March 17, 2025 • 21 mins
Auburn University senior Abbie Stockard is still in a state of shock when she thinks about being crowned Miss America 2025.
“When they got down to three people standing, I was like, ‘holy moly, what is going on?’” recalled Stockard. “Then they called my name. It was at that moment my entire life changed.”
This past January, the 22-year-old Vestavia Hills, Alabama native beat 51 contestants to become the 104th Miss America. Stockard began entering pageants as a freshman at Auburn with hopes of earning enough money to pay her way through college.
“It really all started because I was looking to relieve a financial burden and get some scholarships,” said Stockard. “Then I found out I just loved the Miss America organization and everything it stood for.”
The Miss America program has been around since 1921. It allows participants to acquire lifelong skills, cultivate service initiatives and engage within their communities. Miss America’s four pillars are style, service, scholarship and success – attributes Stockard takes to heart.
“I think people really value authenticity, and they like someone who is just going to be real and relatable and not this perfect pageant queen,” said Stockard.
Stockard is the fourth Alabama woman to win Miss America and the first in 20 years.
“It's nice for little girls to look at Miss America and know it is attainable,” said Stockard. “Hopefully, I'm a good example of that.”
Stockard will spend the next seven months traveling the nation inspiring women and advocating for the American Heart Association’s Go RED for Women initiative along with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. She serves as a National Brand Ambassador for Cystic Fibrosis (CF), using her platform to bring hope to the more than 15 million Americans impacted by CF.
“My best friend Maddie was born with this disease and currently there is no cure,” said Stockard. “Growing up, I saw the devastating effects this disease took on her physical and mental health, and I made a promise that I would do everything in my power to fight for her and for others who have CF. Being Miss America has opened so many doors.”
After Stockard completes her reign in September, she plans to return to Auburn’s College of Nursing this fall to finish up her degree. Her goal? Make a big impact in the medical field.
“I grew up in a medical family, so I knew it was something I was always interested in,” said Stockard. “When I started competing in pageants, I found out that I have a heart for service. I truly have the most fulfillment when I'm giving of myself to others, and being a nurse, you're doing just that.”
Thanks to winning nearly $90,000 in tuition scholarships, Stockard will graduate from Auburn completely debt-free.
“My dream is to get one-to-two years of critical care experience in the ICU and become a pediatric nurse and ethicist,” Stockard explained.
Stockard says her experience as a student at Auburn helped prepare her for the demanding role of Miss America.
“Work, hard work – it all ties back to Auburn for sure,” said Stockard.
Want to experience Stockard’s journey as Miss America 2025? Follow the official Miss America social media channels on Facebook and Instagram. Visit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation website to find your state chapter and a list of fundraising events planned for this year.
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Episode Transcript
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(00:06):
Hey everybody, welcome backto the Everything Auburn Podcast.
It's Dalton Odom and my co-host Carter.
How are we doing DaltonI'm doing great.
How are you?
You know, I'mI am thrilled to be here once
a gain in the WEGLstudio doing a podcast,
sitting down with youand another special guest live
from the Melton Student Center.
It'skind of insane that we get to do this.
(00:26):
Truly just a full circle moment.
I don't know why they trusted us,but they did.
They gave us a key.
Actually, the door was wide open.
But I mean, no one stop.
No one stop this. It's fine.
So you're back again.
So excited to be here.
So we have a very special guestwith us this week.
Miss America 2025.
Abbie Stockard, Abbie, how's it going?
Hey, guys. I'm happy to be here.
(00:48):
This is so exciting.
Welcome to the podcast.
Our first sash has made iton the on the podcast.
Yeah,you all seem like two pretty cool dudes.
So I'm excited to hang out with y'allfor a little bit.
All right.
Job done. Job done.
Thanks for watching.
Join us again next month.
Come back next time.
Welcome. This is so great.
Glad to have you back on campusin Auburn. Congratulations.
(01:09):
Thank you.
What a happy to be here.
What an incredible ride.
I can imaginethe last few weeks have been.
Yeah, it's been crazy.
I mean, it's only been a month,and I feel like
I've been all over the place.
I was crowned in Orlando on January 5th,and then from there,
I've already been to New York City twice.
I've been to Washington, DCfor the inauguration weekend.
Never thought I'd be there for that.
(01:30):
I've been to Dallas, Texas.
Utah did a little performancewith the jazz dancers.
I went to New Orleans,and the next week I'm actually flying out
to Beavercreek, Colorado to attendto attend a cystic fibrosis fundraiser.
Oh. That's awesome.
And it'sonly going to get busier from here,
but I've been counting down the daystill I got to come back to Auburn.
I haven't been here in months,and so it's honestly
been probably one of my favorite memoriesso far.
(01:51):
Getting to reunite with my Auburn family.
I'm glad. And then I understand.
You also get a chanceto reunite with your former team
and Auburn here,and you got to do a little performance
as well at a basketball game last night.
Yeah.
So I got to dance at the Tiger Paws,and it was an absolute blast.
So when I was a Tiger Paw last year,I mean, I'm,
I was going into my senior yearand I had no clue
that all the things I didlast year were going to be my last.
(02:15):
And so that's whylast night was so special,
because it was kind oflike closing this chapter in my life,
because I never knew that was going to bemy last basketball game
and how iconic it is to come back,first of all, as Miss America,
but then to dance for the numberone team in the nation.
So definitely a memorythat I will cherish forever.
Just checking things off the bucketlist night.
Literally. Yeah.
(02:35):
So Abbie and I had overlap when I cheeredand then Abbie dance.
So I know how important that closure is,so I'm glad you got to experience that.
But you also were just talkingabout cystic fibrosis.
And I know that that is kind of yourthe platform that you're,
working on this year.
So tell us a little bit about about that.
Yeah.
So a lot of people don't know this,but when you compete in the Miss America
(02:56):
organization,every contestant has to have
something called a service initiative.
And it's basically anythingthat you're passionate about.
And so I chose cystic fibrosisas my cause.
My best friendMaddie was born with this disease.
