I told you Madison Marsh would be Miss America. She's now the first-ever active-duty member of our military to be crowned Miss America, and that is quite the accomplishment.
Yes, 22-year-old 2nd Lieutenant Madison Marsh etched her name in the history books last night in Orlando, and what better time than now for a member of our Air Force to wear the crown.
Ellie Breaux of Texas is first-runner-up, and she'll step in for Lt. Marsh should her military responsibilities keep her from serving the entirety of her year-long term as Miss America.
Marsh, an Arkansas native, had to soar through three nights of preliminary competitions before the field was reduced to only 11 contestants. That handful then faced off in four categories, including a discussion round and evening gown presentation before a winner was picked, CNN reported.
During the discussion round, Marsh mentioned her mother, who died of pancreatic cancer in 2018, according to CNN. The tragic death motivated her to start the Whitney Marsh Foundation to raise money for cancer research.
During the talent round, she offered a spoken-word piece that addressed earning her pilot's license at 16, the outlet reported.
When she was asked more questions as one of the top finalists, she reportedly talked about her military career which she said represents how [she] leads and learns "with passion."
Let me quickly remind you of Marsh's credentials:
Madison is a 2023 graduate of the United States Air Force Academy with a degree in physics. She is a 2nd Lieutenant in the Air Force making her the first Active Duty Air Force officer to be a Miss America state titleholder. After her mother's passing from pancreatic cancer in 2018, she began the Whitney Marsh Foundation with her family. As President and Founder, she has been able to raise more than a quarter million dollars for research with her leadership team at the foundation. Madison is currently a graduate intern with Harvard Medical School to utilize artificial intelligence to detect pancreatic cancer. She is now pursuing her Master's in Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School with her national Truman Scholarship. In her free time, Madison enjoys flying planes, cooking pasta, and reading.
- National Truman Scholar
- 2-time National Astronaut Scholar
- 8-time Dean's List at USAFA
- 3-time Superintendent's List - USAFA
- NASA Intern for gamma-ray burst research
- National Rhodes Finalist
- Certified Private Pilot
- Awarded Pilot as Official Air Force Career
- Black Belt in Taekwondo
It's no wonder Marsh is Miss America. Like, how could they have chosen anyone else? With the Miss America brand's mission of "Empowering Women to Lead," there was only one choice for this year's winner.
Here's the crowning ceremony for ya:
Congratulations, Miss America, and thank you for your service!
P.S. Now check out our latest video 👇
