A new Miss USA has been crowned! Alma Cooper from Michigan won the title during the 73rd Miss USA pageant, which was broadcast live on The CW on Sunday, August 4.
The 22-year-old is an Army officer and a graduate of the United States Military Academy, currently pursuing a master’s degree in statistics at Stanford. Cooper made history as the first active-duty Army officer to be crowned Miss Michigan USA.
While answering a question during the pageant, Cooper shared her inspiring background. “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 said. Cooper plans to use her platform to tackle food insecurity, aiming to ensure access to healthy foods for everyone.
Prior to the announcement of the winner, Cooper was seen holding hands with her first runner-up, Connor Perry from Kentucky, providing mutual encouragement. Other finalists included Macy Hudson from Ohio, Christell Foote from Tennessee, and Danika Christopherson from Michigan.
The pageant occurred shortly after 17-year-old Addie Carver from Mississippi was named Miss Teen USA on August 1. Both events took place at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles and followed several months of controversy surrounding the Miss USA organization.
Earlier this year, several titleholders, including former Miss USA 2023 Noelia Voigt and former Miss Teen USA 2023 UmaSofia Srivastava, resigned within a few days of one another. Voigt announced her resignation on Instagram on May 6, expressing the need to prioritize her mental and physical well-being. She indicated that her departure was a difficult decision but one that was necessary for her health.
Social media users drew attention to the fact that the first letters of each sentence in her resignation statement spelled “I am silenced.” Shortly after, Voigt alleged that Miss USA organization CEO Laylah Rose failed to properly address an incident of sexual harassment and fostered a toxic work environment.
In her resignation letter on May 8, Srivastava noted that her personal values didn’t align with the organization’s direction. Two days later, Arianna Lemus, former Miss Colorado USA, announced her resignation in solidarity with Voigt and Srivastava, emphasizing the need for reform within the Miss USA organization.
The Miss USA organization publicly responded to the resignations, expressing support for both Voigt and Srivastava. Laylah Rose reiterated her commitment to the well-being of individuals associated with the organization in statements to the media.
Gankiewicz, the former Miss Hawaii USA and runner-up at the 2023 pageant, assumed the Miss USA title on May 15. Gankiewicz acknowledged the challenges of the past year during her remarks as she handed over her crown to Cooper, stating, “I think I can say I’ve had the most unique reign in history.”