Madison Marsh
Madison Marsh | |
|---|---|
Marsh in 2024 | |
| Born | Madison Isabella Marsh August 2, 2001 Fort Smith, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Education | United States Air Force Academy (BS) Harvard Kennedy School |
| Title | Miss Academy 2023 Miss Colorado 2023 Miss America 2024 |
| Term | January 14, 2024 – January 5, 2025 |
| Predecessor | Grace Stanke |
| Successor | Abbie Stockard |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Years of service | 2023–present |
| Rank | Second lieutenant |
Madison Isabella Marsh (born August 2, 2001) is an American Air Force second lieutenant, activist and beauty pageant contestant. Marsh is known for winning Miss America in 2024.[1] She won Miss Colorado in 2023. Marsh is the fourth woman representing Colorado, the first member of the United States Armed Forces and the first active duty member to win the title of Miss America.[2] Before winning Miss America, Marsh became an officer in the United States Air Force.[2]
Early life
Marsh was born in Fort Smith, Arkansas to Mike and Whitney Marsh on August 2, 2001.[3][4][5] Her father is a physician and her mother was a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA).[3] Her mother died of pancreatic cancer when Marsh was seventeen years old.[4] This inspired Marsh to become an activist for pancreatic cancer awareness and prevention.[4][6] She founded the Whitney Marsh Foundation in her mother's honor in 2019.[7] It raises money for cancer research.[4][7]
Marsh graduated from Southside High School in Fort Smith, Arkansas in 2019.[6] While growing up, she would go to space camps and flying lessons, where she received her pilot's license at age 17.[8][9]
After graduating high school, she went to the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado.[6] She graduated with a degree in astrophysics in 2023.[6] After graduating, Marsh became a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force.[7] Marsh also studied public policy for one semester at the Harvard Kennedy School.[10] She also interned with Harvard's medical department.[2]
Pageantry
In 2023, Marsh won Miss Academy 2023, a pageant for women in the United States Air Force Academy.[4] As Miss Academy 2023, she was able to compete for the Miss Colorado 2023 pageant, which she won in May 2023.[11][12][13] This was her third try at competing for the Miss Colorado title.[13] As Miss Colorado 2023, Marsh became the first Miss America contestant to be an active-duty military officer.[4][2]
Miss America 2024
As Miss Colorado 2023, Marsh was picked to represent Colorado at the Miss America 2024 pageant in Orlando, Florida.[14][15] In the pageant, Marsh beat Ellie Breaux of Texas to win the contest on January 14, 2024.[16][17][18] Marsh became the fourth woman representing Colorado to win the pageant, and the first member of the United States Armed Forces to be crowned the winner.[8][19][20] As part of her reward, Marsh was given a $50,000 scholarship to finish her education.[21] Marsh was given over $70,000 total in scholarships from competing within the Miss America organization.[2] During her time as Miss America, Marsh is serving in an Air Force public affairs and recruiting role.[22]
Marsh was the honorary race car driver at the 2024 Daytona 500 NASCAR race.[23] In February 2024, Marsh received the 'Spirit of the Springs' Award from the city of Colorado Springs.[24] Marsh also visited Fort Knox,[25] and an air force base in Fort Smith.[26] She placed a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery on March 3, 2024.[22]
After Miss America
After her time as Miss America, Marsh continues to be an Air Force officer and graduated from Harvard University in 2025.[27] In April 2025, she gave a speech at Harvard Kennedy School's Institute of Politics.[28]
Personal life
Marsh practices in taekwondo.[29] In January 2024, Marsh announced her engagement to Walker Morris while she was competing in Miss America.[30]
References
- ↑ Goh, Amanda (January 15, 2024). "An Air Force pilot has been crowned Miss America 2024". Business Insider.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 "From Pilot to Pageantry: Meet the 1st Active-Duty Miss America". United States Department of Defense. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Young, Susan (January 16, 2024). "Miss America Has Never Been an Active-Duty Air Force Officer — Until Now: 'I Wasn't Expecting to Win' (Exclusive)". People.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Isaac, O'Dell (May 25, 2023). "Air Force Academy cadet — a Miss Colorado contestant — channels heartache into advocacy". The Gazette.
