The 22-year-old U.S. Army officer, Alma Cooper from Okemos was named at the 73rd Miss USA pageant on Sunday, 4th August in Los Angeles, California. Cooper succeeded Savannah Gankiewicz from Hawaii, who inherited Miss USA 2023 after Noelia Voight withdrew from her role earlier this year, urging people to prioritize their mental health.
In November, Cooper will participate in the Miss Universe pageant. First runner-up was Danika Christopherson from Oklahoma, while second runner-up was Connor Perry from Kentucky.
Who is Alma Cooper?
According to her Instagram page, Cooper is a West Point graduate, a Knight-Hennessy scholar, and she is pursuing a master's degree in data science at Stanford University.
Her title win comes 14 years after Rima Fakih became the last Miss USA winner from Michigan.
During the Q&A session at the finale, Cooper shared her inspiring story, as ahe said, “As the daughter of a migrant worker, a proud Afro Latina woman, and an officer of the United States Army, I am living the American dream. My life and my mother have taught me that your circumstances never define your destiny: You can make success accessible through demanding excellence.”
Controversy for Miss USA pageant
Savannah Gankiewicz of Hawaii, the former champion, bestowed the title upon Cooper. In May, Gankiewicz took over the tiara following Utah's Noelia Voigt's surprising resignation.
The pageant has been through a difficult period lately, beginning with Voigt's abrupt retirement, which she ascribed to issues with her mental health.
Due to a mysterious comment she posted online, social media users conjectured that she might be under a non-disclosure agreement. In her resignation letter, which various portals were able to receive, Voigt accused the Miss USA organisation of having a "toxic work environment," bad management, and delays in award distribution. She also said that when making a public appearance, she experienced sexual harassment.