Miss Okemos wins Miss Michigan USA
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) – Miss Michigan USA 2024 has been crowned, and the winner is from Okemos.
Alma Cooper is just 22 years old and she’s the first active duty army officer to compete in Miss Michigan USA. Once she finishes her graduate studies at Stanford University, she will serve as a military intelligence officer. But first, she will fulfill her duties as Miss Michigan 2024.
“I’m just so so grateful to finally not only get to this point, but then represent the great state of Michigan,” Alma said.
Alma said she has never been one to run from a challenge. She said she tends to run towards them. On April 21st, she was crowned at an event in Port Huron, where more than 60 people competed. She is excited about all the good that she can bring with her new platform.
“I’m a strong believer that if you can see me, you can be me. I hope to inspire other individuals all across the state, and all across the country, to demand excellence of themselves in whatever field, or passion or dream it is that they’re inspired by,” Alma said.
Alma graduated from Okemos High School in 2019. Growing up she saw others getting involved in the community and she followed suit. One of her main passions is to fight food insecurity.
“11.9% of Michiganders actually experience food insecurity. One of the things I’m extremely looking forward to is setting up food drives in my State. And getting out in the community, being boots on the ground for this issue,” Alma said.
As a Stanford student getting her master’s in data science, Alma plans to use her skills to focus on this issue of food insecurity. She also studied at West Point, a United States Military Academy. Once she is done at Stanford, She will be a Second Lieutenant in the Military Intelligence Branch of the Army. Her Father, Stacey Cooper, was also an Army Officer.
“I think she just got a chance to see someone commit to something that’s bigger than themselves,” Stacey said.
And Alma’s mother, Oralia Cooper, competed in pageants. She got to be there when Alma was crowned.
“I just could not believe it. And when they said her name Alma Cooper it was just unreal,” Oralia said.
Alma is now back at Stanford to finish out the year. She is a ‘Knight Hennessy Scholar.’ Next, she will head to Hollywood, California in August to compete in Miss USA.
“This opportunity is bigger than myself in so many ways,” Alma continued, “And I’m excited to hopefully inspire future generations to come to defy limits and barriers that they may be facing.”
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