US Army officer from Michigan wins Miss USA 2024


Alma Cooper from Michigan was crowned Miss USA 2024 on Sunday in Los Angeles making her the fourth woman from her home state to become Miss USA.

Her road to the national crown started when she won Miss Michigan USA 2024 last April in Port Huron where she made history as the first active-duty army officer to take home the state title.

The new Miss USA graduated from the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, with a degree in mathematical science and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the US Army.

During her senior year, she became the youngest recipient of the Knight-Hennessy Scholarship and is currently pursuing her master's degree in statistics in the number one statistics program in the USA at Stanford University.

Alma is dedicated to amplifying the voices of underrepresented minorities through data science. While at West Point, she was a brigade adjutant and was responsible for creating and enforcing accountability measures for 4,400 cadets during emergencies and crises.

She also traveled around the country with West Point's Leadership, Ethics, and Diversity in STEM (LEADS) workshop, leading STEM activities and talking about ethical leadership with students.

Last year, she received the Mathematical Association of America's Janet Liou-Mark Award, which honors undergraduate students for their research in mathematics or mathematics education.

The 22-year-old, a proud Afro-Latina woman and the daughter of a migrant worker will soon represent the USA at Miss Universe 2024 in Mexico this November.

Photos: Alma Cooper / Instagram

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