'Living American Dream': Meet Alma Cooper, Army Officer Wins Miss USA 2024

Miss Michigan, Alma Cooper, has officially been crowned Miss USA 2024. The annual pageant took place on Sunday, August 4, at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles. Cooper triumphed over Miss Kentucky, Connor Perry, and Miss Oklahoma, Danika Christopherson, to claim the prestigious title.

The crowning moment was especially significant as Cooper was crowned by Miss USA 2023, Savannah Gankiewicz. Gankiewicz herself had a dramatic rise to the crown, taking over after the shocking resignation of the former titleholder, Noelia Voigt, in May.

22-Year-Old Army Officer Wins Miss USA 2024 Pageant

Alma Cooper is now set to represent the United States at the 2024 Miss Universe Pageant, scheduled for November. The 22-year-old Army officer and graduate of the United States Military Academy is currently pursuing a master’s degree in statistics from Stanford. Notably, she is the first active-duty Army officer to be crowned Miss Michigan USA.

During the pageant, Cooper provided a glimpse into her background while answering a question. "As the daughter of a migrant worker, a proud Afro-Latina woman, and an officer in the United States Army, I am living the American dream," she shared.

Cooper intends to use her platform to tackle food insecurity, as highlighted in her Miss USA bio. Her "ultimate goal is to make healthy foods available to all people."

Before her victory was announced, Cooper and the first runner-up, Connor Perry of Kentucky, held each other’s hands, offering mutual encouragement. The other finalists included Miss Ohio (Macy Hudson), Miss Tennessee (Christell Foote), and Miss Oklahoma (Danika Christopherson).

In related news, the new Miss Teen USA 2024 winner, Addie Carver from Mississippi, was crowned just days earlier, on Aug. 1. This year's Miss USA pageant unfolded against the backdrop of significant changes within the organisation.

Less than three months before the pageant, Noelia Voigt, the first Venezuelan-American woman to win Miss USA, announced her decision to renounce her title. Voigt made this announcement on Instagram on May 7, citing her mental health as the primary reason for stepping down. She also highlighted that the organisation's environment contributed to her decision. Voigt's resignation letter, later obtained by various media outlets, alleged that the organisation fostered a toxic work environment. These allegations were strongly denied by CEO Laylah Rose.

Voigt's resignation was followed closely by another unexpected departure. Miss Teen USA 2023, UmaSofia Srivastava, resigned from her title just two days after Voigt's announcement. Srivastava stated that her personal values were no longer aligned with the direction of the organisation.

Despite the turmoil, Savannah Gankiewicz accepted the Miss USA 2023 crown soon after her resignation. Voigt's public comments have been limited since her resignation, but she has requested that the organisation waive her non-disclosure agreement (NDA) to allow her to speak openly about her experiences.