A former Air Force officer and Miss America contestant asserts that joining the military does not require giving up one's individuality.

Madison Marsh, the first active-duty Air Force officer to win Miss America, aims to inspire others through her victory.

On Tuesday, during her appearance on "Fox & Friends," the 23-year-old Miss America, who was previously Miss Colorado, shared her experiences and the moment she realized the impact she has on her peers.

"At the Air Force Academy, a young cadet and her mother approached me and asked if I was Miss America. They said, "Yes," and told me that the cadet was unsure about attending the academy and accepting her appointment. Seeing me win inspired her to realize that she didn't have to sacrifice parts of her personality to join the military. I found this moment special."

"The most significant lesson I've learned this year is connected to my mom's passing from pancreatic cancer. Despite being away from my family a lot this year due to travel, I have realized that life offers the freedom to make any choices we desire. I chose to pursue a career in the Air Force, but I also wanted to contribute to my country in other ways by assisting pancreatic cancer patients."

WATCH: FIRST ACTIVE-DUTY SERVICE MEMBER WINS 2024 MISS AMERICA PAGEANT

"Success will follow when you do what you love, so you can stop seeking accolades and focus on surrounding yourself with good people," she concluded.

In her op-ed for USA Today on Jan. 3, Marsh explained her motivation for joining the pageant world.

While attending the academy, I entered the pageant as Miss Colorado, with the goal of improving my public speaking skills in a real-world setting. Additionally, I sought temporary breaks from my strict military lifestyle. To my surprise, I emerged victorious.

"In my opinion, I did not change history or influence military culture as many news outlets claimed. However, as I reflect on my year, I believe I accomplished something simpler yet more significant: I gave hope to a new generation of young people. I provided hope for those who aspire to greatness but feel restricted by their self-perception of their type. I demonstrated that the only restriction to achieving your goals is the amount of effort you put in."

Despite the ease of getting caught up in pursuing achievements, climbing the corporate ladder, or worrying about others' opinions, Marsh remains grounded when she reflects on her mother, who passed away from pancreatic cancer in 2018.

She wrote: "Life is too short to waste on unfulfilling things."

"One of the most liberating things one can do is to stop doing things for the sake of other people's opinions," she said. "Quit what does not fulfill you. Let go of what does not matter. I did not compete for Miss America to prove anything to anyone. I did it because I loved the process. I loved the challenge. I loved how it pushed me to grow in unexpected ways."