Currently there is no cure,and it is a genetically inherited,
life threatening and chronic disease.
And she's actuallya student here at Auburn
or even talking about rooming togethernext year when I come back.
(03:19):
But growing up,I saw some of the devastating effects
this disease took on her physical,but also her mental health.
And I made a promisethat I would do everything in my power
to fight for herand for others who have CF.
It's been really cool.
I mean, being Miss Americahas already opened up so many doors.
I had a call with the CEOof the National Cystic
Fibrosis Foundationa couple weeks ago,
(03:39):
and they're going to helpimplement me into a lot of their, like,
advocacy initiatives across the nationthis year, which will be really cool.
And what's so rewarding is that,you know,
I think a lot of people thinkbeing Miss America is about
just like wearing a crownand looking pretty,
and it's just so much more than that.
And so I'm excited to hopefullybreak those stereotypes.
But also continueto expand awareness about CF
(04:00):
because a lot of peopledon't know about it.
And likeevery single appearance, I've had,
at least one personcome up to me like crying
because they know someonethat passed away with CF,
some people,siblings, their best friends.
And so how cool is thatthat we get to shed
light on this disease?
Yeah, I think it's a thingthat Dalton and I, we've,
we spoke to a lot of gueston this podcast
before, and a lotof what people talk about is
(04:22):
we talk about Auburn Family and all.
It's is helping people.
And it's justit's nice that you have a platform
and that it's not.
It is not just wearing a crownand being pretty
and is like, I'mgoing to take this chance
that I haveand I'm actually going
to do something with it,which is so cool.
And it goes back to so many things.
We've talked about why we love Auburn.
So that's kind of built intoAuburn people.
(04:42):
And it's it's incredibleto watch somebody
with your platform be able to do thatand make so much good in the world.
Thank you. Yeah.
Yeah. Well and then but I do know.
So I have a little bit of a behindthe scenes that we actually got this
I was on a videoshoot with you yesterday.
So I got I had our moment, I got,I got to hear a few things already.
So I've already got someI've heard some things already.
(05:02):
But Daltonand I like to have a good time here.
I love it,you know, we like to have some good fun,
not take ourselves tooseriously here, you know? Never.
And you said something yesterday.
Oh, boy, that truly cracked me up.
Oh, God.
And I know what you're going to say,I think, and I just wanted to ask
real quick.
Are you the real Miss America?
I knew you say thatI am the real Miss America.
(05:25):
This isn't just cosplay.
Yeah, I get asked at least onceevery single appearance
if I'm the real Miss America.
And I told him I'm going to tell someone.
No, I'm just.
I like to dress up and my crown and sash.
I was at, in Daytona, Florida,attending a motorsport event and like,
at least five people asked me that.
And I was like, why what?
I attend this eventwith a crown and sash on my head.
(05:47):
If I wasn'tthe real Miss America here, I,
you know, but peopleare just going to say what they want.
I'm I'm starting to realize,yeah, you know, that it happens.
I do think it's another thingI was thinking about this morning.
I was walking into work.
How crazy it is that,you know, you've
you've signed autographs, Tiger.
Like, there's so many things you've done.
There's like, sign some poster stuff,but you went to like,
(06:09):
ludicrouslyfamous almost overnight
and like what?
And I just it's so curiouswhat it's like
in your experienceto have witnessed like gone from
you could walk in any roomand be relatively anonymous
anywhere in the world.
And now I would imaginethat's not as common of a thing,
especially when you're wearing a crown,I'm sure.
(06:29):
I mean, yeah, if I'm being honest,I don't really think it's
hit me like this. Fame.
Honestly, I don't knowif people would recognize me,
but when you put the crown and sashon, people are fiends.
Like they.
They come out of every which way.
Like, people will like.
Grab your shoulder, your arm.
Like, don'texpect to have a conversation with anyone
because you're going to quicklyget pulled away.
But I mean, maybe as the year progressesand I travel more,
(06:52):
I'll I'll be recognizablewithout the crown and sash.
We'll see you get used to it.
You perfected the quick autograph.
I think it's best casescenario because, you know,
some people saythey don't like being in the spotlight
and having fame and like,they want to go back
to be a normal person.
But I get to do that like I get to be,you know,
what you're calling famous for a year,and then I'm just going
to be a normal studentback here at Auburn.
So I think I get to experienceboth sides of it. That's incredible.
(07:13):
It does make me think.
Another thingI wanted to ask as well, though,
like you just said, in a year from now,job's done.
Yeah.
Which is so crazy to think that's good.
I mean, you're already a month in.
Is there anything that youhave that you've thought about that
11 months from now?
Well, actually,I should have mentioned it
mentioned it'sonly seven months from now.
It's only seven months for like,oh my gosh.
Oh wow. Yeah.
(07:34):
So it was in January of this yearand they moved it back to September.
Oh I know, but don't feel bad becauseI think it's perfect for me
because I want to come backto nursing school.
And if you know anything about nursing,they have a very rigid,
oh yeah, structured schedule.
And I'm already like,they're already keeping
a spot open for me.
And I'm being pushed back a semester.
(07:55):
But if Miss America was in January,I wouldn't be able
to start next semester.
And then I think I'd have to waitan entire year.
Oh, my gosh, before I could come back.
And now that I like,I feel like really old. Now.
I know I'm not.
But it's going to be weirdcoming back to Auburn
because I feel so farremoved a little bit.
So I'm very thankfulthat they're going to like,
let me come backand I'll be done with all of my Miss
America things,so then I can just come back here
(08:16):
and finish up.
Wow.
Yeah, well, you already just started it.
So tell me about nursing school.
So what's the career goals?
You know why nursing school?
Why is that somethingyou want to make sure that you're
you're doing? Yeah.
So I grew up in a medical family.
My aunt and uncle are both physicians.
My other aunt's a psychiatrist.
My granddad was chief of general surgery.
(08:37):
My mom's a pharmacist.
So the whole Gray'sAnatomy family out there.
So, like, I grewI mean, at the dinner table,
we talked about some reallydisgusting things that a lot of people
probably couldn't bear, but we did.
