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Madison Marsh
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Madison Marsh
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Madison Isabella Marsh (born August 2, 2001)[1] is an American beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss America 2024. She had previously been crowned Miss Colorado 2023, and was both the fourth woman representing Colorado and the first member of the United States Armed Forces to win the title of Miss America. Outside of pageantry, Marsh is an officer in the United States Air Force.

Key Information

Early life and education

[edit]
2nd Lt. Madison Marsh in December 2023

Marsh was born in Fort Smith, Arkansas to Mike and Whitney Marsh, and has four siblings.[2][3][4][5] Her father is a physician and her mother was a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA).[2] Her mother died of pancreatic cancer when Marsh was seventeen years old, leading Marsh to become an activist for pancreatic cancer awareness and prevention.[4][3] She founded the Whitney Marsh Foundation in her mother's honor in 2019, which raises funds for cancer research.[4][6]

Marsh graduated from Southside High School in Fort Smith, Arkansas in 2019.[3] While growing up, she enjoyed space camps and flying lessons, receiving her pilot's license at age 17.[7][8] After graduating high school, she attended the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and graduated with a degree in astrophysics in 2023.[3] Upon graduation, Marsh was commissioned a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force.[6] Marsh subsequently studied public policy for one semester at the Harvard Kennedy School through the Air Force Civilian Institution program.[9] She afterwards interned with Harvard's medical department.[10]

Pageantry

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In 2023, Marsh was crowned Miss Academy 2023, a pageant for women attending the United States Air Force Academy.[4] As Miss Academy 2023, she was eligible for the Miss Colorado 2023 pageant, which she went on to win in May 2023.[11][12][13] This was her third attempt at competing for the Miss Colorado title.[13] As Miss Colorado 2023, Marsh became the first Miss America contestant to be an active-duty military officer.[4]

Miss America 2024

[edit]

As Miss Colorado 2023, Marsh was selected to represent Colorado at the Miss America 2024 pageant. Miss America 2024 was held at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Orlando, Florida on January 14, 2024.[14][15] In the pageant, Marsh advanced into the Top 11 and later the Top 5, ultimately being crowned the winner, besting first runner-up Ellie Breaux of Texas.[16][17][18] As Miss America 2024, Marsh became the fourth woman representing Colorado to win the pageant, and the first member of the United States Armed Forces to be crowned the winner.[7][19][20] As part of her prize package, Marsh received a $50,000 scholarship to further her education.[21] Marsh has received over $70,000 total in scholarships from competing within the Miss America organization.[10] During her reign as Miss America, Marsh is serving in an Air Force public affairs and recruiting position.[22][23]

Marsh was the honorary pace car driver at the 2024 Daytona 500 NASCAR race.[24] In February 2024, Marsh received the 'Spirit of the Springs' Award from the city of Colorado Springs.[25] She visited students at schools in Colorado Springs, Colorado,[26] and Daytona Beach, Florida.[27] Marsh also visited Fort Knox,[28] and Ebbing Air National Guard Base.[29] She presented a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (Unknowns) at Arlington National Cemetery, and visited the Memorial Display Room on March 3, 2024.[22] Madison was a special guest of the United Kingdoms Royal International Airshow in England in July 2024, and spoke about her USAF career mixed with being Miss America in front of 100,000 visitors from all over the world.

Career after Miss America

[edit]

After her Miss America reign, Marsh continues as an Air Force officer and as a graduate student at Harvard University (as of 2025).[30] In April 2025, she gave a keynote at Harvard Kennedy School's Institute of Politics.[31]

Personal life

[edit]

Marsh has a black belt in taekwondo.[32] In January 2024, Marsh announced her engagement to Walker Morris;[33] this was in sharp contrast to the Miss America pageant's previous strict "no-boyfriend" rules.[34]

Marsh's cousin is Madeline Bohlman, a beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Arkansas Teen USA in 2021 and Miss Arkansas USA in 2024.[35]

