Alabama’s Abbie Stockard is the new Miss America, winning the 2025 crown on Sunday, Jan. 5, at the Walt Disney Theater in Orlando, Florida.

Stockard, 22, is the fourth Miss Alabama to earn the national title, following in the footsteps of previous winners Deidre Downs, Miss America 2005; Heather Whitestone, Miss America 1995; and Yolande Betbeze, Miss America 1951.

It’s been 20 years since an Alabama contestant won Miss America, but Stockard told AL.com she’s prepared for the job and ready to rule.

“I truly believe that I am equipped with the skills to be an effective Miss America.,” Stockard said in an interview before the Miss America finals. “That would be absolutely incredible. I have a plan as Miss America, and I know that I would be an effective brand ambassador. I would help to increase their visibility. And the way I think of myself is, I’m very joyful. I’m very compassionate. I love to serve, and that would be the forefront of my reign.”

READ: Miss Alabama thanks her home state before Miss America finals: ‘Your support means the world’

Now that she’s been crowned, Stockard immediately begins a yearlong tenure as Miss America. She’ll travel across the country, make public appearances, connect with people she meets and serve as a brand ambassador for the Miss America organization. Stockard also will use her platform to raise awareness about her philanthropic effort, Be the Change: Find a Cure — Cystic Fibrosis Awareness.

As Miss America, Stockard received $50,000 in scholarship money. She’s a student at Auburn University, where she majors in nursing. Her goal is to earn an advanced degree, a doctorate of nurse anesthesia practice, and specialize in pediatrics.

Here are other things you might want to know about Stockard, who called competing for Miss America “an absolute dream.”

Family ties

She’s the daughter of Brad Stockard and Kim Stockard of Vestavia Hills. She has a twin brother, Bradley Stockard, and a younger sister, Lily Stockard. Abbie and her brother both are nursing students at Auburn University. Lily became a freshman at Auburn in the fall.

No place like home

Stockard has an enduring affection for her hometown. “I love the community in Vestavia,” she said in a July interview with AL.com, shortly after her win as Miss Alabama 2024. “I went to Vestavia Hills High School, and there were so many opportunities to get involved and make a difference, not just in my school but also in my community. … And it’s just a tight-knit community. I feel like everyone knows everyone. I love that about Vestavia, and that’s why I love living here.”

READ: Miss Alabama 2024 Abbie Stockard: ‘I’m going to make the state proud’

Auburn proud

Stockard took time off from college in 2024 to fulfill her duties as Miss Alabama, and she’ll do the same during her yearlong reign as Miss America. But she plans to continue her education at Auburn — she’ll be a senior when she returns — and considers the “loveliest village on the Plains” her second home.

“I was actually a student recruiter the past two years, so it was my job to tell prospective students why Auburn is the best,” Stockard said in July. “I remember my student recruiter telling me that we were known for being one of the friendliest colleges in the country. I consider myself a social butterfly; I’m very friendly; and I knew that was the kind of environment I would thrive in. I also knew that Auburn had a really strong nursing school. But also we’re just such a well-respected university. I knew that if I came to Auburn, no matter what degree I got, it would carry weight in whatever future profession I chose.”

Stockard is a member of Alpha Gamma Delta sorority at Auburn. The new Miss America also spent three years as a member of the Tiger Paws dance team, and it’s been a major part of her college life. The team dances on the sidelines at Auburn’s home football games, performs at pep rallies, appears at basketball games and dances at other Auburn sports events. And, of course, Stockard says, “War Eagle!”

READ: Miss Alabama 2024 is an Auburn fan: ‘I just fell in love with the community’

Dedicated dancer

Stockard has been dancing since age 2, starting her training at Jackie O’Neal School of Dance and moving on to Birmingham Dance Theatre during her teen years. She also was a member of Vestavia High School’s Rebelette Dance Team. Stockard focused on dance for the talent competitions at Miss Alabama and Miss America, performing a contemporary routine to Lauren Daigle’s “You Say” for both pageants.

“This is a very special piece,” she told AL.com in July. “My grandmother (Martha Tucker) passed away less than a year ago, and she actually picked that song. I performed that solo my senior year of high school, and when I came up for my talent for Miss Alabama, there was no doubt I wanted to do that. Because my grandmother would say, ‘Abbie, when you hear this song, I want you to listen to the words. I want you to know that you are loved, you are strong, you are worthy, and don’t let anyone make you think otherwise.’ So any time that I perform that, it’s about the importance of sticking to the course and staying true to who you are.”