- ↑ Marsh, Madison (August 2, 2023). "hugs, kisses, & 22 birthday wishes". Instagram.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Tilley, Michael (March 29, 2023). "Air Force Academy, Harvard part of Marsh's pancreatic cancer research passion". talkbusiness.net.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Cohn, Paulette (January 14, 2024). "Meet the New Miss America 2024 and the 50 Lovely Ladies Who Make Up Her Court". Parade.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Rees, Mike (January 14, 2023). "US Air Force officer crowned as 2024 Miss America". CNN.
- ↑ "2024 Miss America winner is awarded the Spirit of the Springs Award". KOAA News 5. 2024-02-28. Retrieved 2024-03-02.
- ↑ Altman-Devilbiss, Alexx (January 15, 2024). "Active-duty Air Force officer crowned 2024 Miss America". KOMO. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
- ↑ "Air Force Academy senior crowned Miss Colorado, will also graduate on Thursday". KOAA-TV. May 30, 2023.
- ↑ "Meet Miss Colorado 2023". 9News. May 30, 2023.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Isaac, O'Dell (May 30, 2023). "Air Force Academy senior wins Miss Colorado competition". The Gazette.
- ↑ "Bringing Back the Magic at The Walt Disney Theater in Orlando, Florida!". Archived from the original on 2024-01-15. Retrieved 2023-10-18.
- ↑ "HOT GUN: Air force pilot has Miss America crown on her radar". Toronto Sun. January 11, 2024.
- ↑ Rice, Sean (January 14, 2024). "Miss Colorado wins 2024 Miss America competition". KRDO-TV.
- ↑ Rockson, Gabrielle (January 15, 2024). "U.S. Air Force Officer Madison Marsh Crowned as 2024 Miss America: 'The Sky Is Not the Limit'". People.
- ↑ Stahl, Jay (January 15, 2024). "Miss America 2024 is active-duty Air Force officer, Harvard student: Meet Madison Marsh". USA Today.
- ↑ "Miss America 2024 Winner: Who is Madison Marsh, the new American beauty queen from Colorado?". Marca. January 14, 2024.
- ↑ Ferguson, Sarah (January 15, 2024). "Air Force officer becomes first active-duty servicemember crowned as Miss America". The Hill.
- ↑ Colurso, Mary (January 14, 2024). "Miss America 2024: Miss Colorado wins the crown". al.com.
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 "Miss America 2024 U.S. Air Force 2nd Lt. Madison Marsh Visits ANC". DVIDS. US Department of Defense. Retrieved 2024-05-14. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ↑ "Daytona 500 adds Miss America Madison Marsh as honorary pace-car driver". Daytona Beach News-Journal Online. Retrieved 2024-03-02.
- ↑ "2024 Miss America winner is awarded the Spirit of the Springs Award". KOAA News 5. 2024-02-28. Retrieved 2024-03-02.
- ↑ BAIRD, SAVANNAH (2024-05-09). "Miss America personalities visit Fort Knox". Kentucky Today. Retrieved 2024-05-14.
- ↑ "Miss America spoke with Fort Smith teens as part of her homecoming celebration | Arkansas Democrat Gazette". www.arkansasonline.com. 2024-05-10. Retrieved 2024-05-14.
- ↑ Marsh, Madison. "My year as Miss America proves joining the military doesn't mean losing yourself | Opinion". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2025-05-01.
- ↑ "Many Ways to Serve: Special Event with 2nd Lt. Madison Marsh | The Institute of Politics at Harvard University". iop.harvard.edu. Retrieved 2025-05-01.
- ↑ "US Air Force pilot becomes first active-duty military service member to win Miss America". Sky News. 16 January 2024.
- ↑ Marsh, Madison (January 21, 2021). "The easiest yes". Instagram.