So I knew it was somethingI was always interested in.
And then,as I started to grow up,
and especially when I started competing,I found out that
I have a heart of service,and I feel like
I have a lot of compassionand empathy for others.
(08:59):
And I think I truly have the most,fulfillment
when I'm giving of myself to others.
And, you know, being a nurse,you're doing just that.
You're right at the bedside,providing this one on one
care to your patients.
And now I can ensure thatevery person I have
the opportunityto treat receives the highest
and the best quality of care.
So my dream is tohopefully get 1 to 2 years
(09:20):
of critical care experience in the ICU.
And then use the scholarship money.
I've acquired over$89,000 in tuition scholarships,
so I'll graduatecompletely debt free from Auburn,
and then that'll pave the waybeyond that as I hope
to become a pediatric nursing ethicist.
So we'll see what happens.
The crazy thing is,my twin brother is also
in Auburn nursing,and he also wants to be a nurse
(09:41):
and ethicist.
I think that he likes to copy mebecause I wouldn't want
I had to dream before him,but he is going to graduate before me,
so we'll see what happens with him.
I know he's graduating this spring.
I've known you for like 3 or 4 years.
I had no idea you were a twin.
Yeah, no one knowshe flies under the radar.
Wow.
All right,let me ask the all important
twin question.
(10:01):
Who's older? Me by one minute.
Okay. All right.
I mean, you should have known that.
Yeah, I don't let him forget it.
I love that,but it's funny because he
he never really knewthe pageant side of me,
because that's always been somethingI kind of did on the side
because I was so focusedwith school and Tiger paws.
And thenmy mom made him come to Miss America,
and, like, he just didn'teven know what to think of it
until my mom,my mom and sister were like,
(10:24):
oh my gosh,we're getting all these Instagram
follow request.
And then he was like, oh my gosh, am I?
And then he went and looked.
That's what he was finally interested in.
He was like, I don't have any.
Oh hey, can you go mentioned me on stagenext time you're up there. Yeah.
Do you tag me in the story?
My brother? Super cool.
It was funny.
And then my little sister'sa freshman here in exercise science.
(10:45):
So the whole family is goingthe health care direction.
Well how incredible.
I know that, like,my sister's a nurse as well.
And just from thingsI've heard from her,
and there's like,just knowing what nursing is
like anythingin the medical field really.
Like I think there'sjust some people that I can't do it.
I'd pass out every other day at work.
It'd be hard.
I'm glad.
I'm so thankfulthere are people that can.
(11:06):
And because that's just hard wired,that's not that's not Carter's life,
which is totally great. Totally fine.
But I'm glad that youand there are people like you that do,
because, goodness gracious.
Yeah, I really need it.
So workingin the Office of Communications
and Marketing,I think Carter and I can't say
we always have the thought of,hey, we work in PR, not the ER.
(11:26):
So I'm very gratefulthat there are people who do
work in the ER, Yeah we’re saving PDFsnot lives. Exactly.
Yeah.
See, I before I decidedI wanted to come back to nursing,
I started exploring other optionsand I was like,
oh, maybe marketingand PR just like y'all are doing.
And then they were like,yeah, you're going to have
to take all your likeprereqs like macro
microeconomics, business analytics.
And I was like, that sounds disgusting.
(11:47):
I don't want to do that.
But yeah.
So like y'all had to do thatand I couldn't do that either.
I got a film degreeso I didn't have to do anything.
I hate that I had to do all of it.
Yeah, it's it's not good.
It's not fun.
So that gave me an answer right there.
Yeah. Yeah.
And I think that'sthat's what college is for, right?
I started in business schooland I learned,
one thing in business school,I should not be in business school.
(12:09):
And that is.
That's fine. And then.
Yeah, that's why I look at you now. Yeah.
And here I am on a podcast.
There you go.
Love it.
Hey, the official university podcast.
Someone's got to do it, man.
Someone's got to do it.
Well, you know, and there's so many,there's so many cool
things that you get to do. Mean.
Do you have anything?
I'm just so interested in your lifebecause it is such a wild thing.
(12:30):
Like even early,like in the last month, I've done,
you know,so many things, like I eat, you know,
I've done laundry like,twice in that amount of time.
So I'm like, I'm fit.
And, you know.
Oh, yeah.
Billings. Yeah.
That's like the peak for me.
You have anything?
What's on the horizon for youthat you're really looking forward to?
You're going to get to go do.
So I'm really excited.
I'm going to the Kentucky Derbythis year.
(12:50):
Do you have a hat picked out?
Not yet, but it's going to be iconic.
Just you can follow me on social mediaand you can see it.
They're going to make sureit's a ten out of ten.
But I've been wanting to go,but I could just never make it work
with my schedule.
And I'm honestly gladit never worked out,
because it's just going to be so amazingto go as Miss America.
And then there's a former Miss America.
Her name is Heather FrenchHeather has one of those,
(13:11):
like, boxes at the Kentucky Derby.
That's where she lives.
And so, we're all goingto get to hang out with her
and, like, have really good eating,good food.
It's going to be a good time.
That's awesome.
Have you gotten in touchwith any other former Miss Americas?
I mean, you just obviously mentioned one,but I'm curious what kind of I'm
sure there's an incredible group text.
Oh, I can only imagine theyso many of them have messaged me.
(13:32):
And it really is so crazy to me becausealthough I didn't grow up
competing in pageants,I watched Miss America
every single year with my mom and our dadwatching on the TV,
and it was some of themthat I literally watched when
and like as a little girl.
They were everything to me.
And so having themlike message me or sort of following me,
I was like,this is just like it just has it hit me
that I'm like part of this legacyand like this sisterhood now
(13:54):
it's just crazy.
But they've all been so sweet and,I'm just very thankful that they
they're there for me.
And, you know, there's not a lot of womenwho can relate to this,
time in their life,except for about 100 people.
So it's very nicehaving a little community.
It's I mean, it's super.
I mean, there's only one Miss America.
I mean, I can't think of another job.
