Army officer crowned Miss USA after pageant's year of controversy
FILE-Alma Cooper, Miss Michigan USA wins Miss USA 2024 at the 73rd annual Miss USA Pageant at Peacock Theater on August 4, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images)
A new Miss USA has claimed the crown as the pageant has faced controversy during the past year.
Miss Michigan Alma Cooper won the title during the 73rd annual ceremony on Sunday. Cooper is a U.S. Army officer, data scientist and master's student at Stanford University researching food insecurity.
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Cooper’s win comes after the resignations of former Miss USA Noelia Voigt and former Miss Teen USA 2023 UmaSofia Srivastava, marking a rough year for the Miss USA organization.
Why has controversy surrounded the Miss USA crown?
Noelia Voigt earned the Miss USA crown in September 2023 but later announced her resignation on Instagram. In the May 2024 social media post, Voigt wrote in part, "In life, I strongly value the importance of making decisions that feel best for you and your mental health."
FOX News cited a resignation letter obtained by ABC News and other outlets, where she wrote, "There is a toxic work environment within the Miss USA organization that, at best, is poor management and, at worst, is bullying and harassment. This started soon after winning the title of Miss USA 2023."
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FILE-Miss Teen USA 2023, UmaSofia Srivastava (2L), Miss USA 2023, Noelia Voigt (2R) and guests attend Supermodels Unlimited Magazine Presents: Billboards Over Broadway - NYFW Celebrity Event at Nebula Nightclub on February 10, 2024 in New York City.
After Voigt's decision to leave, Hawaii’s Savannah Gankiewicz, the 2023 Miss USA pageant runner-up, was crowned the winner, a move that resulted in controversy.
UmaSofia Srivastava released a statement via Instagram on May 8, 2024, sharing that she was stepping down, explaining that her values don’t align with the direction of the Miss USA organization.
In May 2024, the mothers of Voigt and Srivastava, alleged that their daughters were dealing with turmoil within the Miss USA organization. UmaSofia and Noelia signed non-disclosure agreements, but Jackeline Voigt and Barbara Srivastava told "Good Morning America" in an interview their daughters were "ill-treated, abused, bullied and cornered," FOX News reported.
FOX News contributed to this report. This story was reported from Washington, D.C.