Abbie Stockard Wins Miss America 2025 Crown
Abbie Stockard, a 22-year-old nursing student and cheerleader from Auburn University, was crowned Miss America at the annual pageant held in Orlando, Florida. Stockard, who was crowned Miss Alabama last June ahead of her senior year, emerged victorious over 51 other contestants from the U.S., Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico, securing the top prize of $50,000.
The competition kicked off with contestants making an entrance in dazzling gold mini dresses and black sashes, and after preliminary rounds earlier in the week, the field was narrowed to 11 finalists. The finalists performed in multiple segments, including choreographed dance routines, fitness challenges, talent displays, eveningwear showcases, and interviews, all judged by notable figures like Olympic athlete Carl Lewis and Netflix’s Cheer star Gabi Butler.
In place of the traditional swimwear competition, the 2023 pageant featured a fitness segment in which the contestants wore red-and-gold athleisure two-piece outfits. Among the talent performances, Miss Texas performed slam poetry, Miss Oklahoma impressed with clogging, and Miss Wisconsin danced to Lesley Gore’s 1963 hit “You Don’t Own Me.” Stockard’s talent performance was a contemporary dance set to a song by Christian singer Lauren Daigle, and she later wowed in a glittering silver and white backless gown during the eveningwear segment.
During the interview portion, Stockard responded thoughtfully to a question about unemployment, specifically addressing the declining labor force participation rate among adults aged 25-54 after the Covid-19 pandemic. She emphasized the need to encourage individuals to join the workforce, develop new skills, and grow within the existing industries.
Annette Addo-Yobo, the first foreign-born delegate to win Miss Texas, took second place. She shared a personal story about her family’s immigrant experience, She recounted how her family arrived in the U.S. with nothing more than “two suitcases, a few hundred dollars, and a little girl wearing a fur coat.”
The top five finalists also included contestants from Tennessee, Florida, and Ohio. With Stockard’s win, the Miss America pageant highlighted not just beauty but also intelligence, talent, and personal stories, providing a platform for young women to inspire others.
During the pageant, Abbie Stockard shared a heartfelt moment in a video broadcast, explaining that her inspiration came from two key people in her life: her mother, who worked multiple jobs, and her best friend, who has cystic fibrosis and was present at the event. Stockard’s charity initiative during the pageant focused on raising funds for cystic fibrosis research, reflecting her commitment to supporting causes close to her heart.
Later, a video posted to Miss America’s official Instagram captured Stockard’s emotional reaction upon being crowned. Overwhelmed by the moment, she said, “This is insane. I don’t know what I did to deserve this,” expressing her disbelief and gratitude at winning the prestigious title.
Miss America, founded in 1921 in Atlantic City, New Jersey, has a long history as one of the country’s most iconic beauty pageants. The event enjoyed a golden era, being broadcast on major networks like NBC and ABC for decades. However, over time, its viewership began to decline. In 2022, NBC’s streaming service Peacock aired the competition, but since then, the pageant has been available only on pageant-specific streaming platforms.
In the previous year, Madison Marsh, a 22-year-old second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force, made history by becoming the first active-duty military member to win the Miss America crown. Marsh, who served as an ambassador for the Miss America Organization during her reign, told CNN after her win that she felt she had “challenged stereotypes in both pageants and the military for women around the world.” Following her year of service, Marsh passed on the title to the new winner, Abbie Stockard.
