Miss Michigan Alma Cooper wins Miss USA 2024!

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Miss Michigan Alma Cooper interview on the red carpet after winning the crown at the 73rd annual Miss USA finals live competition event on August 4, 2024, at the Peacock Theatre at L.A. Live in Los Angeles, California, USA.
Reporter: Athenna Crosby @athennacrosby.
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Transcript

00:00Elma Cooper, you are Miss USA 2024.

00:06You've had a little bit of time now to let that sink in.

00:08Do you believe it?

00:11Yes, a little bit.

00:12This still feels so surreal.

00:13I'm going to have to watch it on video to believe it, for sure.

00:16Well, you gave a very riveting answer in your final question.

00:19And you talked all about how multifaceted you are.

00:22I think there's still a misconception

00:23that pageant girls are just a pretty face.

00:26How do you defy that misconception?

00:28I think myself and the 50 women who are on stage with me

00:31defy that in every way, shape, or form.

00:33In diversity, in culture, in passion,

00:36in education, in business and industry.

00:39I mean, the women on that stage, every single one,

00:42are a leader in some degree or field in which

00:44they are passionate about.

00:45And I think that all of us can go back

00:48to our own respective states and represent that and lead

00:51that in our own ways.

00:53We are ushering in a new era of pageantry

00:55with rule changes being made.

00:57Miss USA is a different woman today than she was 50 years ago.

01:00Who, to you, is Miss USA 2024?

01:03I would, you know, I remember dreaming about this moment

01:06and just getting myself ready to be in this opportunity

01:11and to be a competitor on the Miss USA stage.

01:14And I remember thinking that I want to be a connector

01:19and I want to do good for other people.

01:21I think that success is not when you cross the finish line.

01:23It's when you uplift other people to cross the finish line

01:26alongside you.

01:27And I cannot ask for a better group of women

01:30to stand alongside and sharing that message.

01:33There's so much meaning in being a part of something

01:36bigger than yourself.

01:37And I think that in every opportunity I've had,

01:40that's something that I've taken away.

01:42What's the biggest obstacle or hurdle

01:44that you've had to overcome to have this triumph?

01:47You know, I remember even just debating

01:49if I was going to be able to compete or tackling and dealing

01:53with this dream that I wanted to do

01:55and having it delayed, but never denied.

01:57And I remember talking to my mentor and she said,

02:00you know, chase your dreams, really,

02:03like you have forged through so much.

02:06And if this is something you truly want to do,

02:08this is just another form of demanding excellence

02:10of yourself.

02:12And that to me really stuck with me.

02:14I just said, you know what,

02:15that's what's going to forge this path

02:18for so many other young women.

02:19I mean, I am standing on the shoulders of giants.

02:21There are women who have come before me

02:22who have paved the path.

02:24And I hope to walk alongside them in that message

02:28and bring along the next group of women,

02:30the next group of leaders,

02:31the next group of people who are also going to carry on

02:33in that message and their passions.

02:36You talked in your onstage question

02:37about being Afro-Latina.

02:39Talk about the importance of pageantry

02:41to the Latin community.

02:42I mean, what do you have to say to the Latin fans?

02:44There's so many that are watching you right now.

02:46Oh my goodness.

02:47Well, first, I'm just so grateful.

02:49I remember after prelims,

02:50my phone was just blowing up with so many kind messages

02:54and just seeing so many women be celebrated alongside me.

02:57That is what means the most.

02:58That means that diversity is so, so beautiful.

03:02And it's something that unites us.

03:04It gives us hope and hope is addictive.

03:06I know that the women that I shared that stage with

03:09represent their own stories,

03:11their own backgrounds, their own cultures.

03:13I, as a proud Afro-Latina,

03:14I mean, I remember finding so much inspiration growing up

03:17from my mother who is Latina

03:19and my dad who's African-American

03:20and what that meant to me

03:22carrying on in intergenerational steps to bridge gaps,

03:25to break down barriers, to break stereotypes.

03:28So really just so grateful.

03:30And I mean, I can't wait to see my mom.

03:34Speaking of being multicultural and speaking of diversity,

03:38you are just months away from stepping foot

03:40on the Miss Universe stage in Mexico.

03:43How are you gonna represent our country

03:45on the international stage?

03:47I'm gonna do so with service in the forefront of my heart.

03:51I think that this opportunity is the chance to,

03:55one, be a part of something bigger than myself,

03:57but then also bridge gaps and break down barriers

03:59for people who are looking to find encouragement

04:03and to find hope in a story or someone who looks like them

04:07that they can aspire to be.

04:08I think that being on the Miss Universe stage,

04:11the message is that if you can see me, you can be me.

04:14And that this, I do not have to stand here alone.

04:16There are other people from whatever background,

04:19what other circumstances you come from

04:22can be alongside me in this message, in this story.

04:24And it's what unites us, not only in the United States,

04:27but across the country and the globe.

04:30It is what brings us together.

04:32United we stand in this country.

04:34Sometimes it can be very polarized,

04:36but I think that what gives us hope and what unites us

04:39is seeing people and leaders who are truly dedicated

04:42to their passions and willing to be forces for good.

04:46Well, I know you've talked a little bit about your mom.

04:48I wanna give you a moment right now on camera

04:49to shout out whoever you want.

04:52Who do you wanna shout out right now?

04:53I wanna say hi to Gabe and Grace.

04:56They're at home watching and I love you guys so much.

05:00You guys are just so awesome.

05:02Alma Cooper, Miss USA 2024, congratulations once again.

05:06Thank you so much.

Miss Michigan Alma Cooper wins Miss USA 2024!

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