Ex US Army - Alma Cooper: Crowned as New Miss USA 2024
Alma Cooper from Michigan, a US Army officer with a Master's in data science from Stanford, was named Miss USA. She won the title after the previous Miss USA resigned unexpectedly earlier this year.
Cooper, who is 22 and the daughter of a migrant worker, beat out 50 other contestants in categories like swimwear and evening gown. Kentucky’s Connor Perry and Oklahoma’s Danika Christopherson were named first and second runners-up.
During the pageant, Cooper spoke about how her life and her mother have taught her that circumstances don’t define your future. She was crowned by Savannah Gankiewicz, who had held the title briefly after Utah’s Noelia Voigt stepped down in a controversial situation.
The pageant has had a rocky few months due to these resignations, including the Miss Teen USA titleholder stepping down. Despite the drama, the show focused on celebrating Cooper’s achievement without addressing the controversies directly.
UmaSofia Srivastava, who had won Miss Teen USA, resigned due to a clash in “personal values” with the Miss USA organization. Both she and Miss USA resigned in a surprising turn of events.
Srivastava’s mother, Barbara, appeared on Good Morning America, claiming that the beauty queens had been “ill-treated, abused, bullied, and cornered,” and that their dream jobs had turned into a nightmare.
The Miss Universe Organization, which owns both pageants, did not comment on the situation at the time. However, Miss USA president Laylah Rose later issued a statement denying Voigt’s claims.