A US air force fighter pilot training to be a Top Gun has been crowned Miss America.
Madison Marsh, 22, who comes from Fort Smith, Arkansas, won the top award at a ceremony in Orlando, Florida on Sunday night.
2nd Lt Marsh was crowned Miss Colorado in May 2023 before competing in the finals to scoop the top award.
Marsh is the first active duty officer from any branch of the military to represent at the national level of the Miss America organization.
This year’s runner-up is Miss Texas, Ellie Breaux who would be called to step in if Marsh is unable to complete a full year of service.
Miss Indiana Cydney Bridges came third, Miss Kentucky Mallory Hudson placed fourth while Miss Rhode Island Caroline Parente came fifth.
Fifty-one contestants participated in the event, representing all 50 US states, as well as the District of Columbia.
Madison Marsh, 22, a US air force fighter pilot training to be a Top Gun, has been crowned Miss America. She is seen being crowed by 2023 Grace Stanke of Wisconsin
Marsh could be seen crying with happiness while took in her historic victory
Gold and silver confetti fell all around Marsh after being crowed the winner
Arkansas State Representative Steve Womack was quick to congratulate the new Miss America.
‘CONGRATULATIONS to Fort Smith’s Madison Marsh who was just crowned Miss America 2024!!! I’ve had the pleasure of seeing Madison grow up over the years, and I couldn’t be more proud of her on this unbelievable accomplishment! Her remarkable strength and story will be an inspiration for young women all across America!’
While admitting she can’t dance or sing, Marsh said she had been practicing mock interviews and working on her pageant walk and other ‘talent’ as contestants are now allowed make a monologue.
Marsh made a speech to describe her first solo flight at the age of 16. She said it helped to strengthen her leadership skills.
‘I really try to captivate the audience by making them feel like they are in the cockpit with me,’ she said.
Marsh is a National Truman Scholar, two-time National Astronaut scholar, eight-time Dean’s List at the Air Force – three-times Superintendent’s List, a National Rhodes finalist, certified private pilot, and a black belt in taekwondo.
Madison Marsh (pictured) learned to fly and got her pilot’s license at 17 years old. She is now a US Air Force 2nd lieutenant and has a coveted place to train as a fighter pilot
Arkansas State Representative Steve Womack was quick to congratulate the new Miss America
The 22-year-old Harvard University student was crowned Miss Colorado in May 2023, just before graduating from the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) and commissioning as an Air Force Officer. She is pictured preparing for her familiarization flight at Nellis Air Force Base last month
Marsh, who studied at Harvard University graduated from the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) and commissioning as an Air Force Officer last year.
The Arkansas native decided to try competing in pageants as an extracurricular activity while at USAFA.
She loves competing in pageants because of the ‘community service aspects’ and the focus on public speaking. She also applauds how the pageant system has evolved, especially in regards to women’s fitness.
‘Pageants are changing and one of the ways is in what being physically fit means to women,’ Marsh explained.
‘For me, it’s great because I need to stay physically fit and in the gym for the military, so it already coincides with pageant training.’
She participated in her first pageant while attending USAFA. She said: ‘As a freshman at the Academy, you might have a hard time finding your identity in a very new and challenging environment.
‘My cousin had competed in pageants for a long time, and one of the big things about it that I love is the community service aspect and the focus on public speaking.’
Three years later, Marsh was crowned Miss Colorado, which she said was ‘very surreal’.
Marsh. pictured preparing for her familiarization flight, believes she is the first active duty officer from any military branch to represent at the national level of the Miss America organization
Marsh (pictured), an Arkansas native, decided to try competing in pageants as an extracurricular activity while at USAFA and will now make a bid for the Miss America crown in Florida on Sunday
Marsh, pictured last month prior to her familiarization flight at Nellis Air Force Base, enjoys talking with other young girls about being a pilot and serving in the military and sees it as an opportunity to dispel stereotypes that exist about military women
As Miss Colorado, Marsh enjoys talking with other young girls about being a pilot and serving in the military and sees it as an opportunity to dispel stereotypes that exist about military women.
She said: ‘It’s an awesome experience to bring both sides of the favorite parts of my life together and hopefully make a difference for others to be able to realize that you don’t have to limit yourself.
‘In the military, it’s an open space to really lead in the way that you want to lead – in and out of uniform. I felt like pageants, and specifically winning Miss Colorado, was a way to truly exemplify that and to set the tone to help make other people feel more comfortable finding what means most to them.’
Marsh was also quick to address the many preconceived notions and stereotypes about beauty pageants and their contestants.
‘The Miss America organization that I’m a part of now is all focused on what you can provide for the community through your social impact, making sure that you have a stellar resume, that you’re good at public speaking, that you can connect with people and are empowered to lead in other ways that’s not just about you,’ she explained.
Upon graduation from USAFA and commissioning into the Air Force, Marsh (pictured) received a coveted pilot slot and is currently determining the career opportunities and personal projects she wants to pursue
Madison Marsh, prepares for her familiarization flight at Nellis Air Force Base last month
Madison Marsh poses for a photo with Ricky the Recruiter at the USAFA vs. U.S. Army football game at Empower Field at Mile High, Denver on November 6, 2023
Marsh is the first active-duty officer from any military branch to represent the Miss America organization nationally
From a young age, Marsh had a love of science and a dream to be a pilot and astronaut. Her parents encouraged her dreams, sending her to Space Camp when she was 13 years old where she met astronauts and fighter pilots.
Around that time, she learned about the USAFA and at 15 years old, started flying lessons. She earned her pilot’s license two years later and then began to work towards her goal of becoming a cadet.
Now Marsh’s future may now see her as a Top Gun fighter pilot.
Upon graduation from USAFA and commissioning into the Air Force, she received a coveted pilot slot and is currently determining the career opportunities and personal projects she wants to pursue.
However, the sad loss of her mother to pancreatic cancer may see Marsh take a career in cancer research.
She said: ‘I lost my mom about five years ago to pancreatic cancer and I started a nonprofit almost immediately afterwards with my family to raise money and awareness of pancreatic cancer for people in our town.
‘I’m now trying to take the next step and use my studies from the Kennedy School to learn about the inner workings and the difficulties of what policy really looks like.
US Air Force 2nd Lt. Madison Marsh sizes up a flight suit in preparation for a familiarization flight at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada on December 18, 2023
US Air Force 2nd Lt. Madison Marsh (right) prepares for her familiarization flight at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada on December 19, 2023
Madison Marsh (left) steps out for her familiarization flight at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada on December 19, 2023
‘Issues like economic environments and other social pressures that might be inhibiting our ability to implement cancer policies that can affect all Americans.’
In September, Marsh started a two-year master’s degree program in public policy from the Harvard Kennedy School through the Air Force Institute of Technology’s Civilian Institution Programs.
She will also work with the Dana Farber Cancer Institute and a professor from the Harvard Medical School to research early detection of pancreatic cancer.
‘Towards the end of my time at USAFA, I started to realize that my bigger passions were in policy making and cancer research so that’s why I ended up at the Kennedy School,’ she added.