Madison Marsh biography: 13 things about Miss America 2024

Madison Marsh is an American astrophysicist, certified private pilot and beauty queen born in Arkansas, United States. She is an advocate for pancreatic cancer research and education and is currently based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA.

On January 14, 2024, Marsh made history as the first ever active-duty U.S. Air Force pilot to compete in Miss America and win. Aside from flying planes, she also enjoys cooking pasta and reading in her free time.

Marsh is a black belt in taekwondo. Here are 13 more things about her:

1. In 2016, she started taking flying lessons.
2. In 2017, she made her first solo flight as a pilot.
3. On October 31, 2018, she found out she would attend the U.S. Air Force Academy in El Paso County, Colorado.
4. On November 1, 2018, her mother Whitney Marsh died of pancreatic cancer at age 41. Shortly after, she started the Whitney Marsh Foundation with her family.
5. In May 2019, she graduated from Southside High School in Fort Smith, Arkansas.
6. On June 25, 2019, she officially entered the U.S. Air Force Academy as a cadet.
7. On April 10, 2022, she competed against 12 other Miss Arkansas USA 2022 candidates at the Fort Smith Convention Center in Fort Smith. She finished in the Top 7.
8. On February 3, 2023, she went to Children’s Hospital Colorado in Briargate, Colorado Springs to deliver cards for the patients to read on Valentine’s Day.
9. On May 27, 2023, she represented the U.S. Air Force Academy at Miss Colorado 2023 and competed against 19 other candidates at the Parker Arts, Culture and Events Center in Parker, Colorado. She won the title.
10. On June 1, 2023, she graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy with a bachelor’s degree in astronomy and astrophysics. In July 2023, she entered Harvard Kennedy School in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA to pursue a master’s degree in public policy.
11. On December 19, 2023, she had a familiarization flight at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, USA.
12. On January 14, 2024, she represented Colorado at Miss America 2024 and competed against 50 other candidates at the Walt Disney Theater in Orlando, Florida, USA. She won the title.
13. She was 22 years old and a U.S. Air Force second lieutenant when she was crowned Miss America 2024. In May 2025, she will graduate from Harvard Kennedy School.