Miss USA 2024 was crowned as Alma Cooper, Miss Michigan USA, causing mixed reactions from fans.
Cooper was crowned the winner of the prestigious pageant on Sunday night and will now represent the United States at Miss Universe 2024 in Mexico.
Cooper, 22, is from Okemos, Michigan, and is an Army officer and data scientist pursuing a master’s degree in statistics. at Stanford.
Previously, she attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, where she graduated with honors.
In addition to participating in contests, Cooper is an advocate for the nonprofit organization Feeding America.
She was the first active-duty Army officer to be named Miss Michigan USA.
She reflected on her academic and military careers during her time on stage at Sunday’s final.
“As the daughter of a migrant worker, a proud Afro-Latina woman, and a United States Army officer, I am living the American dream,” Cooper told the judges.
For your Miss USA biographyCooper hopes to use her platform to combat food insecurity, with her “ultimate goal” being to make “healthy food available to all people.”
Her coronation as Miss USA left mixed reactions among fans on social media.
“I’m so happy for Michigan! I can’t wait to see her year! Well, see you next year guys,” said one viewer on X.
“Fellow michigander, proud of you miss,” posted another.
“Very well, Miss Michigan!” a third user wrote.
Despite some support, many fans revealed that they were disappointed with the choice of judges.
“Michigan… Why??? I don’t understand. How did she win?” one viewer wrote in a post to X.
“The worst Miss USA ever!!! So disappointed,” wrote another.
“We’re definitely not going to win Miss Universe,” said a third.
A fourth user X chimed in, saying, “Michigan had the most rehearsed response I’ve ever heard.”
The first runner-up was named Connor Perry, Miss Kentucky USA.
Earlier in the evening, social media users were shocked by the final top 5, with many saying they were upset that Aarieanna Ware, Miss Texas USA, was not chosen.
“Congratulations to the Top 5! Super shocked Miss Texas isn’t in the top 5. Her stage presence was everything,” wrote one X user.
“Texas not being in the Top 5 is honestly incomprehensible, why am I watching the same show?? Haha, let me know if I’m missing anything?” another posted.
“I’m so shocked that TX didn’t make the Top 5,” added a third.
The top five also included Danika Christopherson, Miss Oklahoma USA; Macy Hudson, Miss Ohio, USA; and Christell Foote, Miss Tennessee USA.
Cooper was crowned by Savannah Gankiewicz of Hawaii, who took over the role of Miss USA in May after last year’s winner unexpectedly resigned.
Sunday night’s pageant was hosted at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California by The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills’ Garcelle Beauvais and E!’s Keltie Knight. News.
It followed the crowning on Thursday of Miss Teen USA, Addie Carver, Miss Mississippi Teen USA.
Carver, 17, is a cheerleader, dance teacher and choreographer.
During the pageant, she told the judges that if she were crowned, it would be her “mission to know that every girl who is like me, once, is never alone.”
She was referring to the mental health problems she suffered when she was just 13, following the death of her father.
Sunday’s coronation comes just months after former Miss USA winner Noelia Voigt and Miss Teen USA UmaSofia Srivastava both relinquished their titles within days of each other.
The dismissals shocked the leaders of the Miss Universe Organization, as it was the first time in the programs’ history that both pageants had seen the titleholders abandon their crowns.
“Her dream job turned out to be a nightmare,” Miss Teen’s mother, Barbara Srivastava, said at the time.
“We could not continue this charade. The girls decided to resign and give up their lifelong dream: a crown, a national title.”
Srivastava failed to crown his successor, Carver.
In his resignation letter, Voigt, 24, said there was a “toxic work environment.”
She also said she suffered from “heart palpitations, full-body tremors, loss of appetite, unintentional weight loss, loss of sleep, hair loss and more” as a starter.
At the time of their resignations, the Miss USA Organization said it respected and supported both winners’ decision to step down.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story