Alma Cooper, a US Army officer and West Point graduate, was recently crowned Miss USA 2024 in Los Angeles. She will now move on to compete at the Miss Universe pageant in Mexico City on November 16. Cooper, who is aiming to become the 10th American woman to win Miss Universe, will be one of over 100 contestants vying for the prestigious title.
Cooper's journey to the Miss Universe stage began with her childhood dream of competing in pageants. Inspired by her mother, who had competed in the Miss America system, Cooper worked hard to pay for her own pageant fees and even bought her dress for the Miss Michigan Teen USA competition on Facebook Marketplace.
While attending West Point, the US Military Academy, Cooper held onto her pageant dreams and eventually graduated in the top 5% of her class in 2023. She credits West Point for building her character and teaching her the value of personal courage, a trait she believes is essential in both the military and pageantry.
Following a tumultuous year for the Miss USA organization, which saw the resignations of the winners of both Miss USA and Miss Teen USA, Cooper emerged as the new Miss USA. Despite the controversy surrounding the organization, Cooper has publicly praised the former titleholders who resigned.
As she prepares to represent the US at the upcoming Miss Universe finals, Cooper remains focused on using her platform to uplift the voices of individuals whose stories may not be heard. She hopes to inspire others to pursue their dreams and believes that there are no limits to what one can achieve except for the ones they accept.