The 2024 Miss America Also Happens to Be an Active Duty Air Force Officer

The Epoch Times Header

Get to know the 2024 crowned beauty who has blazed a new path in pageantry for military service members.

In her early teens, Madison Marsh attended a space camp and met several astronauts. โ€œI just fell in love with the idea of being the first woman on Mars,โ€ she said. So she took flying lessons at age 15 and joined the Air Force Academy to work toward her goal. She loved the thrill of flying and became an Air Force officer. When Marsh, 22, was crowned Miss America in January, she became the first Miss America to also be an active duty member of the military.

She hopes her win will show people that you can achieve anything you set your heart to, and that women can embrace their feminine and strong sides in the service of others. โ€œI love being able to lead others and serve in something thatโ€™s bigger than just me,โ€ she said.

Q&A with Madison Marsh

American Essence: How do you plan to use your platform as Miss America?

Ms. Marsh: The most important role for me this year as Miss America is to support research on pancreatic cancer on a national level. My mom was Whitney Marsh. She died of pancreatic cancer when she was only 41 years old. There were just 9 months between her diagnosis and her death. My national level goals include diversifying the ways we raise money and lobbying for legislation to get early detection standards implemented nationwide.On the days that I feel down and not motivated, I think of my mom. If she can get up and make herself go run 10 miles after recovering from chemo treatment after chemo treatment, then I can get up. I feel lucky that I still get to be here.โ€

AE: What does the pageant mean to you?

Ms. Marsh: The first Miss America was in 1921 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. I think a lot of people might say that pageants are very superficial, but the Miss America organization is so much more than looks. The Miss America opportunity is about scholarship: theyโ€™re one of the largest providers of scholarships anywhere in the world. They are about leadership and community service.

I started competing in pageants in my freshman year at the Air Force Academy because I saw my cousin doing it. Iโ€™d lost my mom to pancreatic cancer the year before, and I was struggling with my identity and working through grief. I knew how important it would be to have a greater platform for my momโ€™s story. Thatโ€™s really why I started doing pageants. 

AE: What are your plans regarding your military service? 

Ms. Marsh: I plan to stay with the military. Iโ€™ve got my service that I owe to them; theyโ€™ve given me so much, and I want to be able to give back to them more so. I love the people, I love being able to lead others and serve in something thatโ€™s bigger than just me. 

Iโ€™m not a military pilot but I love flying. Itโ€™s one of my favorite things. It taught me a lot about relying on my training and being confident in myself. Iโ€™m not able to do any flying at all right now, unfortunately, but hopefully after things die down this year, Iโ€™ll be able to use the scholarship money I earn from Miss America to earn some more pilot education.

Byย Hazel Atkins

Read Full Article on TheEpochTimes.com

The Epoch Times
The Epoch Timeshttps://www.theepochtimes.com/
Tired of biased news? The Epoch Times is truthful, factual news that other media outlets don't report. No spin. No agenda. Just honest journalism like it used to be.

The Looming Threat To Our Homeland

After success of โ€œOperation Midnight Hammer,โ€ where U.S. military bombed Iranian nuclear facilities, the threat to America has never been greater.

Groundhog Day came late this year to the Land of Smiles.

itโ€™s the same rigmarole, on whatever pretext, the army commandeers the Thai state with vague promises to restore democracy at some unspecified future date.

Resource number one

Russia has an unsustainable birthrate worsened by mortality rate of Russian males through war and alcoholism. One solution, steal young children from other countries.ย 

Expansionist CCP Runs Amok in Pacific After U.S. Relocates Naval Assets to Mid-East

Caveat established, Chinaโ€™s been going bananas on the high seas as the eyes of the world, and U.S. military assets, hone in on Iran.

The Anti-Trump Protests โ€“ Why Are They So Important?

The anti-Trump stance is not a political position, but a desperate gesture, a mental diagnosis of those who refuse to accept the reality of the World today.

21.8 Million US Seniors Paying for Expenses With Only Social Security Income: Survey

An estimated 21.8 million senior citizens in America make ends meet solely using their social security funds, The Senior Citizens League (TSCL) said.

Oil Prices Drop by 7 Percent as Marketโ€™s Iran Fear Factor Fades

Crude oil prices plummeted by more than 7% as investors were optimistic that Iranโ€™s limited retaliation could lead to a de-escalation in the Middle East.

New York Launches First New Nuclear Energy Project in US in 15 Years

Hochul directed NYโ€™s power authority to begin evaluation of techs, business models, and locations to develop stateโ€™s first nuclear power plant in 50 years.

Supreme Court Temporarily Allows Deportations to Third Countries

Supreme Court temporarily lifted lower court order blocking Trump admin from deporting illegals to so-called third countries they have no connection.

No Changes Planned for FDAโ€™s Vaccine Advisory Committee โ€˜At This Timeโ€™: Spokesperson

There are no plans to remove any members of the panel that advises the FDA on vaccines, a spokesperson said on June 20.

Trump Says Trade Deals Expected With India and Pakistan

President Trump expects US will sign trade deals with India and Pakistan, signaling growing momentum in push to reshape global trade through tariff diplomacy.

Trump Says US Intelligence Communityโ€™s Assessment of Iranโ€™s Nuclear Program โ€˜Was Wrongโ€™

President Trump said his director of national intelligenceโ€™s assessment in March that Iran had yet to decide on building a nuclear weapon was wrong.

NIH Ends Gain-of-Function Research, Implementing Trumpโ€™s Executive Order

The NIH announced the end of gain-of-function research. The instituteโ€™s update said the move is in compliance with President Trumpโ€™s EO on the topic.ย 
spot_img

Related Articles