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Air Force 2nd Lieutenant Madison Marsh became the first female Air Force officer to be crowned Miss America last month. Now, the 22-year-old is opening up about why she decided to join the Air Force in the first place.
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 didn't want to be an astronaut anymore.”
“When it comes to the Air Force, there is the camaraderie and family that is created as a result of joining the armed forces,” she continued. “It's phenomenal. It's something I didn't realize I craved. Now I have people all over the country that I can call that will support me just for being in the military.”
“My path has changed significantly over the past several years – but everything has been great,” Marsh explained.
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“You can really do anything”
Marsh went on to say that she hopes to inspire other women in the armed forces to follow their dreams.
“I like to think of 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 about all the first women who joined the Air Force, who flew planes, who were in combat, who went to the Air Force Academy, who took chances. Now, I'm fortunate to be a very small part of that history.” , to show other young women that you really can do anything.
“Even if you don't want to join the military, you can identify those stereotypes, those boxes that you put yourself in,” Marsh continued. “You can show the world what you love and put everything else aside. There were times when the stereotype of a military woman competing in beauty pageants conflicted. Now, I am able to break both of these stereotypes at once. I hope to prove to all young women that they can “Do whatever they want.”
Marsh also said that the Air Force has been nothing but supportive of her since she was crowned Miss America.
“They were so enthusiastic and supportive,” she said. “One of my favorite parts about winning was having all these military women reach out to me and say, ‘Now we feel more comfortable about showing how you can be feminine and wear a uniform and still be taken seriously.’ That means the world to me. It’s something We may still struggle with it today, but I'm really lucky that now we can all be a part of it together and get rid of those stereotypes.
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Marsh's goals as Miss America
Throughout her reign as Miss America, Marsh hopes to inspire women across the country.
“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've received over $70,000 in scholarships. This can change the lives of a lot of women. … And to me, that's the most beautiful part about the organization.”
“It's not about beauty here,” she concluded. “The most important part is to have a passion for service, a passion for leadership in your community or your profession, and learn the ability to speak eloquently about the things that matter to you. That's what Miss America is all about. … And I'm ready for it.”
It's really amazing to have a Miss America who is a member of the US Armed Forces. We can't wait to see what Marsh does with her Miss America title in the coming months!
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