What Happened to Miss USA 2025? Alma Cooper’s Shocking Decision Explained

Miss USA 2024 winner Alma Cooper has announced she is skipping the Miss USA 2025 pageant, just hours before she was expected to appear at the crowning ceremony in Reno, Nevada. The 23-year-old beauty queen confirmed her decision in a heartfelt Instagram post on Friday, October 24, 2025, calling it an “extremely difficult” choice made after deep consideration.

Her absence breaks a long-standing Miss USA tradition where the reigning queen crowns her successor on stage. Fans and industry insiders were stunned by the timing and tone of Cooper’s message, which offered reflection but no direct explanation for her withdrawal.

Alma Cooper Confirms She’s Skipping the 2025 Miss USA Pageant

In her official Instagram statement, Alma Cooper wrote that she has “always been in pursuit of excellence,” referencing her academic and military background — graduating in the top 50 of her class at West Point, running three marathons in 10 months, and becoming a Knight-Hennessy Fellow at Stanford University.

“After much consideration, I’ve made the extremely difficult decision not to attend this year’s Miss USA pageant and crowning ceremony,” Cooper said. “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.”

While Cooper did not reveal a specific reason for skipping the pageant, her post emphasized values of integrity, growth, and passing the torch responsibly. Fans flooded her comment section with support, praising her for her grace, strength, and leadership throughout her reign.

“CONGRATS on a phenomenal reign, Alma,” one fan wrote. “Despite all the odds, you showed up, carrying the crown and title with true class. Keep doing amazing things.” Another added, “Fully support your decision and proud of you queen! You are loved by the fans!”

A Reign Defined by Service and Leadership

Since winning the Miss USA title in 2024, Alma Cooper has focused on tackling food insecurity — a cause she said is deeply personal due to her mother’s experience with hunger growing up. In interviews last year, Cooper shared her mission to “uplift voices that go unheard” and conduct research in nutrition and health at Stanford University to help communities overcome barriers.

Her decision to skip the pageant aligns with her message of personal growth and purpose. It also comes amid broader restructuring within the Miss USA organization, now under new leadership following months of public controversy and leadership change. Thom Brodeur, a longtime pageant coach, recently took over as CEO, promising reform and transparency within the organization.

What This Means for Miss USA 2025

Cooper’s absence marks one of the rare moments in Miss USA history when a reigning queen does not attend the crowning of her successor. Traditionally, the outgoing winner plays a ceremonial role in passing down the crown. Sources close to the event say that another representative or former titleholder may perform the crowning in Cooper’s place.

Pageant fans and media commentators have described the moment as “bittersweet,” signaling both the end of Cooper’s reign and the beginning of a new chapter for the Miss USA brand. Her choice reinforces a growing shift among beauty queens to define success beyond pageantry and toward personal authenticity and advocacy.

In summary, Alma Cooper’s decision to skip the Miss USA 2025 pageant underscores her commitment to integrity and independence. It closes her reign with dignity while sparking broader discussions about the evolving identity of pageant queens in modern culture.

FYI (keeping you in the loop)-

Q1: Why did Alma Cooper skip Miss USA 2025?

She said it was an “extremely difficult decision” made after much reflection, emphasizing her values of integrity, growth, and personal alignment over ceremony obligations.

Q2: Who will crown the new Miss USA?

With Cooper absent, the Miss USA organization is expected to assign the crowning duties to another past titleholder or official representative at the 2025 event.

Q3: Has Alma Cooper explained her reasons fully?

No. She shared an emotional statement but did not provide a specific explanation for her absence, leaving fans and media to speculate respectfully.

Q4: What is Alma Cooper doing now?

She continues her research in nutrition and public health at Stanford and maintains her platform to combat food insecurity across communities.

Q5: Is the Miss USA organization changing?

Yes. New CEO Thom Brodeur has pledged reforms and transparency following past controversies, signaling a transition in the brand’s direction.