Miss USA winner Alma Cooper, who was crowned in 2024, has announced she won’t be attending this year’s pageant.
Taking to Instagram on Friday, October 24, the beauty queen, 23, told her followers that she made the “extremely difficult decision” to skip this year’s event. The post was shared just hours before the pageant, where she was expected to crown her successor.
“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,” she wrote in the lengthy caption that detail her decision. “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.”
She continued: “After much consideration, I’ve made the extremely difficult decision not to attend this year’s Miss USA pageant and crowning ceremony. 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.”
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In response to Cooper’s post, her followers shared messages of support in the comments section.
“CONGRATS on a phenomenal reign Alma. Despite all the odds, you showed up, carrying the crown and title with grace and true class. Keep doing amazing things. 🫶🏽🤍,” one follower wrote.
Another added, “Fully support your decision and proud of you queen! As a fan of Miss USA since the 80s, not seeing the outgoing queen come back is sad but you have to go with what your heart is telling you! You are loved by the fans! ❤️.”
Despite confirming she was stepping away from the event, Cooper did not explain the reason behind the decision in the cryptic post.
Shortly after being crowned Miss USA in August 2024, Cooper spoke to Us Weekly about how she hoped she could be a driving force for good after her win.
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“I’m super grateful to be passionate about food insecurity,” she exclusively told Us at the time at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. “I think that’s something that I really want to have a broader impact on with this platform.”
Food insecurity is a cause close to Cooper’s heart due to her mother growing up with concerns about having enough food to eat at home.
“I want to uplift the voices of those who often go unheard and be a changemaker, be a force for good within this sector,” Cooper told Us. “I do research at Stanford in the field of nutrition and health, and to me, the biggest impact I can have is to uplift other people and give people the opportunity to break down their own barriers and give a launch pad to whatever dreams they think of. I cannot explain the gratitude I have for the people who have uplifted me and allowed me to chase my own dreams, even when I didn’t even think I could do it.”
