A 22-year-old army officer became Miss USA 2024: what Alma Cooper looks like, who received the title and crown amid a scandal. Photo

Amid scandals over beauty pageants, America has chosen the winner of Miss USA 2024. On Sunday, August 4, 22-year-old Miss Michigan and army officer Alma Cooper became the winner. She was crowned by Miss USA 2023 Savannah Hankiewicz, who was re-elected after the scandalous resignation of Noelia Voight, who was supposed to represent America last year.

Alma Cooper beat all 50 participants in the talent, swimsuit, and evening gown competitions. According to CNN, the girl has a master's degree in data science from Stanford University.

"As the daughter of a migrant worker, a proud Afro-Latina, and an officer in the U.S. Army, I am living the American dream. If my life and my mother have taught me anything, it is that circumstances never determine your destiny: you can make success accessible by demanding excellence," she told the judges during the question and answer session.

Alma Cooper will represent the United States in the Miss Universe 2024 pageant to be held in November. The Miss USA 2024 crown was presented to her by Savannah Hankiewicz from Hawaii, who won the Miss USA 2023 title after last year's reigning crown winner Noelia Voight from Utah stepped down.

Why Miss USA 2023 gave up her title

In May 2024, 24-year-old Noelia Voight stunned fans by announcing that she had decided to give up the title. It's worth noting that the girl had been going to win the beauty pageant for 7 years, but problems after the coronation forced her to renounce the title.

On Instagram, Voight cited her deteriorating mental health as the reason for her resignation. However, attentive readers noticed that the initial letters of each of the sentences make up a single phrase – "I am silenced," which in an arbitrary translation means "I am forced to remain silent."

This, in turn, sparked rumors of a strict non-disclosure agreement.

Later, her statement revealed the real reasons for her resignation: delays in receiving bonuses, a toxic work environment that "at best is poor management, and at worst is bullying and harassment," and sexual harassment during a public appearance because the Miss USA organization did not provide her with an "effective mentor."

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