Madison Marsh | |
---|---|
Born | Madison Isabella Marsh August 2, 2001 Fort Smith, Arkansas, U.S. |
Education | United States Air Force Academy (BS) Harvard Kennedy School |
Known for | Miss America 2024 |
Title | Miss Academy 2023 Miss Colorado 2023 Miss America 2024 |
Term | January 14, 2024 – |
Predecessor | Grace Stanke |
Military career | |
Allegiance | United States |
Service/ | United States Air Force |
Years of service | 2023–present |
Rank | Second lieutenant |
Madison Isabella Marsh (born August 2, 2001) [1] is an American beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss America 2024. She had previously been crowned Miss Colorado 2023, and was both the fourth woman representing Colorado and the first member of the United States Armed Forces to win the title of Miss America. Outside of pageantry, Marsh is an officer in the United States Air Force.
Marsh was born in Fort Smith, Arkansas to Mike and Whitney Marsh, and has four siblings. [2] [3] [4] [5] Her father is a physician and her mother was a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA). [2] Her mother died of pancreatic cancer when Marsh was seventeen years old, leading Marsh to become an activist for pancreatic cancer awareness and prevention. [4] [3] She founded the Whitney Marsh Foundation in her mother's honor in 2019, which raises funds for cancer research. [4] [6]
Marsh graduated from Southside High School in Fort Smith, Arkansas in 2019. [3] While growing up, she enjoyed space camps and flying lessons, receiving her pilot's license at age 17. [7] [8] After graduating high school, she attended the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and graduated with a degree in astrophysics in 2023. [3] Upon graduation, Marsh was commissioned a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force. [6] Marsh subsequently studied public policy for one semester at the Harvard Kennedy School through the Air Force Civilian Institution program. [9] She afterwards interned with Harvard's medical department. [10]
In 2023, Marsh was crowned Miss Academy 2023, a pageant for women attending the United States Air Force Academy. [4] As Miss Academy, she was eligible for the Miss Colorado 2023 pageant, which she went on to win in May 2023. [11] [12] [13] This was her third attempt at competing for the Miss Colorado title. [13] As Miss Colorado, Marsh became the first Miss America contestant to be an active-duty military officer. [4]
As Miss Colorado, Marsh was selected to represent Colorado at the Miss America 2024 pageant. Miss America 2024 was held at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Orlando, Florida on January 14, 2024. [14] [15] In the pageant, Marsh advanced into the Top 11 and later the Top 5, ultimately being crowned the winner, besting first runner-up Ellie Breaux of Texas. [16] [17] [18] As Miss America 2024, Marsh became the fourth woman representing Colorado to win the pageant, and the first member of the United States Armed Forces to be crowned the winner. [7] [19] [20] As part of her prize package, Marsh received a $50,000 scholarship to further her education. [21] Marsh has received over $70,000 total in scholarships from competing within the Miss America organization. [10] During her reign as Miss America, Marsh is serving in an Air Force public affairs and recruiting position. [22] [23]
Marsh was the honorary pace car driver at the 2024 Daytona 500 NASCAR race. [24] In February 2024, Marsh received the 'Spirit of the Springs' Award from the city of Colorado Springs. [25] She visited students at schools in Colorado Springs, Colorado, [26] and Daytona Beach, Florida. [27] Marsh also visited Fort Knox, [28] and Ebbing Air National Guard Base. [29] She presented a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (Unknowns) at Arlington National Cemetery, and visited the Memorial Display Room on March 3, 2024. [22] Madison was a special guest of the United Kingdoms Royal International Airshow in England in July 2024, and spoke about her USAF career mixed with being Miss America in front of 100,000 visitors from all over the world.
Marsh has a black belt in taekwondo. [30] In January 2024, Marsh announced her engagement to Walker Morris; [31] this is in sharp contrast to the Miss America pageant's previous strict "no-boyfriend" rules. [32]
Marsh's cousin is Madeline Bohlman, a beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Arkansas Teen USA in 2021 and Miss Arkansas USA in 2024. [33]
The Miss Arkansas competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Arkansas in the Miss America pageant. Arkansas has won the Miss America title three times.
The Miss Colorado competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Colorado in the Miss America pageant. The Colorado representative has won the Miss America crown on four occasions.
Miss Gay America is a national pageant for female impersonators. Established in 1972, the pageant is based on the Miss America contest and follows a similar format.
The Miss Wisconsin's Teen competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the U.S. state of Wisconsin in the Miss America's Teen pageant. The pageant is held each June in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
For the state pageant affiliated with Miss Teen USA, see Miss Arkansas Teen USA
The Miss Texas' Teen competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the U.S. state of Texas in the Miss America's Teen pageant.
Miss USA 1954 was the third Miss USA pageant, held at Long Beach Municipal Auditorium, Long Beach, California on July 24, 1954.
The Miss Virginia's Teen competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the Commonwealth of Virginia in the Miss America's Teen pageant.
The Miss Louisiana's Teen competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the U.S. state of Louisiana in the Miss America's Teen pageant. The pageant is held each April at the Brown Auditorium at the University of Louisiana at Monroe in Monroe, Louisiana.
For the state pageant affiliated with Miss Teen USA, see Miss Kentucky Teen USA
For the state pageant affiliated with Miss Teen USA, see Miss North Carolina Teen USA
Miss America 2017, the 90th Miss America pageant, was held at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on Sunday, September 11, 2016. The event was broadcast by ABC in the United States, the first in the network's newest agreement to carry the pageant until 2019, with Dick Clark Productions producing the ceremony.
Miss USA 2018 was the 67th Miss USA pageant. It was held on May 21, 2018 at the Hirsch Memorial Coliseum in Shreveport, Louisiana. The pageant was held at the same venue that was used for Miss USA 1997.
For the state pageant affiliated with Miss Teen USA, see Miss Colorado Teen USA
For the state pageant affiliated with Miss Teen USA, see Miss Mississippi Teen USA
Kristin Elizabeth Goodwin is a retired brigadier general in the United States Air Force (USAF). A transport pilot after graduating the Air Force Academy, she moved on to bombers before assuming commands. She served as the USAF Academy's commandant of cadets, a post from which she was removed due to an Air Force Inspector General investigation. As of August 2020, she was the chief of staff of the United States Space Force's Space Operations Command.
The Miss America 2022 competition was held on December 16, 2021. This was the 94th Miss America competition and was held at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut, as the Miss America Organization celebrated its 100th anniversary. It was the first Miss America since 1954 that was not televised, but it was streamed on Peacock. There were several technical glitches within the stream throughout the show, causing many viewers to complain on social media about the production value.
All times in this article are Pacific Time Zone (UTC-7)
Miss America 2024 was the 96th Miss America pageant, held at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Orlando, Florida, alongside the Miss America's Teen 2024 competition, on January 14, 2024.