By james art 
In January 2024, Madison Marsh became Miss America. Every time she dons this legendary crown, she carries the spirit of her mother, Whitney, with her.
“To my mom – this whole year is about you,” Madison said shortly after winning the title. “If you were in the audience last night, I know you would have been the first hug. The world is about to learn your story, light and love.”
Whitney died of pancreatic cancer in 2018 when Madison was just 17 years old. Now, as Miss America, Madison has dedicated her time in the spotlight to honoring her mother and raising awareness of pancreatic cancer, both by founding the Whitney Marsh Foundation and supporting PanCAN initiatives.
As one of the featured speakers at the PanCAN PurpleStride in New York City in April, Madison told the crowd that although her mother’s death “rocked my family’s world,” she found comfort in the PanCAN community. It also spurred her to action – using her platform to raise awareness, raise funds and advocate for more federal research funding for the disease.
“We show up as a family here today, all united by the same cause, all united by the same goal, to make a difference for pancreatic cancer,” Madison said at PanCAN PurpleStride New York. “And that’s what it’s all about. This is why I love PanCAN. Because we have the opportunity to make a difference even when things are difficult.”
A platform to spread awareness
To Madison, her mother was everything a child could hope for: loving, inspiring, kind. She was also active and athletic, so a pancreatic cancer diagnosis was something her family was completely unprepared for.
“We don’t have a history of cancer in our family,” Madison said. “She didn’t have any of the risk factors, so it was a shock. When you’re looking for pancreatic cancer, it’s not that age group.
Madison said her mother had symptoms for at least two years before she was diagnosed, but they were misdiagnosed. Unfortunately, this happens all too often when it comes to pancreatic cancer, as common symptoms such as unexplained weight loss, back pain, and stool changes can be attributed to many other problems.
Now, Madison is using her platform to spread the word about the signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer, calling for both awareness and self-defense.
“Take your health seriously,” she said during an interview with an NBC News affiliate in April alongside PanCAN President and CEO Julie Fleshman, JD, MBA. “You know your body best. When you go to the doctor and find out something is wrong, advocate for yourself. Go get a second opinion.
She also advocates for more research funding for the disease. This month, she is planning a trip to Capitol Hill to do just that, along with PanCAN representatives. Connecting with elected leaders — this kind of grassroots advocacy — is what anyone affected by pancreatic cancer can do to make a difference, she said.
“Everything we do in pancreatic cancer matters,” Madison said. “Every time you show up for a walk, donate, share something from PanCAN for Pancreatic Cancer that matters and can save a life. It’s the little things that will have this huge ripple effect to save people.
Miss America on a mission
Madison came to the Miss America pageant while a student at the United States Air Force Academy. She is the first active duty military officer to serve in this role.
“I had dreams of becoming an astronaut, so that’s what led me to go to the Air Force Academy,” she said. “I started this dream when I was in the eighth grade. I made this basically a 30-year plan of how I was going to become an astronaut.
Miss America 2024 Madison Marsh on stage with pancreatic cancer survivors at PurpleStride New York City.
After graduating in 2023 with a degree in physics, she decided to put her pilot training on hold to pursue a master’s degree in public policy from the Harvard Kennedy School. She has also participated in research at Harvard Medical School investigating how to apply artificial intelligence to the early detection of pancreatic cancer.
The roles are complementary—she can use her Miss America platform to push for policy change, while her role as a research intern helps her explain exactly what needs to happen and why.
Madison sees her work as both a leader and a change agent, all made possible by that life-changing moment when she was given the Miss America crown. And that’s just the beginning. The connections she made with other families affected by the disease will last a lifetime.
“I am blessed to be a part of this community,” she said. “Even though my mother is not here, I have a second family in PanCAN. I have a second family every time I meet people who have gone through what we did.
It’s this wave of survivors, caregivers and loved ones that is responsible for the progress we’ve seen, Madison said, from 25 years ago, when pancreatic cancer saw very little attention or research funding, to now, with PanCAN leading the way.
And we can only keep that momentum going with everyone in the fight.
“I want people to feel welcome and feel engaged,” she said. “Know that you are part of the mission. You are part of the family. Every little action you take goes the distance.