Video above: Learn about Miss AmericaAbbie Stockard, a Vestavia Hills native and Auburn Tiger, was crowned as the new Miss America Sunday at the legendary pageant in Orlando.Stockard led a field of 10 finalists. Four of the runners up are also from the South. 1st Runner Up was Miss Texas, 2nd Runner Up Miss Tennessee, 3rd Runner Up Miss Florida, and 4th Runner Up Miss Ohio.Stockard was busy during the week, completing her interview and all phases of preliminary competition. On Wednesday, she received the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women Leadership Award. This recognized several contestants for their efforts to advocate for heart health in women.>> A MOMENT OF JOY: News We LoveThough Stockard learned she’d be going to Miss America less than a year ago, she’s been working toward this dream for much longer.”For the past three years of being involved in this organization, I haven’t been training for the role of Miss Alabama,” Stockard said. “I’ve been training for the role of Miss America.”Video below: Meet Miss America after she won Miss AlabamaStockard was crowned Miss Alabama before starting her senior year at Auburn University. She’s currently taking a year off of school to focus on Miss Alabama, but has plans to return to Auburn’s College of Nursing.In the meantime, Stockard said a lot of work has gone into preparing for Miss America. She’s spent countless hours working on her evening gown walk, interview skills, fitness and talent.The talent preliminary was Thursday, and Stockard performed a contemporary dance to “You Say” by Lauren Daigle.”My grandmother picked out the song, ‘You Say’ before she passed away, and she would tell me, ‘Abby, whenever you hear this song, I want you to remember that you are beautiful, you are strong, and you are worthy, and don’t let anyone ever make you think otherwise,’ Stockard said. “So when I perform this number, I hope people feel inspired, and I hope people are reminded the importance of always sticking to the course and staying true to who you are.”>> WVTM 13 ON-THE-GO: Download our app for freeStockard has brought years of dance experience to the Miss America stage, as she started when she was just 2 years old.”I grew up dancing at Vestavia Hills High School, and then I danced competitively from Birmingham Dance Theater,” Stockard said. “And then I was on the Auburn University Tiger Paws dance team the past three years, so dance has been my entire life.”Stockard paid tribute to her grandmother during the talent portion of the competition and one of her closest friends through her Community Service Initiative.”Maddie has a genetic disease called cystic fibrosis, and growing up, I saw firsthand some of the devastating effects that this disease took on her mental and physical health,” Stockard said. “I will never forget seeing my best friend lying helpless in a hospital bed, hooked up to oxygen, struggling to breathe. It was at that moment that I made a promise to her that I would do everything in my power to fight for her and fight for others, because there still isn’t a cure found for cystic fibrosis.”Inspired by her best friend, Maddie, Stockard’s initiative raises money for cystic fibrosis research. She said her biggest achievement yet was spearheading an event that raised $190,000 for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s Alabama Chapter.”It was the largest fundraiser that has ever been put on in the state of Alabama for cystic fibrosis,” Stockard said. “I’m just so excited to continue using this platform to increase fundraising and awareness. And I truly believe that we’ll get closer and closer to finding a cure in this lifetime.”>> COMING TOGETHER: Project CommUNITY
Video above: Learn about Miss America
Abbie Stockard, a Vestavia Hills native and Auburn Tiger, was crowned as the new Miss America Sunday at the legendary pageant in Orlando.
Stockard led a field of 10 finalists. Four of the runners up are also from the South. 1st Runner Up was Miss Texas, 2nd Runner Up Miss Tennessee, 3rd Runner Up Miss Florida, and 4th Runner Up Miss Ohio.
Stockard was busy during the week, completing her interview and all phases of preliminary competition. On Wednesday, she received the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women Leadership Award. This recognized several contestants for their efforts to advocate for heart health in women.
>> A MOMENT OF JOY: News We Love
Though Stockard learned she’d be going to Miss America less than a year ago, she’s been working toward this dream for much longer.
“For the past three years of being involved in this organization, I haven’t been training for the role of Miss Alabama,” Stockard said. “I’ve been training for the role of Miss America.”
Video below: Meet Miss America after she won Miss Alabama
Stockard was crowned Miss Alabama before starting her senior year at Auburn University. She’s currently taking a year off of school to focus on Miss Alabama, but has plans to return to Auburn’s College of Nursing.
In the meantime, Stockard said a lot of work has gone into preparing for Miss America. She’s spent countless hours working on her evening gown walk, interview skills, fitness and talent.
The talent preliminary was Thursday, and Stockard performed a contemporary dance to “You Say” by Lauren Daigle.
“My grandmother picked out the song, ‘You Say’ before she passed away, and she would tell me, ‘Abby, whenever you hear this song, I want you to remember that you are beautiful, you are strong, and you are worthy, and don’t let anyone ever make you think otherwise,’ Stockard said. “So when I perform this number, I hope people feel inspired, and I hope people are reminded the importance of always sticking to the course and staying true to who you are.”
>> WVTM 13 ON-THE-GO: Download our app for free
Stockard has brought years of dance experience to the Miss America stage, as she started when she was just 2 years old.
“I grew up dancing at Vestavia Hills High School, and then I danced competitively from Birmingham Dance Theater,” Stockard said. “And then I was on the Auburn University Tiger Paws dance team the past three years, so dance has been my entire life.”
Stockard paid tribute to her grandmother during the talent portion of the competition and one of her closest friends through her Community Service Initiative.
“Maddie has a genetic disease called cystic fibrosis, and growing up, I saw firsthand some of the devastating effects that this disease took on her mental and physical health,” Stockard said. “I will never forget seeing my best friend lying helpless in a hospital bed, hooked up to oxygen, struggling to breathe. It was at that moment that I made a promise to her that I would do everything in my power to fight for her and fight for others, because there still isn’t a cure found for cystic fibrosis.”
Inspired by her best friend, Maddie, Stockard’s initiative raises money for cystic fibrosis research. She said her biggest achievement yet was spearheading an event that raised $190,000 for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s Alabama Chapter.
“It was the largest fundraiser that has ever been put on in the state of Alabama for cystic fibrosis,” Stockard said. “I’m just so excited to continue using this platform to increase fundraising and awareness. And I truly believe that we’ll get closer and closer to finding a cure in this lifetime.”
>> COMING TOGETHER: Project CommUNITY
