Second Lt. Madison Marsh, a 22-year-old U.S. Air Force Academy graduate, never imagined becoming Miss America, but after winning the crown in January, she became the first active-duty service member to do so. Marsh’s childhood dreams of becoming a pilot and an astronaut led her to attend NASA’s Space Camp at a young age. After losing her mother to pancreatic cancer in 2018, Marsh co-founded the Whitney Marsh Foundation to raise funds for cancer research and awareness. Despite initial struggles at the Air Force Academy, Marsh found success in pageantry, realizing the shared values of community service, leadership, and public speaking between pageants and the military.
After graduating from the Air Force Academy with a degree in physics and receiving a pilot’s billet, Marsh deferred her pilot training to pursue a master’s degree in public policy from Harvard Kennedy School. She is also working with experts from the Dana Farber Cancer Institute on early cancer detection research, continuing her work for the foundation dedicated to her mother. As Miss America, Marsh balances her Air Force commitment, studies, and public-facing duties, with the Air Force accommodating her new role by placing her in a public affairs/recruiting position for the year. Marsh aims to bring potential legislation related to cancer research to Capitol Hill and raise awareness about pancreatic cancer in honor of her mother.
As the first active-duty service member to win Miss America, Marsh hopes to dispel misconceptions about the compatibility of femininity and military service for women. She encourages young women to define their own roles in the military and believes that leadership can be demonstrated in various fields, including the military, the boardroom, or medical settings. Despite facing challenges in the talent portion of the pageant, Marsh delivered a monologue on her first solo flight, highlighting the strength and image she wanted military women to embody. She encourages other active-duty women to consider pageantry for its scholarship opportunities and platform for community service and public speaking practice.
Looking towards the future, Marsh acknowledges the numerous opportunities that have opened up for her in public policy, cancer research, and the military within five years. She expresses gratitude for the Air Force’s support in allowing her to fulfill her duties as Miss America and looks forward to giving back in the best way possible. Marsh retains the option to attend undergraduate pilot training after completing her master’s degree or pursue one of 42 other line officer careers. Despite the whirlwind of recent events, Marsh remains focused on utilizing her skills and training to serve the Air Force and continue making a positive impact in her various roles.
