A nursing student from Alabama was crowned Miss America 2025.
Abbie Stockard, 22, who represented Alabama during the 2025 Miss America Pageant, won the title of Miss America Sunday.
“This is insane,” Stockard said in a video posted on the organization’s Instagram. “I don’t know what I did to deserve this.”
Miss Alabama was crowned Miss America Sunday night.
Stockard is a nursing student and former cheerleader at Auburn University, according to social media posts. She was crowned Miss Alabama in June 2024 before moving on to compete in Miss America.
What’s the difference? Miss USA vs. Miss America: Everything you need to know about the pageants
Miss America contestants
Stockard competed against 51 other delegates from each state, including Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico.
She was one of 11 semi-finalists who were selected to perform their talents, demonstrate fitness, model evening gowns and answer thought-provoking questions.
She then moved on to the final five, who answered questions about the job of Miss America before she was crowned as the winner.
Who were the runner-ups?
The runner-ups were the following, according to Miss America’s Instagram account:
Where was Miss America held?
Sunday’s pageant took place at the Walt Disney Theatre at the Dr. Phillips Center for Performing Arts in Orlando, Florida, according to a press release published by the Miss America Organization.
The event was hosted by Terrence J and Nikki Novak.
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What does Miss America win?
Miss America won a $50,000 cash scholarship and will begin 2025 as a “global ambassador for the Miss America Opportunity,” according to the organization.
On Saturday, girls ages 13 to 18 took the stage for the opportunity to earn the Miss America’s Teen title and an equal scholarship.
What is the Miss America Pageant?
Miss America a more than 100-year-old annual competition. The event originated in 1921 in Atlantic City as the “bathing beauty revue,” according to Miss America. The first woman to win was Margaret Gorman.
Who won Miss America in 2024?
In 2024, the pageant crowned an active-duty Air Force officer for the first time.
Miss Colorado, Madison Marsh, was crowned as the winner.
Marsh has a degree in physics and was a graduate student at the Harvard Kennedy School. She was also a 2023 alum of the Air Force Academy.
Contributing: Jay Stahl, USA TODAY
Julia is a trending reporter for USA TODAY. You can connect with her on LinkedIn, follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, Instagram and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at [email protected]
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Miss America: Abbie Stockard from Alabama crowned 2025 winner
