At the 73rd annual Miss USA Pageant on August 4, 2024, Alma Cooper of Michigan sparkled her way to the crown. She was crowned Miss USA 2024 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California. The pageant was a big accomplishment for Cooper. She’d already made waves with her record-smashing victory and left many in disbelief when she made the stunning announcement to withdraw from the event.
Cooper took to Instagram just hours before the pageant was set to start to announce that she would pull out of the ceremony. In her post, she expressed, “As I close this chapter, I do so with the knowledge that I finished what I started with integrity and my self-worth held high, just like the crown I was honored to wear.” This announcement comes on the heels of Noelia Voigt’s recent resignation as Miss USA 2023. She resigned in May, citing her own mental health. Voigt’s last minute departure added an intense emotional layer to the day.
Co-host Olivia Jordan, Miss USA 2015, paid homage to Chelsi Smith during the pageant. Chelsi, a former Miss USA, lost her battle with liver cancer in 2018. Now, the Miss USA organization is further honoring Smith’s legacy. In her memory, they announced that they would be renaming the Miss Congeniality Award to honor her legacy. Jordan referred to Smith as “one of the most iconic beauty queens in history,” emphasizing the impact she had on the pageant community.
In addition to crowning Miss USA 2023, the event celebrated the transformation of the Miss USA organization’s history and journey into mental health awareness. Following Cooper’s crowning, Audrey Eckert of Nebraska was crowned Miss USA 2025. This moment marks the beginning of what is sure to be an exhilarating new chapter for the pageant.
The Miss USA organization has been under fire in recent months, most notably from Voigt’s impending resignation. Her public announcement on Instagram was a powerful reminder that mental health is becoming a priority in the beauty pageant world. Nevertheless, there is an inspiring bright spot amid these challenges Cooper’s crowning as Miss America, a reminder of resilience and empowerment.