(14:14):
I mean, there'sthat has I mean, there's only one like,
even like there's multipleprime ministers in multiple like.
Well, do you know that statistic?
Have you heard about itwith the Super Bowl?
I please enlighten okay.
So you're more likelyto have a daughter compete
at Miss America.
Wait. No, wait. Let me start over.
You're more likely to have a sonplay in the Super Bowl than a daughter
(14:37):
compete and Miss America. Crazy.
Oh my gosh.
All right.
So that coupled with another thingyou said a moment ago
which I want to circle back onmakes this even doubly crazy.
That's first off that's ludicrous.
And second off it's even crazierbecause a minute ago,
if I'm not mistaken,you said you didn't even grow up
doing pageants, I didn't know.
So, how does somebody go fromnot really doing pageants
(15:01):
to winning the pinnacle of of it all?
Yeah.
I mean, honestly,I think it was to my advantage
because I just had noexpectations at all.
It was moreso to just go have fun
and get some scholarship money.
I entered my first one here at Auburnmy freshman year.
There's Miss Auburn University,and the winner
gets a full year of free tuition.
(15:23):
And I thought, you know,how could anyone toward that doubt
wouldn't want that. Yeah.
So I signed up completely on a whim.
To anyone's surprise, I did not winthat weekend.
No, I was terrible.
I was a fish out of water.
I didn't know what I was doing.
I refused to watch my on stage question.
But anyways,I love the experience
that I ended up signing upfor a preliminary in Birmingham
(15:43):
the next weekend.
Ended up winning the titleof Miss Chabba Valley.
And then that'show my journey got started.
So it really all startedbecause I was looking to relieve
a financial burdenand get some scholarships.
And then I found outI just loved the organization
and everything that it stood for.
But I think it's really coolhow I was able to step in this position,
because I thinka lot of girls don't compete
because they think you have to grow updoing them in order to do well.
(16:07):
I mean, I used to thinkthat I would assume most people
until I started their whole life.
Yeah, but I think peoplereally value authenticity,
and they like someonewho is just going
to be real and relatableand not this perfect pageant queen.
And it's nice for little girlsto look at her
like me, Miss America,and know that is attainable.
Like, I don't have to do all these thingsto be Miss America.
(16:28):
I just have to work hard for it.
And I can do this.
And I think,hopefully I'm a good example of that.
Work hard work.
Yeah.
How did I beat you to it. This guy.
Yeah I did this guy. Yeah.
Sorry about it.
That's right.
All ties back to the Auburn for sure.
Does.
Certainly does I mean it's it'sso it's so apt and so perfectly phrased
(16:48):
and it's justyeah that's incredible
I, I'm justthis whole situation is just crazy.
I just can't imagine being the one of oneMiss America. That's so cool.
And from Alabama.
So I understandyou're the fourth from Alabama as well,
which you knowlet's go local state here I know
put us on the map. Right.
What's crazy is,so this woman named Heather
(17:09):
Whitestone was from Alabama.
She was Miss Alabama.
She was crowned in 1995.
Ten years later.
Deidre downs.
Who's from Miss Out West.
She was Miss Alabama.
She was crowned.
And then 20 years later 2025 I'm Crown.
Oh America.
So seems like soI'm about five so far five.
Yeah.
So about five have been good for usAlabama girls.
(17:31):
I'm, I'm not superstitious,but I am a little stitious Yeah.
And that I was kind ofthis was the 20th year.
Well, what do you know?
Well, I think.
Let mecheck my little timer I got on here.
We're getting close on time here.
But, we did want to go.
I want to ask one more thing, which isdid at any point in time
(17:52):
during your, like,start competing Miss America,
like I'm doing this thing.
When did you think like this?
Or if it ever happened that this wouldthis could be an outcome.
Did you ever really believe it?
Even even the confetti is falling.
You're walking downlike, yeah, this is not I'm telling you.
I mean, if you watch the video,I'm looking down at my sash
reading the words Americabecause I'm like trying to
for myself, like,what is happening right now?
(18:13):
I mean,I told everyone going into it, y'all,
I'm not going to win.
My goal is to get the top 11.
If I make itthat far, I'm going to be so happy
and everyone was so adamantabout coming to Orlando
and all I cared aboutwas making them proud.
I just wanted them to knowthat their money coming
was going to be worth it,and I was going to get to do all phases
of a competition, competition for them.
So once I made it to the top 11,I didn't think I was going to win,
(18:36):
but I was like, yes, I've done it.
Let's just go have fun.
And then, I mean, I was so calm.
I've never been that calm in my life.
Like I could never talkabout unemployment
for 30s three years ago.
Like,I mean, I don't like is from
by the grace of God,words came out of my mouth
and I had a statistic to pull from.
But, then I was calling the top five.
And then, I mean,when they got down
(18:57):
to three people standing,I was like, Holy moly, what?
What is going on?
And thenI was holding hands with Miss Texas,
and she looked at meand she goes, Abbie
you were going to be a phenomenalMiss America.
And then they called my name.
Oh, I know,I said I get chills because I'm like,
how did she know?
And then it was at that moment, you know,and then I look out, see
(19:17):
my family, they're bawling, crying,and it kind of hit me.
What just happened?
My entire life changed just like that.
I remember watching it like you watchI did well, I did like
I remember as meand some of the other like,
my former teammates,some of the other charities
were watching.
And then I texted,sorry, this is so inside Spirit team.
I'm sorry to people listening.
(19:38):
I don't know,I don't even know what you know.
I'm sorry, but I was likesome of the other tiger paws
and some of the other cheerleaders,and we wrote, like,
text back and forth watching.
So, just so thrilled.
And you're representing Auburnso well in our state.
And we're all we're all just so proud.
So that's true.
It's very true.
Well, I think we're just about done here,but I did want to get, you know,
you got an exciting sevenmonths ahead of you.
(19:59):
If someone wants to.
What?
What are some of the best wayspeople can keep up with you, follow you,
and get to experience your adventureand journey with you?
Yeah, the best way to dothat would be
all my social media handles.
