Miss Michigan is the new Miss USA! Alma Cooper, an Afro-Latina, the daughter of a migrant worker and an army officer, was announced as the winner of the annual beauty pageant. It was held on Sunday, August 4th at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.
“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,” she had told judges during a Q&A session at Sunday’s pageant. “If there’s anything that my life and my mother have taught me, it’s that your circumstances never define your destiny: You can make success accessible through demanding excellence.”
Cooper beat out Miss Kentucky Connor Perry and Miss Oklahoma Danika Christopherson in the top three for the crown.
Her win comes after a turbulent few months for the organization. First, Noelia Voight, Miss USA 2023, unexpectedly resigned from her crown on May 6 of this year. The Venezuelan-American model and beauty pageant titleholder cited mental health reasons. Savannah Gankiewicz, who replaced her as Miss USA, crowned Cooper.
Just two days after Miss USA resigned, Miss Teen USA, UmaSofia Srivastava, also resigned her title after stating that her “personal values no longer fully align with the direction of the organization.” Mississippi’s Addie Carver was named the new Miss Teen USA on August 1st. The title had remained vacant since Srivastava’s resignation. Runner-up Stephanie Skinner declined to take on the title.
Afterward, both their moms made an appearance on Good Morning America, with Srivastava’s mother, Barbara, revealing the two beauty queens had been “ill-treated, abused, bullied and cornered,” and adding that “the job of their dreams turned out to be a nightmare.”
Miss USA denied the allegations.