The latest edition of the prestigious beauty pageant, Miss USA, took place on Friday, October 24, 2025. The event featured gorgeous, confident models taking the runway and showcasing their ramp walk skills. However, beyond the glitz and glam of the event lay controversy and cryptic jibes. Miss USA 2024, Alma Cooper, pulled out of the pageant hours before the 2025 edition was to start. She dropped a cryptic message on her social media account, informing of her decision not to crown her successor, generating huge buzz online.
Alma Cooper detailed her journey to Miss USA 2024 and refused to attend the 2025 edition
Alma Cooper, the winner of the last edition of Miss USA, made the ‘extremely difficult decision’ not to attend Miss USA 2025. She revealed this in a lengthy Instagram post, detailing her journey and ‘pursuit of excellence’. She mentioned her academic and professional achievements, including graduating from West Point in the top 50 of her class, running three marathons in 10 months, and becoming a Knight Hennessy Fellow at Stanford University. Fueled by the same ‘relentless pursuit’, she participated in Miss USA 2024. Alma Cooper wrote:
“I brought that same [relentless] attitude with me when I won the title of Miss USA, energized by the opportunity to inspire youth across the globe at Miss Universe and within communities across the nation. I am a firm believer that excellence means nothing if it stops with me, instead I want my growth to be something others can build on.”