References

[edit]
[edit]
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Madison Marsh

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Madison Marsh is an American United States Air Force officer and beauty pageant titleholder known for being crowned Miss America 2024, becoming the first active-duty service member from any branch of the military to win the title. A 2023 graduate of the United States Air Force Academy with a degree in physics and a focus in astronomy, she holds the rank of second lieutenant and originally earned a pilot training slot after obtaining her pilot's license at age 17. She deferred pilot training to pursue a master's degree in public policy at the Harvard Kennedy School through the Air Force Institute of Technology's Civilian Institution Programs, where she also conducts research on pancreatic cancer early detection in collaboration with the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Marsh began competing in pageants during her time at the Air Force Academy as a way to engage in community service, public speaking, and leadership development, ultimately winning Miss Colorado 2023 before claiming the national title in January 2024. Her platform centers on pancreatic cancer awareness and early detection, inspired by the loss of her mother, Whitney Marsh, to the disease when Marsh was 17; together with her father and sister, she co-founded the Whitney Marsh Foundation, which has raised more than $250,000 to support research, education, and screening for at-risk families. During her reign as Miss America, she visited dozens of cities, delivered numerous speaking engagements, appeared at major events, and advocated for the compatibility of femininity and military service, helping to inspire young women to consider careers in aviation, STEM, and the armed forces. Her dual roles have allowed her to bridge military service and public advocacy, challenging stereotypes about women in uniform while promoting health policy reforms and cancer research. As her year as Miss America concluded in early 2025, Marsh continues her graduate studies with a focus on health-care policy for underserved communities and plans to return to regular Air Force duties.

Early life and education

Early life

Madison Marsh was born on August 2, 2001, in Fort Smith, Arkansas, where she grew up as a native of the area. She is the daughter of Mike Marsh, a physician, and Whitney Marsh, and grew up with four siblings in a family environment shaped by her mother's deep commitment to community service. Whitney Marsh served as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for children in foster care in their hometown, emphasizing service and ensuring a loving, supportive childhood for her family while also giving back to others in need. Described as an avid athlete, she maintained a rigorous routine that included running 10 miles a day along with biking and swimming. In 2018, Whitney Marsh was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at age 41 and passed away nine months later, leaving Madison, then 17 years old, without her mother. In honor of her mother, the family established the Whitney Marsh Foundation to advance pancreatic cancer research and early detection.

United States Air Force Academy

Madison Marsh attended the United States Air Force Academy, where she majored in physics with a focus on astronomy. During her time as a cadet, she engaged in research-oriented internships and projects, including one with NASA in which she researched gamma ray bursts, as well as work with the Etelman Observatory in the U.S. Virgin Islands conducting limiting magnitude studies using the Virgin Islands Robotic Telescope. She also completed additional internships during her studies. Marsh graduated from the Academy in the spring of 2023 with a degree in physics. Upon graduation, she was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force. She later pursued a master's degree in public policy at Harvard University's Kennedy School.

Graduate studies

Madison Marsh began a two-year Master of Public Policy program at the Harvard Kennedy School in September 2023 through the Air Force Institute of Technology's Civilian Institution Programs. She paused her graduate studies to fulfill her responsibilities during her reign as Miss America 2024. Following the conclusion of her year-long service, Marsh returned to the program and is now actively engaged as a graduate student studying public policy at the school. Her academic work emphasizes health policy, particularly issues related to pancreatic cancer early detection and care for underserved populations. Marsh plans to conduct research on pancreatic cancer early detection in collaboration with the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and a professor from Harvard Medical School. She is also beginning new research projects as an intern and researcher with the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, focused on policy pertaining to early detection. Marsh has expressed that her studies aim to address barriers such as economic environments and social pressures that inhibit the implementation of effective cancer policies affecting Americans.

