THE 2024 Miss USA has been crowned as Alma Cooper, Miss Michigan USA, causing a mixed reaction from fans.

Cooper was crowned the winner of the prestigious pageant on Sunday night and is now set to represent the United States at Miss Universe 2024 in Mexico.

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Alma Cooper, Miss Michigan USA, has been crowned the 2024 Miss USACredit: Getty

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Cooper is an Army officer, data scientist, and food insecurity advocateCredit: Getty

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Cooper was crowned the winner after a contentious year for Miss USA which saw last year’s winner resign in MayCredit: Getty

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She won over Miss Kentucky, Miss Tennessee, Miss Oklahoma, and Miss Ohio for the titleCredit: Getty

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Cooper was crowned by Savannah Gankiewicz of Hawaii, who stepped into the role of Miss USA in MayCredit: Getty
Cooper, 22, is from Okemos, Michigan, and is an Army officer and data scientist pursuing a master’s degree in statistics at Stanford.

She previously studied at the United States Military Academy West Point, where she graduated with honors.

In addition to walking in pageants, Cooper is an advocate for the nonprofit Feeding America.

She was the first active-duty Army officer to be named Miss Michigan USA.

She reflected on her academic and Army career during her time on stage in Sunday’s final.

“As the daughter of a migrant worker, a proud Afro-Latina woman, and an officer in the United States Army, I am living the American dream,” Cooper told the judges.

Per her Miss USA bio, Cooper hopes to use her platform to tackle food insecurity with her “ultimate goal” being to make “healthy foods available to all people.”

Cooper was crowned by Savannah Gankiewicz of Hawaii, who stepped into the role of Miss USA in May after last year’s winner unexpectedly resigned.

Her Miss USA crowning left mixed reactions among fans on social media.

“I’m so happy for Michigan! I can’t wait to see her year! Well, until next year everyone,” one viewer said on X.

“Fellow michigander, proud of you miss,” another posted.

“Way to go, Miss Michigan!” a third user wrote.

Despite some support, many fans revealed they were disappointed with the judges’ pick.

“Michigan…. Why??? I don’t get it. How’d she win?” one viewer wrote in a post to X.

“The worst miss USA ever!!! So disappointed,” another wrote.

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Fans of the pageant had mixed reactions to Cooper’s crowningCredit: Getty

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While many offered up words of support for the new Miss USA, others criticized her answersCredit: Getty

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Some were left upset that other contestants like Miss Texas, Aarieanna Ware, were left out of the Top 5Credit: Getty
“We’re definitely not winning Miss Universe,” a third said.

A fourth X user chimed in saying, “Michigan had the most rehearsed answer I’ve ever heard.”

The first runner-up was named as Connor Perry, Miss Kentucky USA.

Earlier in the night, social media users were left shocked by the final Top 5, with many saying they were upset that Aarieanna Ware, Miss Texas USA, didn’t make the cut.

“Congratulations to the Top 5! Super shocked Miss Texas isn’t in the top 5. Her stage presence was everything,” one X user wrote.

“Texas not being in the Top 5 is honestly mind-boggling because am I watching the same show?? Lol, let me know if I’m missing something?” another posted.

“I’m so shocked that TX didn’t make the Top 5,” a third chimed in.

TOP CONTESTANTS

The top five also included Danika Christopherson, Miss Oklahoma USA; Macy Hudson, Miss Ohio USA; and Christell Foote, Miss Tennessee USA.

The 2024 Miss USA delegation had a number of fan favorites that didn’t make the final selection made by the judges including Madeline Bohlman, Miss Arkansas USA, who wore a Walmart-themed blue and yellow dress during the costume portion of the pageant.

The class also featured K. Johnson, Miss Arizona USA, who would have been the oldest woman to win the title at 41 years old.

Also fighting for the crown was Miss Idaho USA Kaitlyn “Kit” Widmyer.

Widmyer made her mark after launching the Made With Kindness Foundation to remember her friends lost in the Idaho 4 murders.

In November 2022, students Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, Ethan Chapin, and Kaylee Goncalves were allegedly murdered by suspect Bryan Kohberger.

Sunday night’s pageant was hosted at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California, by Garcelle Beauvais from The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and Keltie Knight from E! News.

MISS USA TEEN

It followed the Thursday crowning of Miss Teen USA, Addie Carver, Miss Mississippi Teen USA.

Carver, 17, is a cheerleader, dance teacher, and choreographer.

During the pageant, she told the judges that if crowned, it would be her “mission to know that every little girl who is just like me, once, is never alone.”

She was referring to mental health issues she suffered at just 13 years old after the death of her father.

PAGEANT PROBLEMS

The Sunday crowning comes just months after the former winner of Miss USA, Noelia Voigt, and UmaSofia Srivastava, Miss Teen USA, both resigned from their titles within days of each other.

The resignations shocked officials within the Miss Universe Organization as it was the first time in the shows’ histories that both pageants saw titleholders ditch their crowns.

“The job of their dreams turned out to be a nightmare,” Miss Teen’s mom Barbara Srivastava said at the time.

“We could not continue this charade. The girls decided to step down and give (up) their dream of a lifetime — a crown, a national title.”

Srivastava was unable to crown her successor, Carver.

In her resignation letter, 24-year-old Voigt claimed there had been a “toxic work environment.”

She also said she suffered from “heart palpitations, full body shakes, loss of appetite, unintentional weight loss, loss of sleep, loss of hair, and more” as the titleholder.

At the time of their resignations, the Miss USA Organization said it respected and supported both winners’ decision to step down.