Madison Marsh makes history as first serving U.S soldier to be crowned Miss America

By zoeysky // 2024-01-29

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Second Lt. Madison Marsh is the first serving U.S. soldier to be crowned Miss America. The 22-year-old Marsh is a United States Air Force (USAF) fighter pilot. Hailing from Fort Smith, Arkansas, Marsh won Miss America at a ceremony in Orlando, Florida on Jan. 14. She was crowned Miss Colorado in May 2023 before competing in the finals to win Miss America. Marsh is the first active-duty officer from any branch of the military to represent at the national level of the Miss America organization. Miss Texas Ellie Breaux, 2024's runner-up, would be called to step in if Marsh is unable to complete a full year of service. Miss Indiana Cydney Bridges was third, Miss Kentucky Mallory Hudson was fourth and Miss Rhode Island Caroline Parente was fifth. Fifty-one contestants participated in the Miss America pageant, representing all 50 U.S. states, along with the District of Columbia. Marsh admitted that she couldn't dance or sing, but she had been practicing mock interviews and working on her pageant walk and other "talent" as contestants are now allowed to make a monologue.

Marsh talks about experience as fighter pilot and beauty pageant contestant

Marsh made a speech describing her first solo flight at the age of 16, which she said helped to strengthen her leadership skills. Marsh has an impressive list of achievements at a young age:

She is a National Truman Scholar
She is a two-time National Astronaut Scholar
She is an eight-time Dean's List at the Air Force
She is a three-time Superintendent's List
She is a National Rhodes finalist
She is a certified private pilot
She is a black belt in taekwondo

The Jan. 14 pageant followed three nights of preliminary competitions. Eleven women took part in the final four rounds of competition, which included the following events:

A fitness showcase involving a runway walk in rhinestone-embellished athleisure
A "hot topics" discussion round, which replaced the pageant's more traditional Q&A round
A talent performance
An evening gown presentation

The five finalists were announced after the above events. The discussion round included various topics such as nutrition, technology and terrorism. Marsh talked about drugs in America, where she discussed her late mother's battle with pancreatic cancer. For the talent round, she performed a spoken-word piece about her experience receiving her pilot's license at 16. The five finalists were asked questions about their goals as Miss America. Marsh talked about how her military credentials symbolized her commitment to learning and leading "with passion." Marsh, who studied at Harvard University, graduated from the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) and was commissioned as an Air Force Officer in 2023. She said she decided to try competing in pageants as an extracurricular activity while at USAFA. (Related: Air Force general warns: China boosts military capability by recruiting both current and former U.S. service members.) Marsh loves competing in pageants because of their "community service aspects" and the focus on public speaking. She praised how the pageant system has evolved, especially when it came to women's fitness. According to Marsh, this is great for her because staying fit is important for her military duties, which also coincides with her pageant training. Marsh joined her first pageant while she was attending USAFA. Three years later, Marsh was crowned Miss Colorado, which she said was a "very surreal" experience. As Miss Colorado, Marsh talks with other young girls about being a pilot and serving in the military. She added that it was a great opportunity to dispel stereotypes about military women. "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," said Marsh. Marsh also discussed many preconceived notions and stereotypes about beauty pageants and their contestants. She said that participants like her are focused on how to help the community through their "social impact." Participants also have impressive resumes, practice public speaking, learn how to connect with people and "are empowered to lead in other ways" that are not just about themselves.

Marsh training to be Top Gun fighter pilot

From a young age, Marsh loved science and dreamed of being a pilot and astronaut. Her parents encouraged her dreams, sending her to Space Camp when she was 13 where she met astronauts and fighter pilots. At that time, she learned about the USAFA. At 15 years old, Marsh started taking flying lessons. She earned her pilot's license two years later and she began to work towards her goal of becoming a cadet. Now, Marsh is training to be a Top Gun fighter pilot. After graduating from USAFA and commissioning into the Air Force, she received a pilot slot and is currently deciding on career opportunities and personal projects she wants to pursue. However, the loss of her mother to pancreatic cancer could mean Marsh may also consider a career in cancer research. She started a nonprofit afterward with her family to raise money and awareness of pancreatic cancer for people in their town. 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 Harvard Medical School to research the early detection of pancreatic cancer. Watch the video below as host Gene Ho talks to guests Dave Blaze and Rachel from Writeside Blonde about the state of beauty pageants in America. This video is from the PATRIOT.TV channel on Brighteon.com.

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Marsh talks about experience as fighter pilot and beauty pageant contestant

Marsh training to be Top Gun fighter pilot

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