A new Miss America has ascended to the throne: Abbie Stockard, a vibrant 22-year-old nursing student and cheerleading spirit at Auburn University, who was crowned Miss Alabama last June, just before embarking on her final year of studies. On Sunday, at the annual pageant held in Orlando, Florida, Stockard emerged victorious amidst a glittering array of 51 other aspirants—one representing each US state, along with Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico.
Annette Addo-Yobo, the groundbreaking foreign-born delegate who secured the title of Miss Texas, stood as the runner-up, while representatives from Tennessee, Florida, and Ohio rounded out the top five. The pageant kicked off with the contestants sparkling on stage in dazzling gold mini dresses adorned with black sashes, swiftly narrowing down to an elite group of 11 finalists based on their impressive performances in preliminary events held earlier in the week.
Throughout the evening, the finalists, each vying for the prestigious crown and a $50,000 prize, united in meticulously choreographed dance performances and engaged in several live segments, scrutinized by a panel of judges that included former Olympic athlete Carl Lewis and Gabi Butler, a cheerleader featured in Netflix's "Cheer," among others.
The event incorporated a fitness segment, which replaced swimwear in 2023, showcasing the contestants parading in stylish red-and-gold athleisure two-pieces. Additionally, there were rounds dedicated to talent performances, eveningwear, and interviews. Talents ranged from slam poetry by Miss Texas, clogging by Miss Oklahoma, to a jazz dance routine to Lesley Gore's 1963 hit "You Don’t Own Me" by Miss Wisconsin. Stockard captivated the audience with a contemporary dance to a song by Christian musician Lauren Daigle, later gracing the stage in a stunning backless, glittering silver and white gown for her eveningwear segment.
Elsewhere during the pageant, delegates tackled questions on diverse topics randomly assigned to them, such as housing, censorship, and the national debt. When prompted to comment on unemployment, Stockard addressed the declining labor force participation rate among individuals aged 25 to 54 post-Covid-19 pandemic (despite a subsequent increase in employment for this demographic). "I firmly believe we must encourage these individuals to rejoin the workforce, adapt to new skills, and grow within the industries we have today," she emphasized.
Meanwhile, Addo-Yobo was questioned about immigration, sharing her personal journey of becoming a US citizen two years ago. She spoke passionately about her parents' arrival in the country with "two suitcases, a few hundred dollars, and a little girl—me—in a fur coat."
In a video broadcast during the pageant, Stockard revealed her inspiration stemmed from her mother, who worked tirelessly at multiple jobs, and her best friend, who suffers from cystic fibrosis and was present at the event (Stockard's charity initiative for the pageant aimed to raise funds for cystic fibrosis research). A video posted on Miss America's official Instagram account on Sunday evening captured Stockard's reaction to her triumph, her voice filled with disbelief as she exclaimed, "This is insane. I don't know what I did to deserve this."