How much prize money has Madison Marsh earned for winning Miss America 2024?

Madison Marsh took the Miss America title on Sunday night after going up against 50 other state winners. Representing Arkansas, the 22-year old became the first active-duty officer in the United States Air Force to compete for the crown. Who’d have thought she’d go on to be victorious?

“The public perception of Miss America program is often that it’s a one-night event, but in reality it’s so much more,” says the organisation behind the award. “This unique opportunity is a year-round program of ‘Style, Service, Scholarship and Success’ – representing the four points of the Miss America and Miss America’s Teen crown.  Participants acquire life long skills, meet other like-minded women, cultivate their own personal style, and engage within their communities.”

Securing her spot at Miss America by clinching victory in the May 2023 Miss Colorado competition, she was presented with the title by the 2023 champion, Grace Stanke from Wisconsin. Ellie Breaux of Texas emerged as the first-runner-up, with Cydney Bridges of Indiana, Mallory Hudson of Kentucky, and Caroline Parente of Rhode Island following behind.

What prize does Miss America win?

You may be interested to hear that the Miss America pageant does not hand out financial rewards directly to the winner. That said, there is clearly some incentive for the participants, as well as the esteem of the title and crown.

Take Grace Stanke, for example, last year’s winner. She was awarded more than $68,000 in scholarship assistance, from both state and national competitions, and earned an appearance contract, travelling across the United States throughout her ‘reign’. March can expect a similar year.

As well as the winner, further educational grants were awarded to category winners and the top 15 finalists.

Who is Madison Marsh?

Having earned her degree in physics from the USAF Academy, Marsh is a second lieutenant in the air-service branch of the US military, as detailed in her biography on the official Miss Colorado website. Currently pursuing a master’s in public policy at the Harvard Kennedy School, she previously served as a graduate intern at Harvard Medical School.

During her time there, she actively contributed to research involving the application of artificial intelligence for the detection of pancreatic cancer.

Marsh, whose mother died of pancreatic cancer in 2018, additionally serves as president and founder of the Whitney Marsh Foundation, which raises money for research into the treatment and early detection of the illness.

“I’m now trying to take the next step and use my studies from the Kennedy School to learn about the inner workings and the difficulties of what policy really looks like,” Marsh told an interview with SWNS. “Issues like economic environments and other social pressures that might be inhibiting our ability to implement cancer policies that can affect all Americans.”

Miss America 2024: what sections were there?

The Miss America 2024 beauty pageant took place at the Walt Disney Theater at Dr Phillips Center for Performing Arts in Orlando, Florida. As well as sections such as public-speaking and best-in-evening-gown contests, Miss America 2024 will include a fitness segment, as part of recent format changes.

“For me, it’s great because I need to stay physically fit and in the gym for the military, so it already coincides with pageant training,” Marsh told SWNS ahead of the event.