Opinion
Madison Marsh, an Air Force second lieutenant, became the first active-duty Air Force officer to be crowned Miss America last month. Now, the 22-year-old is opening up about why she made the decision to join the Air Force.
Marsh reveals why she joined the Air Force
“I wanted to be an astronaut for about eight years until a year or two ago,” Marsh, who was Miss Colorado, told Fox News. “But then I discovered the Air Force Academy and it immediately piqued my interest. Obviously I don’t want to be an astronaut anymore.”
“When it comes to the Air Force, there is the camaraderie, the family that you create when you join the military,” he continued. “It’s phenomenal. It’s something I didn’t realize I wanted. Now I have people all over the country that I could call and that would have my back just because I’m in the military.
“My path has changed significantly in the last few years, but it’s all been just wonderful,” Marsh explained.
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“You really can do anything”
Marsh went on to say that she hopes to inspire other women in the military to follow their dreams.
“I like to think about all the women who came before me,” she said. “I’m not the first person in the military to do something like this. I think of all the first women to join the Air Force, to fly planes, to fly in combat, to go to the Air Force Academy, who took chances. Now, I’m lucky enough to be a small part of this story, to show other young women that you really can do anything.”
“Even if you don’t want to join the military, you can define those stereotypes, those patterns that you put yourself in,” Marsh continued. “You can show the world what you’re passionate about and put everything else aside. There were times when the stereotype of the military woman competing in pageants conflicted. Now I am able to break both stereotypes at the same time. I hope to show all young women that you can really do whatever you want.
Marsh also said the Air Force has done nothing but support her since she was crowned Miss America.
“They were so enthusiastic and supportive,” she said. “One of my favorite aspects of winning was having all these military women contact me and say, ‘Now we feel more comfortable showing how you can be feminine and in uniform and still be taken seriously.’ This meant so much to me. It’s something we may still struggle with today, but I’m really lucky that now we can all be a part of it together and break down those stereotypes.
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Marsh’s goals as Miss America
During her reign as Miss America, Marsh hopes to inspire women across the nation.
“For Miss America, I did my hair and makeup, but that’s not the most important part of the pageant,” she said. “Miss America is one of the largest providers of scholarships for women. I have received more than $70,000 in scholarships. This can be life changing for so many women. … And for me that is the best part of the organization.”
“It’s not just about beauty here,” he concluded. “The most important part is having the passion to serve, the passion to lead your community or profession, learning the ability to speak eloquently about the things you care about. This is what Miss America is all about. … And I’m ready for it.
It is truly amazing to have a Miss America who is a member of the US military. We can’t wait to see what Marsh does with her reign as Miss America in the months to come!
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