Miss America 2025
Nursing student’s reign includes advocating for women’s heart health and cystic fibrosis research
Abbie Stockard credits the resilience she’s applied to the rest of her life for winning the title of Miss America 2025. She only entered her first pageant as a college freshman at Auburn University four years ago.
“I didn’t think I fit the mold,” said Stockard, 22. “I was convinced I wasn’t going to win, that it wasn’t attainable.”
But Stockard approached pageants with laser focus and a strong work ethic. She’s a senior nursing student, a Division 1 cheerleader, a member of Auburn’s Tiger Paws dance team and active in multiple campus organizations.
“I made a decision at an early age to be resilient,” she said. “I wasn’t always the joyful Abbie you see today, and I could have either succumbed to my situation and gone downhill, or I could have used my testimony to inspire others.”
In third grade, two events shaped her. One was the pain of her parents’ divorce and the other was seeing her lifelong best friend, Maddie, battle cystic fibrosis.
“Being nine years old and visiting her in the hospital absolutely led me to pursue a career in health care,” Stockard said. “Seeing my normally energetic friend look so lifeless broke my heart and showed me the emotional and physical toll of the disease. It also showed me the impact that nurses have.”
During her reign, Stockard will spread awareness and advocacy as a National Brand Ambassador for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. She is also excited to be a part of the national alliance between the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women movement and Miss America’s Scholarship Foundation. The collaboration aims to improve women’s health through education and awareness.
Since 2004, the Go Red for Women movement has worked to advance health policies and reduce cardiovascular disease, the No. 1 killer of women. Miss America’s support will include awareness campaigns, community outreach and fundraising.
The cause is important to Stockard because several of her family members have been affected by heart disease and stroke.
“As Miss America, I am honored to be working with the American Heart Association to encourage people to invest in their health,” she said. “Continued awareness is crucial because the statistics about women’s heart health are shocking. More than 44% of women 20 and older are living with some form of cardiovascular disease. It’s increasing in younger women, but many don’t know that it is their biggest health threat.”
Stockard said growing up with multiple family members in medical fields also inspired her to become a health advocate. Plus, as a dancer she knows the value of staying active and aims to follow the AHA’s recommendation of 150 minutes of exercise each week. However, traveling and juggling a busy schedule can interfere with the best intentions to make healthy choices and stay physically active, she said.
“The second I get up to do it, I feel so much better physically, and my mood is so much better. A healthy lifestyle shouldn’t be overcomplicated, and it’s not about perfection. Find something simple like going on a walk and give yourself some flexibility.”
She also encourages prioritizing mental health and getting enough sleep nightly. Poor sleep can put people at risk for Alzheimer’s disease, cardiovascular disease and depression, to name a few.
“My goal is to be the Miss America who is real and relatable,” she said. “I always want to be authentically Abbie. And I want to show girls they don’t have to wear a crown to be amazing and make a difference in this world.”
