CAMBRIDGE — A graduate student at Harvard University won the Miss America pageant Sunday night, becoming the first active-duty Air Force officer to claim the title.
Madison Marsh, formerly crowned Miss Colorado, triumphed in the national Miss America pageant, outshining 50 contestants from each state and Washington D.C. to clinch the victory.
Marsh, a 22-year-old graduate student at the Harvard Kennedy School, is also a second lieutenant in the Air Force.
Before attending Harvard, Marsh graduated with a degree in physics from the Air Force Academy in 2023.
“You can achieve anything. The sky is not the limit and the only person that’s stopping you is you,” Marsh said in an interview posted to the Miss America pageant’s official Instagram profile.
The U.S Air Force commemorated Marsh’s win with a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, calling her “our very own #Airman.”
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
Prior to the selection of the top five finalists, the semi-finalists engaged in four competitive rounds, encompassing a fitness runway walk, a discussion on current hot topics, a talent display, and an evening gown showcase. The finalists were then required to explain their aspirations and objectives as Miss America.
Marsh shared her personal story about her mother’s battle with pancreatic cancer during the segment discussing American drug issues. For her talent performance, Madison chose a spoken word piece reflecting on her experience of obtaining a pilot’s license at the age of 16.
According to her official Miss Colorado biography, after losing her mother in 2018, Madison founded the Whitney Marsh Foundation, a non-profit organization that raises money for pancreatic cancer research.
Before the pageant began, Marsh discussed her inspiration for participating in the pageant. In an interview with SWNS, as reported by The New York Post, she said:
“Combining the two things I love most in life into this incredible experience is about making an impact and showing others that there are no boundaries to what they can achieve,” Marsh said. “Serving in the military offers a unique opportunity to lead in your own style, both in uniform and beyond. For me, entering pageants, especially winning Miss Colorado, was a way to embody this idea and inspire others to embrace and pursue what truly matters to them.”
