Madison Marsh Balances Miss America 2024, Air Force Officer
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 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.
Early life and education
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
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
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 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 Royal International Air Tattoo 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
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
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] Source: Madison Marsh – Wikipedia
Madison Marsh’s Flying Career to Miss America Win and A Search for the Cure
Second Lieutenant Madison Marsh is both a U.S. Air Force officer and the first active-duty service member to win the Miss America crown in 2024. Her aviation background is a key part of her identity.
Early Aviation Aspirations
From a young age, Marsh dreamed of being a pilot and even an astronaut. At 13, she attended NASA’s Space Camp, and by 17 she had earned her civilian pilot’s license Air Education and Training Command. This passion led her to the U.S. Air Force Academy, where she graduated in 2023 with a degree in astrophysics Wikipedia.
Military Pilot Training
After commissioning as a 2nd lieutenant, Marsh received a pilot slot and was assigned to the 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada YouTube. She has flown the F-16D Fighting Falcon, the only female fighter pilot in her squadron, Maj. Megan Hainline, during familiarization flights YouTube. These flights are part of pilot training to gain hands-on experience in multirole fighter operations.
Public and Media Footage
Videos from Nellis AFB show Marsh preparing for and taking off on F-16D flights in December 2023 YouTube+1. These clips highlight her transition from a pageant contestant to a military pilot, blending her public profile with her aviation career.
Miss America Madison Marsh talks pancreatic cancer awareness
Balancing Roles
While flying, Marsh also serves as a cancer research scholar through the Whitney Marsh Foundation, which she co-founded in memory of her late mother Air Education and Training Command. She is pursuing a master’s in public policy at the Harvard Kennedy School via the Air Force Civilian Institution program YouTube.
Madison Marsh, Miss America 2024, Builds a Health Policy Career on a Physics Foundation
Madison Marsh’s Mother’s Cancer Story
Madison Marsh’s life has been deeply shaped by the loss of her mother, Whitney Marsh, who died in 2018 from pancreatic cancer Wikipedia+1. Whitney, a 41‑year‑old active and healthy woman with no family history of the disease, began experiencing gastrointestinal symptoms over a year before her diagnosis.
Doctors initially misdiagnosed her condition as irritable bowel syndrome, but on Christmas Day 2017 she was hospitalized after severe stomach pain and jaundice. A scan revealed stage 3 pancreatic cancer Lustgarten Foundation.
Whitney underwent an aggressive treatment plan, including chemotherapy, radiation, and an oral chemotherapy tablet, which shrank her tumor enough to qualify her for a Whipple procedure — the best chance for long‑term survival. However, she had to stop the oral chemo due to cardiac side effects, and her cancer progressed to stage 4. She was no longer a surgical candidate and passed away shortly after Lustgarten Foundation.
Madison, then 17, described the experience as a “worldview transformation,” watching helplessly as her close‑minded protector and role model left her. She said she didn’t want to live a life where she couldn’t call her mother for support Lustgarten Foundation.
In Whitney’s honor, Madison co‑founded the Whitney Marsh Foundation – Search in 2019 to raise funds for cancer research and awareness, focusing on early detection and prevention Wikipedia+1.
Whitney’s battle with pancreatic cancer also inspired Madison’s advocacy work, which she continues alongside her military career and pageantry achievements. She has spoken publicly about the impact of her mother’s illness, emphasizing the importance of awareness and research funding Lustgarten Foundation+1.
2nd Lt. Madison Marsh ’23 – Leading with Empathy – YouTube
2nd Lt. Madison Marsh ’23 also Miss America 2024, lost her mom to pancreatic cancer in 2018. That was the year she was accepted to the Air Force Academy, news she was able to share with her mom who passed away just hours later. Madison fought through grief, doubt and fear, learning along the way that to become a successful leader meant asking for help and leading with empathy. Learn who she leaned on and how she leads now as a result.
SUMMARY Second Lieutenant Madison Marsh, the first active-duty military member and Miss America 2024, discussed her journey and leadership experiences. She highlighted her foundation for pancreatic cancer research, her academic achievements, and her role as a mentor at the Air Force Academy.
Marsh emphasized the importance of empathetic leadership, mental health support, and balancing personal and professional life. She shared her transition from aspiring to be an astronaut to focusing on public policy and her current studies at Harvard Kennedy School. Marsh underscored the significance of passion, support from family and mentors, and the impact of diverse perspectives on leadership. Long Blue Leadership
In summary: Madison Marsh’s “flying her plane” moments are tied to her active-duty pilot training in the F-16D at Nellis AFB, a career path that complements her historic Miss America win and her service to the U.S. Air Force.
“Miss Colorado Flies an F-16 Fighter Jet — You Won’t Believe This!”