Miss USA breaks tradition by refusing to hand crown to 2025 winner; I wait

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American Alma Cooper, 23, current holder of the Miss USA title, refused to participate in the 2025 edition of the pageant. The decision was made official on the night of Friday the 24th and surprised the public by breaking the tradition which expected the previous year’s winner to crown her successor.

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Alma Cooper won Miss USA 2024 representing the state of Michigan. On that occasion, she became the fourth woman from the state to win the title and advance to the international stage. Shortly after, she represented the United States at Miss Universe 2024, where she competed against 50 other contestants of different nationalities, but was not among the finalists.

At the event on Friday the 24th, Audrey Eckert, representing Nebraska, was crowned champion of the evening. With Alma’s absence, the crown and sash were placed on the new Miss USA by Danish Victoria Kjær Theilvig, winner of Miss Universe 2024.

Alma Cooper’s decision not to participate in the event, held in the city of Reno, was announced a few hours before the start of the ceremony. In a statement, she said her absence was due to personal issues, explaining that she was focused on her activities as a student at Stanford University, in addition to her duties as a lieutenant in the U.S. Army.

On her social networks, Miss USA 2024 shared a photo album and defended herself:

“In every aspect of my life, I always strive for excellence. This tireless pursuit drove me to graduate from West Point [academia militar] in the top 50 of my class, run three marathons in ten months, and become a Knight-Hennessy Scholar at Stanford University.

She continued, “I took that same attitude with me when I won the title of Miss USA, motivated by the opportunity to inspire young people around the world, both at Miss Universe and in communities across the country. I am a firm believer in the idea that excellence is worthless if it stops with me; I want my growth to serve as a foundation for others to lean on and build upon.”

Alma then explained her decision: “After much reflection, I have made the extremely difficult decision not to participate in this year’s Miss USA pageant or crowning ceremony. As I close this chapter, I do so with the knowledge that I have completed what I began with integrity and with my self-esteem enhanced, just like the crown I have had the honor of wearing.”

In addition to Audrey Eckert’s victory and Alma Cooper’s absence, Miss USA 2025 was also marked by a tribute to former Miss Universe Chelsea Smith (1973–2018). The Miss Congeniality award was named after her, who died in 2018, a victim of liver cancer.

Source: Terra

Amanda

I am Amanda Gans, a motivated and ambitious professional in the news writing industry. With over five years of experience in this field, I have developed an eye for detail and an ability to craft stories that captivate readers. I currently write for Gossipify, where I specialize in beauty & celebrities news. My passion lies with exploring the world of beauty through writing, interviewing experts and developing articles that are both informative and entertaining.