‘I Want To Change Things’: Miss USA 2024 Michigan Alma Cooper Reveals Her Interest In Food Insecurity Was Inspired By Her Mother

As a dedicated follower of pageants and stories of resilience, I am absolutely thrilled for Alma Cooper, Miss Michigan and now the new Miss USA 2024! Her journey is not just a testament to her beauty and intelligence but also a powerful demonstration of her passion and commitment towards addressing food insecurity.


Alma Cooper, representing Michigan, emerged victorious as Miss USA 2024 during the 73rd Miss USA pageant, which took place on August 4 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. She claimed the title by outshining Miss Oklahoma’s Danika Christopherson and Miss Kentucky Connor Perry.

The newly titled Miss USA 2024, currently conducting studies on food scarcity, health, and nutrition within the industry, draws inspiration from her mother’s past struggle with food insecurity.

Twenty-two-year-old Cooper recently graduated from West Point in 2023 and is now a Knight-Hennessy Scholar at Stanford University, pursuing a master’s degree in statistics. Her academic focus is on the topic of food insecurity, as it is an area that piques her personal curiosity.

In her interview with PEOPLE, Cooper shared that her mother Oralia had faced challenges with food security before her triumph. Given that approximately one out of every five children in our country struggle with food shortage, she emphasized that her mother is not alone in this hardship. Inspired by the desire to make a difference, she chose to focus her career on nutrition, health, and addressing food insecurity.

Born in the U.S., Cooper is the daughter of Oralia, a migrant farm worker who arrived in the United States as a six-year-old immigrant, and Stacey Cooper, a retired Army major who served for 24 years. After earning her undergraduate degree from Idaho State University, Oralia pursued a master’s degree in educational administration at Saginaw Valley State University.

At present, Oralia holds the position of a school administrator. Cooper went on to explain that her life has been shaped significantly by her childhood as a bookworm and her tenure as an officer in the United States Army.

2023’s Miss USA competition faced a tumultuous backdrop with controversy and the departures of previous titleholders. In this instance, Noelia Voigt, the 2023 Miss USA winner, and UmaSofia Srivastava, the former Miss Teen USA, chose to step down from their respective roles.

On May 7th, Voigt achieved a historic milestone by becoming the inaugural Venezuelan-American female winner of the title, as announced on Instagram. Citing a detrimental work atmosphere within the company, she opted to step down due to mental health reasons.

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2024-08-06 15:23