In a historic moment at the 2024 Miss America pageant, Miss Colorado Madison Marsh was crowned Miss America, making her the first active-duty military service member to win the prestigious title in the pageant's nearly 100-year history, according to the U.S. Air Force.

At just 22 years old, Marsh holds the rank of second lieutenant in the Air Force and recently graduated from the Air Force Academy in Colorado.

In an interview shared on Miss America's Instagram story, Marsh expressed her excitement about representing women who break stereotypes and her eagerness to showcase the intersection of being a member of the military community and Miss America.

When asked about the advice she would give to other women, Marsh emphasized the limitless possibilities, stating, "You can achieve anything. The sky is not the limit, and the only person that's stopping you is you."

The U.S. Air Force celebrated Marsh's historic win by sharing a post on X, featuring photos of Marsh in uniform and as the newly crowned Miss America, accompanied by the hashtag #AimHigh.

Marsh's journey has been nothing short of remarkable. She graduated from the Air Force Academy with a degree in physics, specializing in astronomy. Currently, she is pursuing a master's degree in public policy at Harvard Kennedy School, as noted in her competition biography.

In an interview with The Harvard Crimson, Marsh drew parallels between military service and pageantry, highlighting the common thread of serving and representing. "When I put on my uniform, I serve and represent our country," she explained. "When I put on the crown and sash, I'm serving and representing my community."

Marsh's involvement in pageantry began during her first year at the Air Force Academy, and she credits the Academy for shaping her leadership skills. She expressed gratitude for the opportunities it has provided, including her admission to Harvard. "I don't think I ever would have gotten into Harvard if I wouldn't have gone to the Air Force Academy," Marsh shared. "I don't think I ever would have become Miss Colorado without the Air Force Academy because they have trained me and honed in on my leadership."

For her talent performance at the Miss America competition, Marsh delivered a powerful spoken word piece about earning her private pilot's license at the age of 16, showcasing her passion for aviation.

In addition to her dedication to the pageant world, Marsh plans to utilize her year of service as Miss America to raise awareness about pancreatic cancer, a disease that tragically took her mother's life. Marsh's foundation for pancreatic cancer research and advocacy, named the Whitney Marsh Foundation in honor of her late mother, aims to go global in raising funds and increasing research efforts for pancreatic cancer.

READ MORE:

• AIR FORCE PILOT MAKES HISTORY AS FIRST ACTIVE-DUTY OFFICER TO COMPETE FOR MISS AMERICA CROWN

• ARMY TAKES DOWN AIR FORCE AT EMPOWER FIELD

• COLORADO RANKS ABOVE NATIONAL AVERAGE WITH 340,000 MILITARY VETERANS IN THE STATE

• ALARMING RISE IN SEXUAL ASSAULTS AT MILITARY ACADEMIES: STRIKING A BALANCE BETWEEN TRAINING AND DANGEROUS HAZING

In her post-win interview on Miss America's Instagram story, Marsh expressed her desire to share her mother's story and make a significant impact in the fight against pancreatic cancer.

Madison Marsh's historic win as Miss America not only breaks barriers in the pageant world but also showcases the strength, intelligence, and compassion of women serving in the military. Her journey serves as an inspiration to young women everywhere, reminding them that they can achieve anything they set their minds to.