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23-year-old Miss USA 2024 Alma Cooper was in the news when she announced that she would not attend the crowning of the Miss USA 2025. This came hours before the event in Reno, Nevada, was set to begin. Cooper wrote a brief Instagram post, hinting at a close with integrity and a high regard for self-worth.
This post soon went viral, and fans of the pageant were curious about the rushed decision.
Cooper had established a solid image as a leader, student, and soldier during her year of service. Her abrupt departure gave her pageant adventure a silent but strong epilogue.
Alma Cooper’s background and achievements
Alma Cooper, a native of Michigan, was crowned Miss USA in 2024. She won the pageant during a period of change and reconstruction. She became the first Afro-Latina to win the title.
Alma Cooper attended the United States Military Academy at West Point. She is a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army, striking a balance of education, military service, and serving people. She later became a Knight-Hennessy Fellow at Stanford University, where she studied data science.
As Miss USA, Alma Cooper frequently talked of discipline, focus, and service.
She encouraged others to see success as something that should be shared, saying, “Excellence means little if it ends with me , I want my growth to be something others can build upon.”
Her decision to withdraw and the public response
Alma Cooper announced her decision on Instagram just ahead of the 2025 pageant finals. She called it a tough decision, the result of her own reflection. Though she did not give the reason, she said that she wanted to leave her reign with pride. In her Instagram post, she wrote:
"After much consideration, I’ve made the extremely difficult decision not to attend this year’s Miss USA pageant and crowning ceremony," the former Miss Michigan USA wrote. "As I close this chapter, I do so with the knowledge that I finished what I started with integrity and my self-worth held high, just like the crown I was honored to wear."
"In every aspect of my life, I am always in pursuit of excellence. That relentless pursuit fueled me to graduate from West Point top 50 in my class, run three marathons in 10 months and become a Knight Hennessy Fellow at Stanford University, Cooper added. "I brought that same attitude with me when I won the title of Miss USA, energized by the opportunity to inspire youth across the globe at Miss Universe and within communities across the nation. I am a firm believer that excellence means nothing if it stops with me, instead I want my growth to be something others can build on."
Miss USA CEO Thom Brodeur said that Alma Cooper had been invited to attend “in whatever capacity she was comfortable.” He described her as “our queen, always,” showing continued respect. This statement suggested that there were no issues between Cooper and the organization at the time of her withdrawal.
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