{"id":16080,"date":"2024-01-23T10:21:21","date_gmt":"2024-01-23T15:21:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/inspirationreport\/?p=16080"},"modified":"2024-01-23T10:21:21","modified_gmt":"2024-01-23T15:21:21","slug":"u-s-air-force-officer-madison-marsh-wins-miss-america-2024-you-can-achieve-anything","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/inspirationreport\/2024\/01\/u-s-air-force-officer-madison-marsh-wins-miss-america-2024-you-can-achieve-anything.html","title":{"rendered":"U.S. Air Force Officer Madison Marsh Wins Miss America 2024: ‘You Can Achieve Anything’"},"content":{"rendered":"
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U.S. Air active-duty officer Madison Marsh was crowned as 2024 Miss America. Marsh, a 22-year-old who represented Colorado, won the prestigious pageant. In an interview after the show, Marsh said, \u201cYou can achieve anything. The sky is not the limit, and the only person that\u2019s stopping you is you,\u201d per a video posted on Miss Universe\u2019s Instagram story.<\/p>\n

She added that she came from \u201ca small town, not being part of the pageant world,\u201d and was able to step into the pageant world, so the possibility is open to anyone. In another video shared on the Miss Universe Instagram account, Marsh shared that she recently graduated from the Air Force Academy. She added, \u201cI\u2019m very excited to be able to represent women who can break stereotypes in both fields.\u201d<\/p>\n

The U.S. Air Force congratulated Marsh on her accomplishment in a heartfelt message on X, formerly known as Twitter. The message read, \u201cCongratulations to our very own #Airman, 2nd Lt. Madison Marsh, aka Miss Colorado \u2014 who was just crowned @MissAmerica 2024! Marsh is the first active-duty servicemember to ever win the title. #AimHigh.\u201d Marsh succeeds Grace Stanke of Wisconsin, who was crowned the\u00a02023 Miss America.\u00a0Stanke crowned Marsh at the pageant.<\/p>\n

There were 51 contestants in the 2024 Miss America pageant, each representing the United States and the District of Columbia. The 11 semi-finalists competed in four rounds, which included a fitness runway walk, a \u201chot topics\u201d discussion, an evening gown presentation and a talent show. The five finalists had to share their goals and dreams as Miss America. Prior to Marsh\u2019s victory, she was a guest on FNC\u2019s \u201cFox & Friends Weekend,\u201d where she told the hosts she is \u201ca pilot select right now, just graduated from the Air Force Academy, and everyone has been so, so excited to get to have me here.\u201d<\/p>\n