Purpose Beyond the Crown

Miss America 2025, Abbie Stockard

By Caitlyn Burrus | Photography by Mack Hopper

At just twenty-three years old, Abbie Stockard has already lived a season few women ever experience. Crowned Miss America 2025 in January of 2025, the Birmingham, Alabama, native stepped into one of the most visible roles in the country—one defined not only by poise and presentation, but by service, resilience, and responsibility. Now, back at Auburn University, where she is pursuing her Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Abbie is continuing her education after a year dedicated to national service and advocacy. For Abbie, the title was never about the crown itself. It was about purpose.

HHer year as Miss America unfolded at a relentless pace, marked by weekly flights, constant appearances, and the emotional weight of national advocacy. Through it all, wellness became less about perfection and more about grounding practices that sustained her physically, mentally, and spiritually.

“I had to be intentional about moving my body every single day,” she shares. Even when exhaustion set in, movement, often as simple as a twenty-minute walk, became a reset. “I could feel my mood shift almost immediately. It grounded me, boosted my energy, and helped me mentally reset.” Those walks, especially outdoors, became sacred time: no phone, no music, no distractions, just space to breathe and process.

Equally central was her faith. Abbie describes it as a cornerstone throughout both competition season and her year of service. From worship music to intentional prayer before every keynote and appearance, her practices were rooted in gratitude and humility. “This title was never about me,” she says. “To me, it was about being a light, a change-maker, and a servant for the Lord.”

That servant’s heart was most visible through her advocacy for cystic fibrosis, a cause deeply personal to Abbie. Her best friend was born with CF, and witnessing her navigate a strict, unforgiving daily treatment regimen shaped Abbie’s understanding of wellness and resilience from a young age. “There are no days off,” she explains. “Missing even one day can have serious consequences.”

Rather than allowing her diagnosis to define her, Abbie’s friend chose discipline, faith, and intentional wellness, an example that profoundly influenced Abbie’s own perspective. “Watching her reminded me that our bodies are truly a gift,” she says. “Being able to move, breathe freely, and care for our health is a blessing—one that shouldn’t be taken for granted.” That mindset shift, from having to care for your body to getting to, became foundational.

Throughout her reign as Miss America, Abbie carried the weight of visibility in a space often defined by comparison and pressure. Early in her reign, she admits to quietly questioning whether she was enough. But anchoring herself in the Bible verse Esther 4:14—“And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”—changed everything. “I realized that none of that uncertainty disqualified me,” she says. “I earned this title.”

One of the most freeing realizations of her year was understanding that authenticity, not imitation, was the reason she stood on the Miss America stage. “I didn’t win Miss America by trying to be someone else. I won by being authentically myself.” With that acceptance came confidence, peace, and the ability to truly enjoy the opportunity before her.

That same evolution reshaped her relationship with beauty. Once measured by gowns, fitness standards, and external perception, beauty expanded into something far deeper for Abbie. Through advocacy and philanthropy, she began to see beauty in courage, compassion, and confidence, particularly in young women using their voices and dreaming boldly. “When you’re focused on serving something greater than yourself,” she reflects, “the pressure to look a certain way begins to fade.”

Even so, confidence wasn’t always automatic. On days she didn’t feel her best, Abbie learned that reassurance didn’t come from the mirror; it came from connection. Engaging in meaningful conversations, listening deeply, and serving others restored her sense of purpose. “Fulfillment doesn’t come from how you look,” she says, “but from how you love and show up for others.”

Behind the scenes, self-care was simple and grounding: home-cooked meals with family, long walks, daily devotionals, coffee runs with friends, and worship music filling the car. These small rituals became her reset button, especially when the emotional responsibility of advocacy felt heavy.

And that advocacy resonated more than she ever expected. Traveling across the country during her year of service, Abbie was often approached by strangers, many in tears, sharing their own connections to cystic fibrosis. “I realized my service was touching more people than I ever imagined,” she says. That realization was both humbling and energizing, reaffirming the power of choosing to serve in an area close to the heart.

Now, life after the crown looks purposeful in a new way. After being crowned Miss America in January 2025 and dedicating the year fully to her national service and advocacy, Abbie has returned to Auburn University to pursue her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. With over $89,000 in scholarships earned through the Miss America Organization, she is putting her education into action with the goal of becoming a pediatric nurse and eventually pursuing an advanced degree. Her cystic fibrosis advocacy remains central, as does her commitment to public speaking and service. “Even though the crown is no longer on my head,” she says, “my platform continues to be a big part of my life.”

As women and girls enter a new year seeking confidence and clarity, Abbie’s message is resolute: believe in yourself. “Where you come from, who you are, or the obstacles you face do not define your potential,” she says. “Your voice matters—so speak up, stand up for yourself, and don’t be afraid to share your dreams.”

In Abbie Stockard’s story, wellness is not about flawlessness, beauty is not about appearance, and purpose is not limited to a title. Instead, her journey is a reminder that resilience is built through consistency, confidence is found in authenticity, and true impact begins when we choose to serve something greater than ourselves.

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For more information on Abbie Stockard, follow her on Instagram @abbiestockard. For more information on cystic fibrosis, visit CFF.org/community-posts, and to learn more about the Miss America Organization, visit MissAmerica.org.