They're all just @MissAmerica.
If you want to seemy personal journey,
you can follow me @AbbieStockard.
Or if you want to learnhow to get involved,
(20:19):
how you can become a sponsor,or maybe even sign up
for a local program,you can just search Miss America.
Sure.
And then,if if, your cystic fibrosis angle,
what are some of the best,contacts there? Yeah.
So you can just searchthe Cystic Fibrosis Foundation,
and then you can find your state chapter,and then it has a list
of all the different fundraising eventsthat are being put on.
May is a big monththat cystic fibrosis awareness month.
(20:42):
So a lot is happening.
Then you can figure outhow to donate,
how to volunteer, how to sign up,all the things wonderful.
Well, thank you so much for joining us.
I appreciate your as Dalton said,an incredible representative
of the University of the stateand of of the Miss America program.
So just thank you all for having me.
We're so happy that you're here.
For Dalton, Carter and AbbieI say thank you for joining us.
(21:05):
This is the Everything Auburn podcast.
You want to hear more from us over here?
Just goofing off and being weirdos.
We got several more episodes.
Go visit our podcast hub or wherever elseyou get podcasts to listen to more,
and we'll be back againnext month
with another incrediblemember of the Auburn family
sitting right there on this chair.
And we're gonna have a good old time.
So see you next time.
War Eagle! War Eagle! War Eagle!Heck yeah!
Hey everybody, welcome backto the Everything Auburn Podcast.
It's Dalton Odom and my co-host Carter.
How are we doing DaltonI'm doing great.
How are you?
You know, I'mI am thrilled to be here once
a gain in the WEGLstudio doing a podcast,
sitting down with youand another special guest live
from the Melton Student Center.
It'skind of insane that we get to do this.
(00:26):
Truly just a full circle moment.
I don't know why they trusted us,but they did.
They gave us a key.
Actually, the door was wide open.
But I mean, no one stop.
No one stop this. It's fine.
So you're back again.
So excited to be here.
So we have a very special guestwith us this week.
Miss America 2025.
Abbie Stockard, Abbie, how's it going?
Hey, guys. I'm happy to be here.
(00:48):
This is so exciting.
Welcome to the podcast.
Our first sash has made iton the on the podcast.
Yeah,you all seem like two pretty cool dudes.
So I'm excited to hang out with y'allfor a little bit.
All right.
Job done. Job done.
Thanks for watching.
Join us again next month.
Come back next time.
Welcome. This is so great.
Glad to have you back on campusin Auburn. Congratulations.
(01:09):
Thank you.
What a happy to be here.
What an incredible ride.
I can imaginethe last few weeks have been.
Yeah, it's been crazy.
I mean, it's only been a month,and I feel like
I've been all over the place.
I was crowned in Orlando on January 5th,and then from there,
I've already been to New York City twice.
I've been to Washington, DCfor the inauguration weekend.
Never thought I'd be there for that.
(01:30):
I've been to Dallas, Texas.
Utah did a little performancewith the jazz dancers.
I went to New Orleans,and the next week I'm actually flying out
to Beavercreek, Colorado to attendto attend a cystic fibrosis fundraiser.
Oh. That's awesome.
And it'sonly going to get busier from here,
but I've been counting down the daystill I got to come back to Auburn.
I haven't been here in months,and so it's honestly
been probably one of my favorite memoriesso far.
(01:51):
Getting to reunite with my Auburn family.
I'm glad. And then I understand.
You also get a chanceto reunite with your former team
and Auburn here,and you got to do a little performance
as well at a basketball game last night.
Yeah.
So I got to dance at the Tiger Paws,and it was an absolute blast.
So when I was a Tiger Paw last year,I mean, I'm,
I was going into my senior yearand I had no clue
that all the things I didlast year were going to be my last.
(02:15):
And so that's whylast night was so special,
because it was kind oflike closing this chapter in my life,
because I never knew that was going to bemy last basketball game
and how iconic it is to come back,first of all, as Miss America,
but then to dance for the numberone team in the nation.
So definitely a memorythat I will cherish forever.
Just checking things off the bucketlist night.
Literally. Yeah.
(02:35):
So Abbie and I had overlap when I cheeredand then Abbie dance.
So I know how important that closure is,so I'm glad you got to experience that.
But you also were just talkingabout cystic fibrosis.
And I know that that is kind of yourthe platform that you're,
working on this year.
So tell us a little bit about about that.
Yeah.
So a lot of people don't know this,but when you compete in the Miss America
(02:56):
organization,every contestant has to have
something called a service initiative.
And it's basically anythingthat you're passionate about.
And so I chose cystic fibrosisas my cause.
My best friendMaddie was born with this disease.
Currently there is no cure,and it is a genetically inherited,
life threatening and chronic disease.
And she's actuallya student here at Auburn
or even talking about rooming togethernext year when I come back.
(03:19):
But growing up,I saw some of the devastating effects
this disease took on her physical,but also her mental health.
And I made a promisethat I would do everything in my power
to fight for herand for others who have CF.
It's been really cool.
I mean, being Miss Americahas already opened up so many doors.
I had a call with the CEOof the National Cystic
Fibrosis Foundationa couple weeks ago,
(03:39):
and they're going to helpimplement me into a lot of their, like,
advocacy initiatives across the nationthis year, which will be really cool.
And what's so rewarding is that,you know,
I think a lot of people thinkbeing Miss America is about
just like wearing a crownand looking pretty,
and it's just so much more than that.
And so I'm excited to hopefullybreak those stereotypes.
But also continueto expand awareness about CF
(04:00):
because a lot of peopledon't know about it.
And likeevery single appearance, I've had,
at least one personcome up to me like crying
because they know someonethat passed away with CF,
some people,siblings, their best friends.
And so how cool is thatthat we get to shed
light on this disease?
Yeah, I think it's a thingthat Dalton and I, we've,
we spoke to a lot of gueston this podcast
before, and a lotof what people talk about is
(04:22):
we talk about Auburn Family and all.
It's is helping people.