She’s not planning to dance professionally, however. “I thought about it,” Stockard said. “This is random, but the recruiter from DCC — you know, Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders — reached out to me, and we had a couple phone calls. So that was in the back of my head, but I don’t know. … I think maybe dancing may be coming to an end after college.”

Fashion sense

The “four pillars” of the Miss America organization are style, service, scholarship and success. Stockard can talk about all of these topics with ease, and doesn’t shy away from fashion questions.

“I love bright colors,” Stockard told AL.com. “I like things that are (adorned with stones). I like things that are unique, that a lot of people would not wear. I like coming up with my own things. My style is very fun, cute and comfortable. I think my style is also very classy. … I love heels. My whole wardrobe consists of heels. Luckily, I’m already pretty tall, so I don’t have to worry about using heels to enhance my height. But I feel sassy, I feel like a queen when I put heels on. It’s a confidence booster.”

Let’s dish

Ask Stockard to name her favorite restaurants, and three things become abundantly clear. The new Miss America likes carbs. She isn’t afraid to eat carbs. And yes, she works out, partly because of the carbs. “Italian is my favorite kind of food, so I love any kind of pasta,” Stockard told AL.com. “If any restaurant has bread, I’m going to love it. I’m so serious.”

Some of her favorite restaurants in the Birmingham area include Bottega Café, Bettola, Chez Fonfon and Johnny Brusco’s New York Style Pizza. And let’s not forget dessert. “I have a big sweet tooth, so I’ve probably been to every ice cream place in Birmingham,” Stockard said. “My personal favorite would be Jeni’s Ice Cream. … Literally, I would eat ice cream for every meal if I could.”

READ: Miss Alabama 2024 on 10 favorite restaurants: ‘I love any kind of pasta’

Hiking aficionado

When she’s not occupied with her duties as Miss America, Stockard is likely to pull on her hiking boots and head outside.

“I love hiking and I love getting outdoors,” Stockard said. “Ever since COVID hit, my family and I started a new tradition where every Sunday after church we would go hiking. My favorite spots (in Birmingham) would be at Oak Mountain State Park. We also went to Red Mountain Park some, and I also like Moss Rock Preserve.”

Southern girl

Ask Stockard about her Southern roots, and here’s what she says. “Do I feel Southern? I mean, yeah, anytime I go somewhere where I’m not in the South, everyone’s like, ‘You just have the cutest accent ever!’ I don’t hear it. But every time I go somewhere not in the South, someone says something about the accent. But I feel like I’ve got that Southern hospitality. It’s a real thing. So I’m a Southern girl; I definitely am. Never forget your Southern roots.”

Boss woman

As Miss America, Stockard will serve as a role model for women and girls throughout the United States. When asked by AL.com to name her own celebrity role model, Stockard had an immediate answer.

“I love Oprah Winfrey,” Stockard said. “She runs her own talk show, and it gets like over a million viewers every time they’re on air. I mean, she’s a writer, she’s a philanthropist, a producer. But what I admire so much about her is that she started something called the Angel Network, and basically she provides resources and money to underprivileged women and children. I admire her so much for that, because she is using her platform of influence to serve other people. I think that says a lot about someone, especially under the spotlight. She’s giving back to others. I respect that so much.”

Feeling empowered

“The ultimate mission of this organization is to empower young women,” Stockard told AL.com. “I think that women have made incredible strides in the fight for gender equality. I think women have broken down barriers. We have challenged the stereotypes, and I think now women have equal opportunities to be successful in whatever they put their minds to, whether that be society, their career or raising a family. That’s why I think (the Miss America) organization is so relevant, because it’s empowering young women. It’s giving them the confidence and life skills to go and be successful and accomplish any goal that they set for themselves.”

Goal setter

During the Miss America finals, Stockard was asked to define success during one of her on-stage questions. “Success is defined as setting clear and attainable goals,” Stockard said. “I believe in order to be successful, you have to overcome obstacles. It’s about adapting to changes, prioritizing your task, staying focused, disciplined and consistent. These are skill sets that I’ve acquired from competing in the Miss America opportunity. And as Miss America, I am ready for the ups and downs and everything that is involved in being successful in this opportunity.”