Military career

Service as a Second Lieutenant

Upon graduation from the United States Air Force Academy in 2023, Madison Marsh was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force. She transitioned from cadet to active-duty officer, beginning her service in this entry-level commissioned rank. In January 2024, while serving on active duty as a second lieutenant, Marsh became the first active-duty service member in the U.S. military to be crowned Miss America. This achievement marked a historic milestone for both the Air Force and the Miss America organization, as no prior winner had competed and won while holding an active-duty military position. Throughout her reign as Miss America 2024, Marsh remained on active duty as a second lieutenant, balancing her military commitments with her duties as titleholder. Official Air Force sources continued to refer to her by her rank during this period, underscoring her ongoing service status.

Beauty pageant career

Early participation and Miss Colorado

Madison Marsh began her involvement in beauty pageants while a cadet at the United States Air Force Academy, entering the Miss Colorado competition as part of her senior year activities. It was her third attempt to win the state title when she succeeded in May 2023, securing the Miss Colorado 2023 crown shortly before her graduation from the academy and commissioning as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force. Prior to her victory, Marsh had competed in the Miss Colorado pageant in previous years without winning, building experience in the system that emphasizes community service and advocacy alongside traditional pageant elements. Her Miss Colorado title qualified her to represent the state at the Miss America 2024 national competition.

Miss America 2024 competition and crowning

Madison Marsh represented Colorado in the Miss America 2024 competition, held in Orlando, Florida. The pageant included 51 contestants from the 50 states and the District of Columbia, with preliminary competitions spanning three nights leading to the selection of 11 semi-finalists—10 chosen by judges and one by public vote. Finalists then advanced through four rounds: a fitness showcase featuring rhinestone-embellished athleisure wear, a "hot topics" discussion, talent performances, and evening gown appearances. Marsh progressed to the top five finalists. On January 14, 2024, during the televised finale, Madison Marsh was crowned Miss America 2024. She became the first active-duty Air Force officer to win the title. Marsh's competition included a spoken-word talent performance centered on receiving her pilot's license at age 16 and a "hot topics" response addressing drugs in America, where she referenced her late mother's battle with pancreatic cancer. She succeeded Grace Stanke of Wisconsin as Miss America.

Reign as Miss America

Activities and public appearances

During her reign as Miss America 2024 from January 2024 to January 2025, Madison Marsh maintained an intensive schedule of public appearances and nationwide travels, often integrating her pageant responsibilities with U.S. Air Force outreach efforts through a specially created public affairs position. She participated in 106 Air Force-related public engagements, which included interactions designed to generate interest in military service among students, parents, and other influencers. The demanding travel itinerary frequently required rapid transitions between pageant attire and military uniform, with limited time spent at her home station. Among her notable activities were a February 23, 2024 homecoming tour of the United States Air Force Academy accompanied by 27 state delegates, featuring experiences such as mission briefings, flight simulators, airfield demonstrations, academic facility visits, and a reception with the Academy superintendent. In mid-February 2024, she participated in events at Daytona International Speedway ahead of the Daytona 500, where she greeted fans, spoke with students about service in and out of uniform, met future enlistees, and interacted with the Air Force Thunderbirds demonstration team. Her travels also included visits to locations such as Florida for interactions with elementary school students and Delaware for discussions with young women about military service. Shortly after her crowning on January 14, 2024, Marsh conducted a series of national media interviews, including appearances on CNN on January 17, 2024, Good Morning America 3 on January 16, 2024, and Fox News programs. She later visited the TODAY Show in April 2024 for an interview segment. These engagements highlighted her historic role as the first active-duty service member to hold the Miss America title.

