2nd Lt. Madison Marsh Breaks Away From Stereotypes

Miss America’s Inspirational Endeavors at AirVenture 2024 2nd Lt. Madison Marsh Breaks Away From Stereotypes The 2024 Miss America winner, Madison Marsh of Colorado, made an appearance on day 4 of this year’s EAA Oshkosh AirVenture. Her special appearance gave viewers a chance to speak with her and learn more about aviation opportunities for women.

The Miss America tradition began over 100 years ago in Atlantic City. Though it started as an effort to lure in tourists, the name has quickly become a symbol of both inspiration and empowerment for the country’s women. Its reach has grown immensely throughout the years, with 2024’s Miss America being the first active duty US Armed Forces member to receive the title.

Madison Marsh is a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force. She is currently on a recruiting assignment as she juggles her Miss America duties with her Master’s studies at Harvard Kennedy School. On the side, she does research on pancreatic cancer, hoping to help prevent others from experiencing the same grief she did when she lost her mother to the disease. As if she doesn’t have enough on her plate, she also wants to use her experience to inspire young women at AirVenture.

“I hope this shows other young women that you can do whatever you want. You don’t have to think of the societal boxes that people try to put you in,” Marsh explained, “As long as you’re doing what you love, you can and will truly break any bounds that are set out for you.”

In the past few years, the community of women involved in aviation has expanded exponentially. And, although Marsh is involved in the military side, she wants to highlight the variety of career paths available. She noted, “being able to share that message with all of the other people that might be interested in joining the military or the Air Force is so important, because we don’t want to misguide them and show that there’s only this one singular path: to join the airforce. But instead, showing them there’s so many different avenues that you can serve without the uniform, there’s so many different jobs and ways to do it.”

Marsh may have strayed from her original path, but it is clear that her love and support for the aviation industry and its community is lifelong.

FMI: www.missamerica.org