And it's justit's nice that you have a platform
and that it's not.
It is not just wearing a crownand being pretty
and is like, I'mgoing to take this chance
that I haveand I'm actually going
to do something with it,which is so cool.
And it goes back to so many things.
We've talked about why we love Auburn.
So that's kind of built intoAuburn people.
(04:42):
And it's it's incredibleto watch somebody
with your platform be able to do thatand make so much good in the world.
Thank you. Yeah.
Yeah. Well and then but I do know.
So I have a little bit of a behindthe scenes that we actually got this
I was on a videoshoot with you yesterday.
So I got I had our moment, I got,I got to hear a few things already.
So I've already got someI've heard some things already.
(05:02):
But Daltonand I like to have a good time here.
I love it,you know, we like to have some good fun,
not take ourselves tooseriously here, you know? Never.
And you said something yesterday.
Oh, boy, that truly cracked me up.
Oh, God.
And I know what you're going to say,I think, and I just wanted to ask
real quick.
Are you the real Miss America?
I knew you say thatI am the real Miss America.
(05:25):
This isn't just cosplay.
Yeah, I get asked at least onceevery single appearance
if I'm the real Miss America.
And I told him I'm going to tell someone.
No, I'm just.
I like to dress up and my crown and sash.
I was at, in Daytona, Florida,attending a motorsport event and like,
at least five people asked me that.
And I was like, why what?
I attend this eventwith a crown and sash on my head.
(05:47):
If I wasn'tthe real Miss America here, I,
you know, but peopleare just going to say what they want.
I'm I'm starting to realize,yeah, you know, that it happens.
I do think it's another thingI was thinking about this morning.
I was walking into work.
How crazy it is that,you know, you've
you've signed autographs, Tiger.
Like, there's so many things you've done.
There's like, sign some poster stuff,but you went to like,
(06:09):
ludicrouslyfamous almost overnight
and like what?
And I just it's so curiouswhat it's like
in your experienceto have witnessed like gone from
you could walk in any roomand be relatively anonymous
anywhere in the world.
And now I would imaginethat's not as common of a thing,
especially when you're wearing a crown,I'm sure.
(06:29):
I mean, yeah, if I'm being honest,I don't really think it's
hit me like this. Fame.
Honestly, I don't knowif people would recognize me,
but when you put the crown and sashon, people are fiends.
Like they.
They come out of every which way.
Like, people will like.
Grab your shoulder, your arm.
Like, don'texpect to have a conversation with anyone
because you're going to quicklyget pulled away.
But I mean, maybe as the year progressesand I travel more,
(06:52):
I'll I'll be recognizablewithout the crown and sash.
We'll see you get used to it.
You perfected the quick autograph.
I think it's best casescenario because, you know,
some people saythey don't like being in the spotlight
and having fame and like,they want to go back
to be a normal person.
But I get to do that like I get to be,you know,
what you're calling famous for a year,and then I'm just going
to be a normal studentback here at Auburn.
So I think I get to experienceboth sides of it. That's incredible.
(07:13):
It does make me think.
Another thingI wanted to ask as well, though,
like you just said, in a year from now,job's done.
Yeah.
Which is so crazy to think that's good.
I mean, you're already a month in.
Is there anything that youhave that you've thought about that
11 months from now?
Well, actually,I should have mentioned it
mentioned it'sonly seven months from now.
It's only seven months for like,oh my gosh.
Oh wow. Yeah.
(07:34):
So it was in January of this yearand they moved it back to September.
Oh I know, but don't feel bad becauseI think it's perfect for me
because I want to come backto nursing school.
And if you know anything about nursing,they have a very rigid,
oh yeah, structured schedule.
And I'm already like,they're already keeping
a spot open for me.
And I'm being pushed back a semester.
(07:55):
But if Miss America was in January,I wouldn't be able
to start next semester.
And then I think I'd have to waitan entire year.
Oh, my gosh, before I could come back.
And now that I like,I feel like really old. Now.
I know I'm not.
But it's going to be weirdcoming back to Auburn
because I feel so farremoved a little bit.
So I'm very thankfulthat they're going to like,
let me come backand I'll be done with all of my Miss
America things,so then I can just come back here
(08:16):
and finish up.
Wow.
Yeah, well, you already just started it.
So tell me about nursing school.
So what's the career goals?
You know why nursing school?
Why is that somethingyou want to make sure that you're
you're doing? Yeah.
So I grew up in a medical family.
My aunt and uncle are both physicians.
My other aunt's a psychiatrist.
My granddad was chief of general surgery.
(08:37):
My mom's a pharmacist.
So the whole Gray'sAnatomy family out there.
So, like, I grewI mean, at the dinner table,
we talked about some reallydisgusting things that a lot of people
probably couldn't bear, but we did.
So I knew it was somethingI was always interested in.
And then,as I started to grow up,
and especially when I started competing,I found out that
I have a heart of service,and I feel like
I have a lot of compassionand empathy for others.
(08:59):
And I think I truly have the most,fulfillment
when I'm giving of myself to others.
And, you know, being a nurse,you're doing just that.
You're right at the bedside,providing this one on one
care to your patients.
And now I can ensure thatevery person I have
the opportunityto treat receives the highest
and the best quality of care.
So my dream is tohopefully get 1 to 2 years
(09:20):
of critical care experience in the ICU.
And then use the scholarship money.
I've acquired over$89,000 in tuition scholarships,
so I'll graduatecompletely debt free from Auburn,
and then that'll pave the waybeyond that as I hope
to become a pediatric nursing ethicist.
So we'll see what happens.
The crazy thing is,my twin brother is also
in Auburn nursing,and he also wants to be a nurse
(09:41):
and ethicist.
I think that he likes to copy mebecause I wouldn't want
I had to dream before him,but he is going to graduate before me,
so we'll see what happens with him.
I know he's graduating this spring.
I've known you for like 3 or 4 years.
I had no idea you were a twin.
Yeah, no one knowshe flies under the radar.
Wow.
All right,let me ask the all important
twin question.
(10:01):
Who's older? Me by one minute.
