Who is Alma Cooper, USA's representative in Miss Universe 2024?

The United States representative to the Miss Universe beauty pageant for this year 2024 is anything but an ordinary contestant, in fact she is far from the cliche that for years characterized the contest that over time has been transformed according to the times and current needs, although maintaining its essence, because beauty is still the common denominator of its raison d'?tre.

Alma Oralia Minerva Cooper, born 22 years ago in Okemos, Michigan, is the reigning beauty queen of her state and the owner of the Miss USA crown, which she won on August 4, 2024, at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles, beating 50 other contestants.

An unconventional contestant

Alma Cooper is the daughter of a retired US Army major and a Mexican immigrant, who was an agricultural worker, before overcoming poverty to participate in some beauty contests.

However, that is not her greatest peculiarity. Alma - who has an older sister with a cognitive disability - is a graduate of the United States Military Academy, has a degree in mathematical sciences and a Master of Science in Statistics in the branch of data science from Stanford University.

Many years of passion for beauty pageants

After these academic achievements, she planned to enlist as a second lieutenant in the United States Army's Military Intelligence Corps, but in her path she was 'crossed' by the title of Miss USA and therefore her participation in Miss Universe, which is defined on Saturday, November 16 at the Arena Ciudad de Mexico in the Aztec capital.

Alma is the fourth woman from Michigan to be crowned Miss USA and has the honor of being the first active duty officer in the United States Army to compete for the title of Miss Michigan USA, but beauty pageants are in her blood, as her first time in one was at the age of eight, trained of course by her mother.