The new Miss USA is a US Army officer from Michigan

According to her Miss USA bio, Cooper graduated in the top 5% of her class from West Point Military Academy and is a Knight-Hennessy Scholar at Stanford University, where she’s pursuing a master’s in data science.

Before taking the crown, Cooper competed in the evening gown, swimsuit, and interview rounds. The top five contestants all had to answer the same question: “How can we bridge the gap between different cultures and foster understanding and respect?”

“As the daughter of a migrant worker, a proud Afro-Latina woman, and an officer of the United States Army, I’m living the American dream,” Cooper responded. “If there’s anything that my life and my mother have taught me, it’s that your circumstances never define your destiny.”

Multiple people who worked behind the scenes at Miss USA also walked away from the organization this year. Kimberly Nicewonder and Paula Miles — state pageant directors who had been with the Miss USA organization for over three decades — both blamed Rose’s leadership for their resignations. Rose did not respond to previous requests for comment.

Before her final walk as Miss USA 2023, Gankiewicz — who has spoken out in support of the organization and Rose — told the audience that she’d had “the most unique reign in history.”

It remains to be seen what the year will hold for the new Miss USA.