Leave it to the Air Force to make a little history. When Miss Colorado stepped on the stage at the 2024 Miss America pageant, she knew she had a shot at setting a record. But first she had to win the crown. And she did. Madison Marsh became the first active-duty military service member to win the title in the Miss America pageant in its nearly 100-year history, according to the U.S. Air Force.
Marsh, 22, a second lieutenant, expressed her excitement in an interview shared on Miss America’s Instagram story, stating, “I’m very excited to get to represent women who can break stereotypes.” She also shared her eagerness to shed light on what it means to be a member of the military community and pageant community.
The U.S. Air Force celebrated Marsh’s achievement by sharing photos of her in uniform and with the Miss America crown on X, formerly known as Twitter, with the hashtag #AimHigh.
Congratulations to our very own #Airman, 2nd Lt. Madison Marsh, aka Miss Colorado — who was just crowned @MissAmerica 2024! Marsh is the first active duty servicemember to ever win the title.#AimHigh pic.twitter.com/3RuDu5CulW
— U.S. Air Force (@usairforce) January 15, 2024
Graduating from the Air Force Academy with a degree in physics and a focus on astronomy, Marsh is now pursuing a master’s degree in public policy at Harvard Kennedy School. She said she sees parallels between military service and pageantry. “When I put on my uniform, I serve and I represent our country. When I put on the crown and sash, I’m serving, representing my community,” Marsh said.
Madison Marsh sits in the cockpit of a jet. Photo courtesy of the U.S. Air Force
Marsh, crowned Miss Colorado in May, started competing in pageants during her first year at the Air Force Academy. She attributes much of her success to her time there. “I don’t think I ever would have gotten into Harvard if I wouldn’t have gone to the Air Force Academy,” Marsh said. ” (And) I don’t think I ever would have become Miss Colorado without the Air Force Academy because they have trained me and honed in on my leadership.”
For her talent portion, Marsh performed a spoken word piece about earning her private pilot’s license at 16. She plans to use her platform as Miss America to raise awareness about pancreatic cancer, a disease that took her mother’s life, through her foundation, the Whitney Marsh Foundation.
She emphasized that her journey from a small town to winning Miss America proves that anyone can overcome obstacles and achieve their dreams. Marsh’s story serves as an inspiration to many, showcasing the power of determination and perseverance in the face of challenges.
As she continues her reign as Miss America, Marsh’s commitment to making a difference serves as a reminder to us all that with dedication and passion, anything is possible. “You can achieve anything. The sky is not the limit and the only person that’s stopping you is you,” Marsh said. Watch below to see this amazing pilot breaking new barriers.
Sources: People | Good Morning America
