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Madison Marsh, a 22-year-old US Force pilot, is on her way to compete in the 2024 Miss America pageant as the first Air Force officer serving in a full-time position. Marsh was bequeathed the Miss Colorado crown in May 2023.
Originally from Arkansas, Marsh owned the Miss Colorado 2023 title just before she graduated with a degree in Physics from the US Air Force Academy (USAFA). After graduating, she was commissioned as a USAF Officer.
Marsh joined the branch in the role of a second lieutenant. She is simultaneously attending the Harvard Kennedy School, pursuing a Master’s degree in Public Policy.
Madison Marsh is one of the 50 contenders for the title of Miss America. The pageant will be hosted in Florida on Saturday, January 13, and Sunday, January 14. Referring to the event, Marsh told SWNS:
“It’s an awesome experience to bring both sides of the favorite parts of my life together and hopefully make a difference for others to be able to realize that you don’t have to limit yourself.”
Madison Marsh began taking flying lessons at only 15
Eight months after winning the Miss Colorado title, Madison Marsh is now set to vie for Miss America's crown. Her journey of competing in the beauty pageant had some twists as she primarily had her goal set in the Air Force. Before Marsh even considered participating in these events, she aimed for a pilot’s license. She met fighter pilots and astronauts at a space camp when she was 13.
When she turned 15, Marsh opted for flying lessons and got her pilot’s license only two years later. As she joined the Air Force Academy in Colorado’s El Paso County, Marsh decided to explore participating in pageants as part of an extracurricular activity.
She told SWSN that as a freshman, one might find it difficult to figure out their identity, especially in an environment that is new and filled with challenges. Three years later, Madison Marsh took home the crown of Miss Colorado.
She told SWSN:
“It was very surreal. I believe I’m the first active-duty officer from any branch to represent at the national level of the Miss America organization.”
Madison Marsh shared that the military is an open space to lead others in a way one wishes to lead. However, she feels winning Miss Colorado set an example and tone for others to make them feel more comfortable in venturing out to find what matters the most to them.
She said participating in the Miss America pageant is great for her as she already needs to stay fit physically and in the gym for the Air Force. So, her routine is in a way aligned with the pageant training.
Madison Marsh emphasized if she wins the national crown on Sunday, she would use the platform to reach out to young girls and talk to them about serving in the military while debunking the stereotypes about military women.
Marsh, whose mother died of pancreatic cancer, said her pageant journey will likely lead to cancer research. She said:
“Towards the end of my time at USAFA, I started to realize that my bigger passions were in policy-making and cancer research, so that’s why I ended up at the Kennedy School.”
Marsh also expressed her wish to learn about social, economic, and environmental issues that might be obstructing their ability to execute cancer policies to help all Americans.
