Miss America 2024 Makes History

In a world that seems dead set on watering down femininity, I’m glad the Miss America Pageant still exists. It reminds us that women can wear many hats—not just being beautiful, but also smart, bold and driven.

And I can’t think of anyone who represents that message better than this year’s Miss America.

ABC News reports: 

Miss Colorado Madison Marsh was crowned Miss America, becoming the first active-duty military service member to win the title in the pageant’s nearly 100-year history, according to the U.S. Air Force.

Marsh, 22, is a second lieutenant in the Air Force and recently graduated from the Air Force Academy in Colorado.

“I’m very excited to get to represent women who can break stereotypes,” Marsh said in an interview shared on Miss America’s Instagram story, adding that she is looking forward to sharing “what it means to be a member of the military community and Miss America.”

In addition to flying planes and being gorgeous, Marsh is also big smart, graduating from “the Air Force Academy with a degree in physics and a focus on astronomy” and she is now looking to earn “a master’s degree in public policy at Harvard Kennedy School …”

Just saying “physics” makes my brain hurt, so good on her.

I love that we have an America-loving, plane-flying woman as Miss America 2024. Our country is sorely lacking in patriotism as of late, and I’m hopeful that Marsh can be a positive example of what it means to love and serve your country.

On another note, all this talk of Miss America is making me want to watch “Miss Congeniality” again.