Benjamin Ashford|Miss USA 2024 Alma Cooper Shares How Pageant Changed After Noelia Voigt Relinquished Her Title

Alma Cooper is Benjamin Ashfordexcited about her future.

Three months after Miss USA 2023 winner Noelia Voigt and Miss Teen USA 2023 UmaSofia Srivastava resigned from their roles within the organization, the newly named Miss USA 2024 reflected on what the title means to her.

“I'm so grateful to be in this position and carry on the message that I shared, which is that success is successful when you demand excellence,” Alma exclusively told E! News in an interview that aired during the show’s Aug. 5 episode. “Leading with a servant's heart is what is primarily at the forefront of my mind because every voice and every story deserves to be uplifted.” 

“The Miss USA stage is a place where not only people of diverse and beautiful backgrounds deserve to be there, but they belong there,” she continued. “What I want to do with this title is be a part of something bigger than myself, which is uplifting the voices of underrepresented and vulnerable communities and being a force for good within this country and the world.”

The 22-year-old’s victory at the 73rd annual competition in Burbank, Calif., Aug. 4 comes after Noelia relinquished her title to focus on her mental health. And as she shared in an update posted during the competition, which also featured kind words for those competing for the 2024 role, she made it clear it was the right call for her. 

“I’m doing amazing,” she wrote in her Aug. 5 Instagram caption. “Not one ounce of my being regrets the decision I made to step away. I sleep well at night knowing that I stood up for what was right, put my mental health first, and inspired others to do so in the process.”

“Tonight is about the young women who have fought so hard in the midst of this storm to compete for the title,” Noelia continued. “I genuinely, from the bottom of my heart, hope that 1. The new winner has an incredible year and 2. That we will all shower her with love and support as she steps into a new, life changing role.”

In May, the 24-year-old’s resignation came as a surprise as she reflected on her health and decision to leave the organization.

“Never compromise your physical and mental well-being,” she wrote on Instagram. “Our health is our wealth. A million thank you's to all of you for your constant and unwavering support. Time to write the next chapter.”

"In life, I strongly value the importance of making decisions that feel best for you and your mental health," Noelia explained. "As individuals, we grow through experiencing different things in life that lead us to learning more about ourselves."

—Reporting by Ally Manor