Allie and Micah are a private couple from Bend, Oregon, attending the 151st Kentucky Derby.

Featured briefly on MoxieTalk with Kirt Jacobs due to their highly imaginative and whimsical Derby attire

This is precisely the type of authentic, unscripted Derby color that has long made Churchill Downs culturally unique—especially in milestone runnings.

Alma Oralia Minerva Cooper (born March 17, 2002, in Okemos, Michigan) is a distinguished American soldier, scholar, and beauty queen whose career spans the intersecting worlds of military service, mathematics, and public representation. The daughter of a retired U.S. Army major and a Mexican immigrant mother who once competed in pageants herself, Cooper identifies as African American Latina and embodies the values of discipline, intellect, and cultural pride. Graduating a year early from Okemos High School in 2019, she was accepted into the United States Military Academy at West Point, where she majored in mathematical science and graduated in 2023. Upon commissioning as a U.S. Army officer, she pursued graduate study at Stanford University as a Knight-Hennessy Scholar, working toward a master's degree in statistics with a data-science concentration while preparing for a future assignment within the Military Intelligence Corps.

Beyond her academic and military pursuits, Cooper achieved national recognition in 2024 when she was crowned Miss Michigan USA, later winning the title of Miss USA 2024. Her victory was historic: she became one of the first active-duty Army officers ever to hold the Miss USA crown, symbolizing the modern convergence of service, scholarship, and social advocacy. Throughout her reign, Cooper has used her platform to promote STEM education, leadership development, and cross-cultural understanding, positioning herself as a new generation role model who bridges the worlds of defense, data, and diplomacy with grace and purpose.

Beard fame: A Cincinnati roofer turned local icon, Garey gained widespread attention for his award-winning full beard, which became a fixture at Cincinnati Bengals games. He has been featured in New Era ads and recognized globally as the "Beard Guy."

Achievements: Won the Full Beard Freestyle category at the National Beard & Mustache Championships. Placed third at the 2019 World Beard & Mustache Championship.

Fan persona: Often seen at Bengals home games, Garey's signature beard and game-day attire made him a fan favorite. He has hosted charity fundraisers, including one that raised money to enable a young fan with brittle bone disease to attend NFL games across the U.S. In a 2015 feature, he shared the story: his beard began as a charity bet—not shaving for a year—and evolved into years of civic engagement and fan passion.

Charity Work: Known for generous community efforts, especially fundraising campaigns tied to his beard persona and Bengals spirit. Garey Faulkner isn't just about facial hair—he's a beloved local figure whose enthusiasm for the Bengals and community has made his beard a symbol of pride.

Whether cheering in the stands, supporting a child's dream, or turning heads at competitions, Garey is recognized for combining flair with heartfelt civic-mindedness.