Following the final round of the Miss USA 2025 competition Oct. 24, Miss Nebraska, Audrey Eckert, was crowned the winner, replacing Miss USA 2024 winner Alma Cooper in the coveted position.
Miss USA 2024 Alma Cooper Skips 2025 Pageant With Cryptic Message
She’s beauty and she’s grace, she’s officially Miss USA.
Miss USA crowned Miss Nebraska, Audrey Eckert, as its 2025 winner at Nevada’s Grand Sierra Resort on Oct. 24, marking the state’s second winner in the nationwide competition after Sarah Rose Summers triumphed in 2018.
Following her victory, Eckert will travel to Thailand in November to compete for the coveted title of Miss Universe 2025.
The 23-year-old beat out 50 other contestants representing each state for the title of Miss USA during the pageant, which was co-hosted by Emmanuel Acho and Olivia Jordan. She faced off against the other women in the state costume competition, preliminary competition and final round before judges Nia Sanchez, Jade Tolbert, Sasha Farber, Kenneth Barlis and Hannah Edwards gave her the highest overall score, earning her the coveted crown.
And while 73 other beauty contestants before her have worn the iconic tiara, there was one notable difference this year for the winner’s ceremony.
Hours before the final round took place, Miss USA 2024 winner Alma Cooper revealed she would not be attending the final show to pass down the sash and crown as it’s been done in previous years.
“After much consideration, I’ve made the extremely difficult decision not to attend this year’s Miss USA pageant and crowning ceremony,” the former Miss Michigan wrote on Instagram Oct. 24. “As I close this chapter, I do so with the knowledge that I finished what I started with integrity and my self-worth held high, just like the crown I was honored to wear.”
The decision came two days after Miss USA CEO and President Thom Brodeur shared that Cooper had not yet confirmed whether she would be attending the 2025 beauty pageant.
“Our dream was to warmly welcome Alma to participate in the 2025 competition in whatever capacity she was most comfortable,” he wrote on Instagram Stories Oct. 22, per People. “Our invitation still stands and we hope to provide her the dignified end to her reign that she deserves.”
And while Cooper may have ultimately opted out of returning to the stage, Brodeur insisted that it wouldn’t affect her place in the pageant’s history.
“We honor you, Alma,” the CEO said. “You are a queen. You are our queen even if we didn’t start this journey with you. And, you are forever our Miss USA 2024.”
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