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Marsh graduated from the Air Force Academy with a degree in physics and a focus on astronomy. She is now pursuing a master's degree in public policy at Harvard Kennedy School, according to her competition biography.

In an interview with the university's newspaper, The Harvard Crimson, Marsh said she sees similarities between military service and pageantry, explaining that with both, \"you're serving but in a different way.\"

\"When I put on my uniform, I serve and I represent our country,\" she said. \"When I put on the crown and sash, I'm serving, representing my community.\"

\"PHOTO:
Joe Marino/UPI via Shutterstock
PHOTO: Miss Colorado Madison Marsh is crowned the New Miss America 2024 in Orlando, Fla., Jan. 14, 2024.
>

Marsh, who was crowned Miss Colorado last May, told the newspaper that she started competing in pageants during in her first year at the Air Force Academy.

\"I don't think I ever would have gotten into Harvard if I wouldn't have gone to the Air Force Academy,\" Marsh said. \"I don't think I ever would have become Miss Colorado without the Air Force Academy because they have trained me and honed in on my leadership.\"

For the talent portion of the Miss America competition, Marsh performed a spoken word piece about earning her private pilot's license at the age of 16.

\"PHOTO:
Joe Marino/UPI via Shutterstock
PHOTO: Miss Colorado, Madison Marsh reacts after being named Miss America 2024 at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Orlando, Fla., Jan. 14, 2024.
>

Marsh said she plans to devote her year of service as Miss America to raising awareness about pancreatic cancer, a disease that led to the death of her mom. Marsh's foundation for pancreatic cancer research and advocacy is named the Whitney Marsh Foundation, in honor of her late mother.

\"I really want to be able to go global with pancreatic cancer and share my mom's story and be able to raise money and increase research funds for pancreatic cancer,\" Marsh said in her post-win interview, shared on Miss America's Instagram story.

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