Advocacy platform

Madison Marsh's advocacy platform during her reign as Miss America 2024 centered on raising awareness of pancreatic cancer, promoting early detection, and advocating for increased research funding. She partnered with the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) to amplify these efforts, using her national platform to educate the public about the disease's signs and symptoms, which include unexplained weight loss, back pain, and changes in stool—symptoms often misattributed to less serious conditions. Marsh repeatedly emphasized self-advocacy, urging individuals to take their health seriously, trust their instincts, and seek second opinions when something feels wrong. This work was deeply personal, motivated by the loss of her mother, Whitney Marsh, to pancreatic cancer in 2018 at age 41 after symptoms went misdiagnosed despite no family history or risk factors. Marsh highlighted the need for greater attention to pancreatic cancer, stating that more must be done to improve outcomes for patients. She participated in key events to advance her platform, including serving as a featured speaker at PanCAN's PurpleStride New York City and joining a webinar focused on how early detection can change the course of the disease. Marsh also pushed for policy changes, traveling to Capitol Hill with PanCAN representatives to advocate for increased federal funding for pancreatic cancer research. During appearances such as her visit to the UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, she called for broader awareness of the disease's signs and symptoms alongside expanded efforts in early detection and screening.

Philanthropy

Whitney Marsh Foundation

The Whitney Marsh Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting pancreatic cancer through funding research, providing patient support, and raising awareness for early detection and improved treatments. It was co-founded in 2018 by Madison Marsh, her father Michael A. Marsh, M.D., and her sister Heidi Marsh in honor of their mother, Whitney Marsh, who died from pancreatic cancer at age 41 on November 1, 2018. The foundation's flagship annual event is Whitney's Race, a 5K and 10K run/walk held along the Arkansas River in Fort Smith, Arkansas, which unites survivors, families, and community members to support pancreatic cancer research and education. This gathering has become a key fundraiser and awareness initiative, with participants able to run, walk, or participate in other ways to contribute to the cause. Since its establishment, the foundation has granted more than $400,000 to pancreatic cancer initiatives, mobilized over 100 volunteers, and engaged more than 5,000 runners across its events while operating for eight years. The organization also supports additional efforts such as educational symposia featuring medical experts and resources for patients and families.

Personal life

Family background

Madison Marsh is the daughter of Dr. Michael Marsh and Whitney Marsh. Her father is a physician in Fort Smith, Arkansas, where the family resides. Her mother, Whitney Marsh, passed away in 2018 after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer less than a year earlier. Marsh has four siblings: Heidi, Nicholas, Sarah, and Christopher. The Whitney Marsh Foundation, which supports families affected by pancreatic cancer, is named in honor of her mother. Madison co-founded the organization with her father and sister Heidi following her mother's death.

Marriage

Madison Marsh married Walker Morris, an Air Force pilot, on July 5, 2025, at the Morris family private estate in Bridgewater, Connecticut. The couple's Bridgerton-inspired garden wedding emphasized legacy, love of country, and family, with the ceremony held in the West English Garden under a floral arch of cream, blush pink, and periwinkle blooms, and the reception following in the East English Garden. The event was attended by 141 guests and incorporated military traditions, including a saber arch formed by groomsmen during which the couple shared a kiss to pass, as well as a surprise yellow aerobatic plane flyover after the first kiss as a nod to their shared aviation interests. Marsh wore a custom off-the-shoulder Ines Di Santo Chantilly lace gown with a dramatic six-foot train and cathedral-length veil, which she described as "timeless and classy, but still uniquely me" and the best gown she had ever worn. The couple became engaged on January 20, 2024, at the Boston Opera House, after their relationship turned long-distance in 2023. During the ceremony, officiated by Marsh's uncle Jim Bohlman, they exchanged handwritten vows, with bridesmaids processing to the Bridgerton main theme and Marsh entering to Des'ree's "Kissing You" from the 1996 Romeo + Juliet film. Marsh noted the emotional significance of the moment, stating, "I’ve only seen my husband tear up once right after we got engaged so for both of us to cry as I walked down the aisle to that song is a moment I will replay in my mind forever." In a joint statement, the couple expressed their intent for an intimate, private celebration focused on meaningful themes.