Okay. All right.
I mean, you should have known that.
Yeah, I don't let him forget it.
I love that,but it's funny because he
he never really knewthe pageant side of me,
because that's always been somethingI kind of did on the side
because I was so focusedwith school and Tiger paws.
And thenmy mom made him come to Miss America,
and, like, he just didn'teven know what to think of it
until my mom,my mom and sister were like,
(10:24):
oh my gosh,we're getting all these Instagram
follow request.
And then he was like, oh my gosh, am I?
And then he went and looked.
That's what he was finally interested in.
He was like, I don't have any.
Oh hey, can you go mentioned me on stagenext time you're up there. Yeah.
Do you tag me in the story?
My brother? Super cool.
It was funny.
And then my little sister'sa freshman here in exercise science.
(10:45):
So the whole family is goingthe health care direction.
Well how incredible.
I know that, like,my sister's a nurse as well.
And just from thingsI've heard from her,
and there's like,just knowing what nursing is
like anythingin the medical field really.
Like I think there'sjust some people that I can't do it.
I'd pass out every other day at work.
It'd be hard.
I'm glad.
I'm so thankfulthere are people that can.
(11:06):
And because that's just hard wired,that's not that's not Carter's life,
which is totally great. Totally fine.
But I'm glad that youand there are people like you that do,
because, goodness gracious.
Yeah, I really need it.
So workingin the Office of Communications
and Marketing,I think Carter and I can't say
we always have the thought of,hey, we work in PR, not the ER.
(11:26):
So I'm very gratefulthat there are people who do
work in the ER, Yeah we’re saving PDFsnot lives. Exactly.
Yeah.
See, I before I decidedI wanted to come back to nursing,
I started exploring other optionsand I was like,
oh, maybe marketingand PR just like y'all are doing.
And then they were like,yeah, you're going to have
to take all your likeprereqs like macro
microeconomics, business analytics.
And I was like, that sounds disgusting.
(11:47):
I don't want to do that.
But yeah.
So like y'all had to do thatand I couldn't do that either.
I got a film degreeso I didn't have to do anything.
I hate that I had to do all of it.
Yeah, it's it's not good.
It's not fun.
So that gave me an answer right there.
Yeah. Yeah.
And I think that'sthat's what college is for, right?
I started in business schooland I learned,
one thing in business school,I should not be in business school.
(12:09):
And that is.
That's fine. And then.
Yeah, that's why I look at you now. Yeah.
And here I am on a podcast.
There you go.
Love it.
Hey, the official university podcast.
Someone's got to do it, man.
Someone's got to do it.
Well, you know, and there's so many,there's so many cool
things that you get to do. Mean.
Do you have anything?
I'm just so interested in your lifebecause it is such a wild thing.
(12:30):
Like even early,like in the last month, I've done,
you know,so many things, like I eat, you know,
I've done laundry like,twice in that amount of time.
So I'm like, I'm fit.
And, you know.
Oh, yeah.
Billings. Yeah.
That's like the peak for me.
You have anything?
What's on the horizon for youthat you're really looking forward to?
You're going to get to go do.
So I'm really excited.
I'm going to the Kentucky Derbythis year.
(12:50):
Do you have a hat picked out?
Not yet, but it's going to be iconic.
Just you can follow me on social mediaand you can see it.
They're going to make sureit's a ten out of ten.
But I've been wanting to go,but I could just never make it work
with my schedule.
And I'm honestly gladit never worked out,
because it's just going to be so amazingto go as Miss America.
And then there's a former Miss America.
Her name is Heather FrenchHeather has one of those,
(13:11):
like, boxes at the Kentucky Derby.
That's where she lives.
And so, we're all goingto get to hang out with her
and, like, have really good eating,good food.
It's going to be a good time.
That's awesome.
Have you gotten in touchwith any other former Miss Americas?
I mean, you just obviously mentioned one,but I'm curious what kind of I'm
sure there's an incredible group text.
Oh, I can only imagine theyso many of them have messaged me.
(13:32):
And it really is so crazy to me becausealthough I didn't grow up
competing in pageants,I watched Miss America
every single year with my mom and our dadwatching on the TV,
and it was some of themthat I literally watched when
and like as a little girl.
They were everything to me.
And so having themlike message me or sort of following me,
I was like,this is just like it just has it hit me
that I'm like part of this legacyand like this sisterhood now
(13:54):
it's just crazy.
But they've all been so sweet and,I'm just very thankful that they
they're there for me.
And, you know, there's not a lot of womenwho can relate to this,
time in their life,except for about 100 people.
So it's very nicehaving a little community.
It's I mean, it's super.
I mean, there's only one Miss America.
I mean, I can't think of another job.
(14:14):
I mean, there'sthat has I mean, there's only one like,
even like there's multipleprime ministers in multiple like.
Well, do you know that statistic?
Have you heard about itwith the Super Bowl?
I please enlighten okay.
So you're more likelyto have a daughter compete
at Miss America.
Wait. No, wait. Let me start over.
You're more likely to have a sonplay in the Super Bowl than a daughter
(14:37):
compete and Miss America. Crazy.
Oh my gosh.
All right.
So that coupled with another thingyou said a moment ago
which I want to circle back onmakes this even doubly crazy.
That's first off that's ludicrous.
And second off it's even crazierbecause a minute ago,
if I'm not mistaken,you said you didn't even grow up
doing pageants, I didn't know.
So, how does somebody go fromnot really doing pageants
(15:01):
to winning the pinnacle of of it all?
Yeah.
I mean, honestly,I think it was to my advantage
because I just had noexpectations at all.
It was moreso to just go have fun
and get some scholarship money.
I entered my first one here at Auburnmy freshman year.
There's Miss Auburn University,and the winner
gets a full year of free tuition.
(15:23):
And I thought, you know,how could anyone toward that doubt
wouldn't want that. Yeah.
So I signed up completely on a whim.
To anyone's surprise, I did not winthat weekend.
No, I was terrible.
I was a fish out of water.
I didn't know what I was doing.
