Miss America 2025 is Abbie Stockard, of Alabama. Just days after her win, Stockard spoke with 1819 News about the moment she was crowned and about what she plans to do with her new title.
"It's still very, very surreal," Stockard said. "I mean, I've watched the video like over and over trying to remember what was going through my head and I just get so giddy every time I watch it. I honestly just had, just did not think that I was going to win."
"The whole two weeks, I was just like, 'Oh, my gosh. These other women are absolutely incredible," she said. "They're dedicated. They're driven. They've made so many impacts around their community. I thought any one of them would be an amazing Miss America and I just never thought of that person being me."
At one point, Stockard pointed up as she was being crowned. Cheers filled the auditorium, confetti rained from the ceiling, young women surrounded the beauty queen and she was in complete shock. However, she didn't forget to thank God.
"That was me just thanking the Lord," she said. "I am very driven in my faith, and I do believe that I am here on purpose and for a purpose, and the entire week leading up to Miss America, I was just choosing gratitude over fear or anxiety."
Stockard's family, friends and boyfriend were in Orlando for the pageant. She said she was thankful for the support.
"They were all there and thank goodness they made the night just even more special, like going back to the coronation after at the hotel and having this massive group of fans just waiting to see me," she remembered.
Also in the crowd was her friend Maddie, who inspired Stockard's social impact initiative, fundraising and raising awareness for cystic fibrosis. After watching Maddie struggle to breathe when they were children, Stockard vowed to do something. As Miss America, she will be the official ambassador of the National Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
"I'm excited to bring light to it because a lot of people really don't understand what CF is or the true nature of this disease," she said. "And a lot of people don't know that there still isn't a cure found for this disease."
Stockard has already lobbied in Washington, D.C. for legislation that would benefit CF. During her trip, she met U.S. Sens. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) and Katie Britt (R-Montgomery). She said she is currently planning a second trip.
While she isn't sure about political aspirations, Stockard said she will continue to push the Pasteur Act, which would promote the use of antimicrobials.
"If it were to be passed, it would create a better marketplace for antibiotics," Stockard explained. "So, people with CF, who are more prone to getting sick because of a weakened immune system, have to take antibiotics over and over again, but when you do that, you start to build up antimicrobial resistance."
"So, this act is to try to prevent that," she added. "So, that's one thing that I was working on but I really am excited to see how, with the platform of Miss America, I can maybe dive deeper into that and see what else I could do to really make an impact."
Stockard said she will have to pack a lot of action in a shorter time. Her reign will only be eight months long because the Miss America program is going back to a September competition.
Since the big win, the story of how Stockard met her NBA player boyfriend, former Auburn center Walker Kessler, has gone viral. Stockard, an Auburn dance team member, was at a basketball game when Kessler's mother spotted her.
"His mom took a picture of me on the sideline dancing and sent it to him and was like, 'Have you ever seen this girl before?" Stockard told 1819 News. "And of course, Walker was like, 'No mom, that's really weird."
"But his mom went to Bruce Pearl and asked what my name was," she continued. "And I just happened to know Bruce and so, he told her my name. His mom went and found my Instagram and sent it to Walker. And basically, the rest is history."
The Birmingham-area native graduated from Vestavia Hills High School in 2021. She said she was never a "pageant girl" but decided to compete in college for scholarship money.
"My mom competed in Miss Alabama, so that was my one little connection to the organization," she explained. "But honestly, when I looked at Miss America, I would always be like, 'You know, she's just incredible. She's overly gifted. She's so special,' and I just really never thought of myself as having anything extra cool or special about me."
She has now acquired over $89,000 in scholarship money. After her reign as Miss America, Stockard plans to resume nursing school at Auburn University.
Stockard said she hopes to inspire girls to go for it, even if they're not in the pageant circuit.
"The Lord has blessed me in so many ways, and that's why it's so important to me to use this platform to be a source of power and light," Stockard said. "If anything, I want to make those around me feel seen and valued and appreciated because that is what the Lord would want, and I think he's anointed me to this position for a reason, and to truly use this opportunity to make a difference and serve others around me.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email erica.thomas@1819news.com.
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