References

  1. https://www.aetc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3592747/one-lieutenants-journey-from-usafa-to-miss-colorado-to-harvard/
  2. https://www.airandspaceforces.com/air-force-madison-marsh-miss-america/
  3. https://people.com/miss-america-2024-madison-marsh-talks-historic-win-exclusive-8426935
  4. https://talkbusiness.net/2023/03/air-force-academy-harvard-part-of-marshs-pancreatic-cancer-research-passion/
  5. https://gazette.com/military/air-force-academy-cadet-a-miss-colorado-contestant-channels-heartache-into-advocacy/article_5fcc5d24-fa4a-11ed-a79f-1f575140cd74.html
  6. https://www.airforcemedicine.af.mil/News/Display/Article/3693813/from-pilot-to-pageantry-meet-the-1st-active-duty-miss-america/
  7. https://manhattan.edu/news/archive/2024/10/miss-america-AFROTC-visit.php
  8. https://www.maxwell.af.mil/News/Display/Article/3592267/one-lieutenants-journey-from-usafa-to-miss-colorado-to-harvard/
  9. https://www.swtimes.com/story/news/2025/09/12/madison-marsh-brings-lessons-from-miss-america-year-to-harvard-fort-smith/86093256007/
  10. https://students.aip.org/observer/madison-marsh-miss-america-2024-builds-a-health-policy-career-on-a-physics-foundation
  11. https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/voices/2025/01/03/miss-america-2024-madison-marsh-air-force/76893215007/
  12. https://www.aetc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4001086/why-i-serve-miss-america/
  13. https://www.af.mil/News/Photos/igphoto/2003619631/
  14. https://gazette.com/military/usafa/air-force-academy-senior-wins-miss-colorado-competition/article_4ae613c4-fdb4-11ed-851f-73e947e419b6.html
  15. https://www.koaa.com/news/covering-colorado/air-force-academy-senior-crowned-miss-colorado-will-also-graduate-on-thursday
  16. https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/15/style/miss-america-2024-madison-marsh-colorado
  17. https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2024/12/26/camouflage-and-tiaras-first-active-duty-miss-america-reflects-on-year/
  18. https://www.usafa.edu/miss-america-tours-alma-mater/
  19. https://www.aetc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3693890/from-pilot-to-pageantry-meet-the-1st-active-duty-miss-america/
  20. https://www.dvidshub.net/news/487862/crowns-and-combat-boots-femininity-air-force
  21. https://www.cnn.com/videos/style/2024/01/17/miss-america-2024-madison-marsh-intv-ctm-vpx.cnn
  22. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SaHqBcusk9o
  23. https://www.foxnews.com/video/6345064925112
  24. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcPVd9JlNSg
  25. https://pancan.org/stories/miss-america-on-a-mission-madison-marsh-joins-pancan-to-raise-awareness/
  26. https://news.uams.edu/2024/11/13/miss-america-madison-marsh-visits-uams-winthrop-p-rockefeller-cancer-institute/
  27. https://www.whitneymarsh.org/
  28. https://www.whitneymarsh.org/about/our-team
  29. https://www.whitneymarsh.org/events/whitneys-race-2026
  30. https://runsignup.com/Race/AR/FortSmith/WhitneysRace
  31. https://www.whitneymarsh.org/events/whitneys-race-2025
  32. https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/fort-smith-ar/whitney-marsh-8042647
  33. https://talkbusiness.net/2024/01/fort-smith-native-southside-graduate-crowned-miss-america-2024/
  34. https://www.5newsonline.com/article/features/fort-smith-native-madison-marsh-proves-miss-america-more-than-a-crown/527-34dced67-f469-46aa-b88f-236b9ce3687e
  35. https://www.whitneymarsh.org/about/our-story
  36. https://lustgarten.org/from-the-sky-to-the-stage-to-the-search-for-a-cure/
  37. https://people.com/miss-america-2024-madison-marsh-marries-walker-morris-wedding-exclusive-11775154
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