I refused to watch my on stage question.
But anyways,I love the experience
that I ended up signing upfor a preliminary in Birmingham
(15:43):
the next weekend.
Ended up winning the titleof Miss Chabba Valley.
And then that'show my journey got started.
So it really all startedbecause I was looking to relieve
a financial burdenand get some scholarships.
And then I found outI just loved the organization
and everything that it stood for.
But I think it's really coolhow I was able to step in this position,
because I thinka lot of girls don't compete
because they think you have to grow updoing them in order to do well.
(16:07):
I mean, I used to thinkthat I would assume most people
until I started their whole life.
Yeah, but I think peoplereally value authenticity,
and they like someonewho is just going
to be real and relatableand not this perfect pageant queen.
And it's nice for little girlsto look at her
like me, Miss America,and know that is attainable.
Like, I don't have to do all these thingsto be Miss America.
(16:28):
I just have to work hard for it.
And I can do this.
And I think,hopefully I'm a good example of that.
Work hard work.
Yeah.
How did I beat you to it. This guy.
Yeah I did this guy. Yeah.
Sorry about it.
That's right.
All ties back to the Auburn for sure.
Does.
Certainly does I mean it's it'sso it's so apt and so perfectly phrased
(16:48):
and it's justyeah that's incredible
I, I'm justthis whole situation is just crazy.
I just can't imagine being the one of oneMiss America. That's so cool.
And from Alabama.
So I understandyou're the fourth from Alabama as well,
which you knowlet's go local state here I know
put us on the map. Right.
What's crazy is,so this woman named Heather
(17:09):
Whitestone was from Alabama.
She was Miss Alabama.
She was crowned in 1995.
Ten years later.
Deidre downs.
Who's from Miss Out West.
She was Miss Alabama.
She was crowned.
And then 20 years later 2025 I'm Crown.
Oh America.
So seems like soI'm about five so far five.
Yeah.
So about five have been good for usAlabama girls.
(17:31):
I'm, I'm not superstitious,but I am a little stitious Yeah.
And that I was kind ofthis was the 20th year.
Well, what do you know?
Well, I think.
Let mecheck my little timer I got on here.
We're getting close on time here.
But, we did want to go.
I want to ask one more thing, which isdid at any point in time
(17:52):
during your, like,start competing Miss America,
like I'm doing this thing.
When did you think like this?
Or if it ever happened that this wouldthis could be an outcome.
Did you ever really believe it?
Even even the confetti is falling.
You're walking downlike, yeah, this is not I'm telling you.
I mean, if you watch the video,I'm looking down at my sash
reading the words Americabecause I'm like trying to
for myself, like,what is happening right now?
(18:13):
I mean,I told everyone going into it, y'all,
I'm not going to win.
My goal is to get the top 11.
If I make itthat far, I'm going to be so happy
and everyone was so adamantabout coming to Orlando
and all I cared aboutwas making them proud.
I just wanted them to knowthat their money coming
was going to be worth it,and I was going to get to do all phases
of a competition, competition for them.
So once I made it to the top 11,I didn't think I was going to win,
(18:36):
but I was like, yes, I've done it.
Let's just go have fun.
And then, I mean, I was so calm.
I've never been that calm in my life.
Like I could never talkabout unemployment
for 30s three years ago.
Like,I mean, I don't like is from
by the grace of God,words came out of my mouth
and I had a statistic to pull from.
But, then I was calling the top five.
And then, I mean,when they got down
(18:57):
to three people standing,I was like, Holy moly, what?
What is going on?
And thenI was holding hands with Miss Texas,
and she looked at meand she goes, Abbie
you were going to be a phenomenalMiss America.
And then they called my name.
Oh, I know,I said I get chills because I'm like,
how did she know?
And then it was at that moment, you know,and then I look out, see
(19:17):
my family, they're bawling, crying,and it kind of hit me.
What just happened?
My entire life changed just like that.
I remember watching it like you watchI did well, I did like
I remember as meand some of the other like,
my former teammates,some of the other charities
were watching.
And then I texted,sorry, this is so inside Spirit team.
I'm sorry to people listening.
(19:38):
I don't know,I don't even know what you know.
I'm sorry, but I was likesome of the other tiger paws
and some of the other cheerleaders,and we wrote, like,
text back and forth watching.
So, just so thrilled.
And you're representing Auburnso well in our state.
And we're all we're all just so proud.
So that's true.
It's very true.
Well, I think we're just about done here,but I did want to get, you know,
you got an exciting sevenmonths ahead of you.
(19:59):
If someone wants to.
What?
What are some of the best wayspeople can keep up with you, follow you,
and get to experience your adventureand journey with you?
Yeah, the best way to dothat would be
all my social media handles.
They're all just @MissAmerica.
If you want to seemy personal journey,
you can follow me @AbbieStockard.
Or if you want to learnhow to get involved,
(20:19):
how you can become a sponsor,or maybe even sign up
for a local program,you can just search Miss America.
Sure.
And then,if if, your cystic fibrosis angle,
what are some of the best,contacts there? Yeah.
So you can just searchthe Cystic Fibrosis Foundation,
and then you can find your state chapter,and then it has a list
of all the different fundraising eventsthat are being put on.
May is a big monththat cystic fibrosis awareness month.
(20:42):
So a lot is happening.
Then you can figure outhow to donate,
how to volunteer, how to sign up,all the things wonderful.
Well, thank you so much for joining us.
I appreciate your as Dalton said,an incredible representative
of the University of the stateand of of the Miss America program.
So just thank you all for having me.
We're so happy that you're here.
For Dalton, Carter and AbbieI say thank you for joining us.
(21:05):
This is the Everything Auburn podcast.
You want to hear more from us over here?
Just goofing off and being weirdos.
We got several more episodes.
Go visit our podcast hub or wherever elseyou get podcasts to listen to more,
and we'll be back againnext month
with another incrediblemember of the Auburn family
sitting right there on this chair.
And we're gonna have a good old time.
So see you next time.
War Eagle! War Eagle! War Eagle!Heck yeah!
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