Miss America 2024 Is an Active Duty U.S. Air Force Officer Second Lt. Madison Marsh is the first active-duty service member to win the contest.

By Erin Davis

Willie J. Allen Jr./Orlando Sentinel/Tribune News Service | Getty Images
The confetti rains down from the ceiling while Madison Marsh, Miss Colorado is crowned Miss America 2024 at the end of the pageant at Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Orlando, Florida, Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024.

Madison Marsh, a 22-year-old Second Lt. in the U.S. Air Force, was crowned Miss America 2024 on Sunday. It's the first time an active-duty service member has taken the top prize.

Marsh graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy last year with a degree in physics and was Miss Colorado before winning her crown and title of Miss America 2024.

"We've had this preconceived notion in the past that you might be judged and not be taken seriously as a leader," Marsh told People.

RELATED: I'm Miss San Antonio USA. Beauty Pageants Are Way Harder and More Expensive Than You'd Think.

"This just proves that you can be feminine while leaning into your leadership role," she added to the outlet.

Miss America Madison Marsh is seen outside "Today" on January 17, 2024, in New York City. (Photo by Raymond Hall/GC Images | Getty)

Marsh is also a graduate student at the Harvard Kennedy School in Cambridge, Massachusetts, studying for a master's degree in public policy.

Marsh and her family founded the Whitney Marsh Foundation after her mother, Whitney, passed away from pancreatic cancer in 2018. According to her bio page, the foundation has raised more than $250,000 for pancreatic cancer research so far.

Erin Davis

Entrepreneur Staff

Freelance Writer

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Buying / Investing in Business

Former Zillow Execs Target $1.3T Market

Co-ownership is creating big opportunities for entrepreneurs.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Leadership

Your Words Only Tell a Fraction of the Story — Here's Why Tone and Body Language Actually Matter More

Think words are everything? This article reveals why and how tone and body language do the heavy lifting in communication.

Business News

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang Says the New ChatGPT Needs '100 Times More' of His Company's AI Chips

Nvidia reported its fourth-quarter earnings after the bell on Wednesday.

Business News

Daymond John Says This Is How Entrepreneurs 'Should Be Working' — And It Isn't From Home

"Shark Tank" star Daymond John gave a tour of his Miami office.