Miss USA 2024: How much money does winner get? Alma Cooper takes home prestigious title and hefty prize
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: The Peacock Theater in Los Angeles got decked out for the grand finale of the highly regarded American beauty contest on Sunday, August 4. The winner of Miss USA 2024, Miss Michigan Alma Cooper, will represent the United States in the next Miss Universe pageant, which will take place in Mexico at the end of the year.
The winner will earn an array of coveted prizes in addition to walking away with the crown and the chance to represent the United States in the world's most prestigious beauty pageant.
The winner of Miss USA 2024 will hold the title for a full year. In addition to receiving $50,000 in scholarships as part of the prize money, the beauty queen will tour the nation as a "contracted employee" for the Miss USA Organization, earning a six-figure income in addition to annual costs.
Alma will also get a lavish prize package that includes a brand-new automobile, a wardrobe full of designer clothing, skin and hair care products, and a one-year rent-free residence in Los Angeles.
Who is Miss USA 2024 winner Alma Cooper?
Alma is a 22-year-old military intelligence officer and second lieutenant in the United States Army. As to her Miss USA profile, Alma is a Knight-Hennessy Scholar at Stanford University, where she is pursuing a master's degree in data science.
She also graduated from West Point Military Academy in the top 5% of her class. Alma participated in the evening gown, swimsuit, and interview rounds prior to winning the title.
Alma Cooper sheds light on her background during Miss USA 2024 Q&A round
The same question, "How can we bridge the gap between different cultures and foster understanding and respect?" was posed to the top five competitors.
"As the daughter of a migrant worker, a proud Afro-Latina woman, and an officer of the United States Army, I'm living the American dream," Alma replied. "If there's anything that my life and my mother have taught me, it's that your circumstances never define your destiny."
Alma Cooper shares what winning Miss USA 2024 title would mean
Alma also discussed her thoughts on what it would mean to her to win the Miss USA title in a video that aired during her final walk.
"I would have the opportunity to show that if you can see me, you can be me," she stated. "I want to show that through demanding excellence, success is accessible."
Miss USA 2024 crowned at the back of major controversies
At a turbulent moment for Miss USA, Alma is assuming the crown. In May, the pageant gained media attention when Noelia Voigt and Miss Teen USA UmaSofia Srivastava relinquished their titles.
In a show of unity, Miss Colorado Ariana Lemus quit the same week.
Citing nondisclosure agreements, UmaSofia and Noelia haven't made many specifics of their resignations public. However, in a May interview with Business Insider, their moms, Jackeline Voigt and Barbara Srivastava, said that it was because of the abuse they endured at the hands of Miss USA CEO Laylah Rose.
This year, a number of the Miss USA organization's backstage staff members also left. State pageant directors Paula Miles and Kimberly Nicewonder, who had both worked with Miss USA for more than thirty years, resigned, blaming Laylah's leadership for their actions.
In response to earlier calls for comment, Laylah remained silent. Savannah Gankiewicz, who has advocated for the organization, and Laylah, informed the crowd before the farewell walk as Miss USA 2023 that she has experienced "the most unique reign in history."
What the upcoming year holds for the new Miss USA is to be determined.
