Madeline Cooper, of Russellville, was crowned Miss UNA 2024

Madeline Cooper Crowned Miss UNA 2024; Tradition Marks 50 Years

Feb. 16, 2024



Michelle R. Eubanks , UNA, at meubanks@51jiyangshi.com, 256.765.4392

FLORENCE, AL – University of North Alabama junior Madeline Cooper, of Russellville, has been crowned Miss UNA 2024 at the Miss UNA program Saturday evening in Norton Auditorium on the UNA campus. Madeline will now move on to compete for the title of Miss Alabama at an event that will take place later this year. Cooper is a Secondary Education – Social Science and she performed “Don’t Rain on My Parade” from Funny Girl for the talent portion of the program.

Cooper is the 49th student to be crowned with the title, a tradition that began in 1974 when Pam Long was the first student to serve as Miss UNA. As part of this year’s event, organizers invited previous winners to Norton to be recognized.

“We had the honor of announcing them to the audience as part of this year’s show,” said Becca Bush, the Miss UNA event organizer as well as Assistant Director, Student Activities. “We were so excited to welcome back these women who truly laid the foundation of the Miss UNA Scholarship Competition to develop women to be confident servant leaders in their communities.”

17 competed for the title of Miss UNA in five stages, including provate interview, on-stage question, health and fitness, talent/HERstory, and evening gown. In addition to (Name), other winners include:

  • Caroline Coleman, of Lawrenceburg, Tenn., as first runner-up;
  • Jada Winston, of Pelham, as second runner-up;
  • Maggie Keller, of Alabaster, as third runner-up;
  • Jada Winston, of Pelham, as Miss Congeniality;
  • Maggie Keller, of Alabaster, and Tristin Williamson, of Opp, as the Talent winners;
  • Madeline Cooper, of Russellville, as the Outstanding Service Award Winner.

Miss UNA will receive a one-year tuition scholarship as well as a Miss UNA Custom Designed Ring, provided by Creative Jewelers in downtown Florence. Jada Winston, of Pelham, was the winner of the pair of gold earrings set with an emerald-cut amethyst for receiving the most votes for her custom ring design.

As part of the ongoing planning for this year’s event, Bush said she has had the honor of meeting with and learning from those who planned Miss UNA in its early years.

“It has been inspiring to hear the stories of how this program has positively affected the lives of so many women and resulted in them leaving college debt-free and with a skill set that has paved the way for them to be successful in their careers and communities, alike,” she said.

The Miss UNA program is an official preliminary for the Miss Alabama and the Miss America events. The program provides an opportunity for contestants to compete for scholarship funding and prizes. UNA will have three representatives at Miss Alabama later this year.

About The University of North Alabama

The University of North Alabama is an accredited, comprehensive regional state university offering undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degree programs through the colleges of Arts, Sciences, and Engineering; the Sanders College of Business and Technology; Education and Human Sciences; and the Anderson College of Nursing and Health Professions. Occupying a 130-acre campus in a residential section of Florence, Alabama, UNA is located within a four-city area that also includes Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, and Tuscumbia. UNA Athletics, a renowned collegiate athletics program with seven (7) Division II National Championships, is now a proud member of NCAA Division I as part of the Atlantic Sun and United Athletic conferences. The University of North Alabama is an equal opportunity institution and does not discriminate in the admission policy on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, disability, age, or national origin. For more: 51jiyangshi.com and 51jiyangshi.com/unaworks/.