Air Force pilot, 22, training to be Top Gun fighter crowned Miss America
A fighter pilot in training proved she is the best of the best on the runway as well as the skies as the wannabe Top Gun was crowned Miss America.
Madison Marsh has dreamed of becoming a pilot and astronaut since she was a teenager and spent summers at Space Camp where she met fighter pilots. At age 15 she started flying lessons and earned her pilot's licence two years later.
When she joined the United States Air Force Academy she decided to compete in pageants as an extracurricular activity and last year was named Miss Colorado. At the weekend she added the title of Miss America to her impressive list of achievements, becoming the first active-duty Air Force officer to take the crown when she beat 49 other competitors in Florida.
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U.S. Air Force 2nd Lt. Madison Marsh prepares for take off (William R. Lewis/USAF/SWNS)The Arkansas native said ahead of the competition: “It's an awesome experience to bring both sides of the favourite parts of my life together and hopefully make a difference for others to be able to realise you don't have to limit yourself.
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"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.
Madison was crowned Miss America in Orlando, Florida, on Sunday“As a freshman at the Academy, you might have a hard time finding your identity in a very new and challenging environment. My cousin had competed in pageants for a long time, and one of the big things about it I love is the community service aspect and the focus on public speaking."
Madison was quick to address the stereotypes of beauty pageants and those who take part. Saying: “The Miss America organisation I'm a part of now is all focused on what you can provide for the community through your social impact, making sure you have a stellar resume, you're good at public speaking, you can connect with people and are empowered to lead in other ways that's not just about you."
Madison is training to be a fighter pilot (William R. Lewis/USAF/SWNS)Her success was celebrated by the US Air Force on social media, which posted: “Congratulations to our very own Airman, 2nd Lt. Madison Marsh, aka Miss Colorado — who was just crowned Miss America 2024! Marsh is the first active duty service member to ever win the title.”
Senator Tom Cotton added: “Congratulations to Fort Smith native and Air Force 2nd Lt. Madison Marsh on being crowned Miss America. Madison visited Capitol Hill in 2021 to help raise awareness for pancreatic cancer, a cause for which she started her own non-profit organization in her mother’s memory. Madison, all of Arkansas is proud!”
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