-year-old is an Army officer and a graduate of the United States Military Academy. She became the first active duty military officer to be selected as Miss Michigan, serving as a second lieutenant and military intelligence officer. Alma, who described herself as a "proud Afro-Latina woman" is currently studying for her Masters degree at Stanford University in statistics.
Alma shared in her Miss USA bio that she hopes to use her platform to shed light on food insecurity, with the note, "Her ultimate goal is to make healthy foods available to all people."
During the annual pageant, the competition came down to Alma and Miss Kentucky, Connor Perry. Connor, a professional dancer with a degree in neuroscience, ultimately became the first runner up. Other finalists included Miss Ohio, Macy Hudson, Miss Tennessee, Christell Foote, and Miss Oklahoma, Danika Christopherson.
The pageant brought 51 delegates from all 50 states and Washington D.C. to compete at Peacock Theater across multiple rounds of interview, evening gown, and swimsuit events.
Alma's win comes after a turbulent year for the Miss USA organization. After all, 2023 Miss USA winner Noelia Voight, who represented Utah, relinquished her crown just a few months before the esteemed competition.
“I realize this may come as a large shock to many,” Noelia wrote in a lengthy Instagram post in May. “Never compromise your physical and mental well-being. Our health is our wealth. A million thank you's to all of you for your constant and unwavering support. Time to write the next chapter.”
Following Noelia's eyebrow-raising movie—which saw her replaced by runner-up Miss Hawaii Savannah Gankiewicz—more stars in the pageant space began to follow suit, including Miss Teen USA UmaSofia Srivastava, who stepped down just days later (The Miss Teen USA 2024 competition crowned Addie Carver as its new winner on Aug. 1).
"After months of grappling with this decision, I have made the choice to resign from the titles of Miss Teen USA 2023," UmaSofia wrote in an Instagram post in May. "I will always look back on my time as Miss NJ Teen USA fondly, and the experience of representing my state as a first generation, Mexican-Indian American at the national level was fulfilling in itself."
And while Savannah was willing to step in for Noelia, UmaSofia’s runner-up, Stephanie Skinner, declined the offer of the title.
“I worked so hard and sacrificed so much for this goal to become Miss Teen USA," she told People after being offered the crown. “And although this title was a dream of mine, I believe one thing I will never give up is my character.”
For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News AppveryGood! (525)
Related
- Brianna LaPaglia Reveals The Meaning Behind Her "Chickenfry" Nickname
- Spurs coach Gregg Popovich sidelined indefinitely with undisclosed illness
- 2 human bones discovered in Philadelphia park with no additional evidence, police say
- The adult industry is booming. Here's what you need to know about porn and addiction.
- Toyota to invest $922 million to build a new paint facility at its Kentucky complex
- Manslaughter charges dropped in a man’s death at a psychiatric hospital
- DWTS' Gleb Savchenko Admits to Ending Brooks Nader Romance Over Text
- The Best Dry Shampoo for All Hair Types – Get Clean & Refreshed Strands in Seconds
- Are Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp down? Meta says most issues resolved after outages
- Kenyan man is convicted of plotting a 9/11-style attack on the US
Ranking
- In ‘Nickel Boys,’ striving for a new way to see
- Mike Tyson says he lost 26 pounds after ulcer, provides gory details of medical emergency
- Georgia authorities probe weekend shooting that left 2 dead, officer injured
- Willie Nelson speaks out on bandmate Kris Kristofferson's death: 'I hated to lose him'
- Meta donates $1 million to Trump’s inauguration fund
- Dawn Staley is more than South Carolina's women's basketball coach. She's a transcendent star.
- TikToker Bella Bradford, 24, Announces Her Own Death in Final Video After Battle With Rare Cancer
- The Daily Money: Spending less on election eve?
Recommendation
Woman dies after Singapore family of 3 gets into accident in Taiwan
Competing abortion proposals highlight a record number of ballot measures in Nebraska
After surprising start, Broncos show they're still far from joining AFC's contender class
Adele fangirls over Meryl Streep at Vegas residency, pays homage to 'Death Becomes Her'
Skins Game to make return to Thanksgiving week with a modern look
You may have blocked someone on X but now they can see your public posts anyway
Olivia Rodrigo Reveals Her Biggest Dating Red Flag
California sues LA suburb for temporary ban of homeless shelters