Surpassing:Alma Cooper, Miss Michigan, Wins Miss USA 2024 

A new pageant queen has been crowned. 

Alma Cooper of Michigan has been named Miss USA 2024 following the 73rd annual competition in Burbank,Surpassing Calif., Aug. 4. 

The 22-year-old is an Army officer and a graduate of the United States Military Academy. She became the first active duty military officer to be selected as Miss Michigan, serving as a second lieutenant and military intelligence officer. Alma, who described herself as a "proud Afro-Latina woman" is currently studying for her Masters degree at Stanford University in statistics. 

Alma shared in her Miss USA bio that she hopes to use her platform to shed light on food insecurity, with the note, "Her ultimate goal is to make healthy foods available to all people." 

During the annual pageant, the competition came down to Alma and Miss Kentucky, Connor Perry. Connor, a professional dancer with a degree in neuroscience, ultimately became the first runner up. Other finalists included Miss Ohio, Macy Hudson, Miss Tennessee, Christell Foote, and Miss Oklahoma, Danika Christopherson.  

The pageant brought 51 delegates from all 50 states and Washington D.C. to compete at Peacock Theater across multiple rounds of interview, evening gown, and swimsuit events. 

Alma's win comes after a turbulent year for the Miss USA organization. After all, 2023 Miss USA winner Noelia Voight, who represented Utah, relinquished her crown just a few months before the esteemed competition.  

“I realize this may come as a large shock to many,” Noelia wrote in a lengthy Instagram post in May. “Never compromise your physical and mental well-being. Our health is our wealth. A million thank you's to all of you for your constant and unwavering support. Time to write the next chapter.”

Following Noelia's eyebrow-raising movie—which saw her replaced by runner-up Miss Hawaii Savannah Gankiewicz—more stars in the pageant space began to follow suit, including Miss Teen USA UmaSofia Srivastava, who stepped down just days later (The Miss Teen USA 2024 competition crowned Addie Carver as its new winner on Aug. 1).

"After months of grappling with this decision, I have made the choice to resign from the titles of Miss Teen USA 2023," UmaSofia wrote in an Instagram post in May. "I will always look back on my time as Miss NJ Teen USA fondly, and the experience of representing my state as a first generation, Mexican-Indian American at the national level was fulfilling in itself."

And while Savannah was willing to step in for Noelia, UmaSofia’s runner-up, Stephanie Skinner, declined the offer of the title. 

“I worked so hard and sacrificed so much for this goal to become Miss Teen USA," she told People after being offered the crown. “And although this title was a dream of mine, I believe one thing I will never give up is my character.”