Champion Miss Michigan triumphed to become the newest Miss USA titleholder! Alma Cooper, a descendant of a migrant worker and a military officer, was crowned as the winner of the annual beauty contest. The competition unfolded on Sunday, August 4th at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.
In the pageant’s Q&A session on Sunday, she conveyed to the judges, “As the offspring of a migrant laborer, a proud Afro-Latina lady, and a United States Army member, I epitomize the American dream. My life and my mother have taught me that regardless of your circumstances, you can pave the way for success by striving for perfection.”
Outshining Miss Kentucky Connor Perry and Miss Oklahoma Danika Christopherson, Cooper clinched the crown among the final three competitors.
Her triumph came after a tumultuous period for the organization. Initially, Noelia Voight, the Miss USA 2023titleholder, unexpectedly abdicated her position on May 6 this year. The Venezuelan-American model andbeauty pageant queen referenced concerns about her mental well-being. Savannah Gankiewicz, who took on the role of Miss USA, then crowned Cooper.
Shortly after Miss USA’s resignation, Miss Teen USA, UmaSofia Srivastava, also stepped down after stating that her “personal beliefs no longer wholly align with the organization’s direction.” Addie Carver from Mississippi was named the new Miss Teen USA on August 1st. The position had been vacant since Srivastava’s departure, as runner-up Stephanie Skinner declined the offer.
Subsequently, both their mothers made an appearance on Good Morning America, where Srivastava’s mother, Barbara, revealed that the two beauty queens had experienced “unfair treatment, bullying, harassment, and intimidation,” and she remarked, “what was once a dream job turned into a nightmare.”
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