{"id":53144,"date":"2025-01-06T17:25:35","date_gmt":"2025-01-06T22:25:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/?p=53144"},"modified":"2025-01-06T17:26:01","modified_gmt":"2025-01-06T22:26:01","slug":"alabama-cheerleader-abbie-stockard-22-wins-miss-america-2025-pageant-but-fans-say-contest-has-been-destroyed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/2025\/01\/06\/alabama-cheerleader-abbie-stockard-22-wins-miss-america-2025-pageant-but-fans-say-contest-has-been-destroyed\/","title":{"rendered":"Alabama cheerleader Abbie Stockard, 22, wins Miss America 2025 pageant \u2013 but fans say contest has been \u2018destroyed\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A NURSING student and cheerleader landed this year\u2019s Miss America gong \u2013 but critics have claimed the event has been destroyed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Miss&nbsp;Alabama&nbsp;winner Abbie Stockard, 22, staved off competition from 51 other women to land the prestigious gong.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img data-dominant-color=\"725b4d\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #725b4d;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"765\" height=\"514\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 765px) 100vw, 765px\" src=\"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Screenshot-74-14-png.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-53145 not-transparent\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Screenshot-74-14-png.webp 765w, https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Screenshot-74-14-300x202.webp 300w\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The event took place on January 4 and 5 at the Walt Disney Theater in Orlando.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Beauty queens from all 50 states, the&nbsp;District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico were all hoping to add their names to the history books.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The 52 stars were whittled down to 11 for the final.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Stockard, a college student in Birmingham, competed in the evening gown, talent, fitness, and Hot Topic competitions and received a $50,000 prize for her win.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For the talent category, she performed a dance routine to Lauren Daigle\u2019s 2018 hit You Say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Stockard revealed she was inspired by her mom, who juggled several jobs, and her best pal, who suffers from cystic fibrosis.<\/p>\n\n\n        \n        <div class=\"embedpress-gutenberg-wrapper source-provider-Youtube aligncenter ep-clear   ep-content-protection-disabled inline\" id=\"6b4496b4-cc81-46bf-8dce-4af65b45dee2\" data-embed-type=\"Youtube \">\n            <div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper \">\n                <div id=\"ep-gutenberg-content-856526615548256a31c1cf1a2b1104ad\" class=\"ep-gutenberg-content\">\n                    <div >\n                        <div class=\"ep-embed-content-wraper preset-default insta-grid ep-google-photos-carousel\"\n                            style=\"max-width:600px;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto\"                                                                                                                >\n\n                            <div class=\"ose-youtube ose-uid-1b69b116dafa87b550dc57dd265450aa ose-embedpress-responsive\" style=\"width:600px; height:340px; max-height:340px; max-width:100%; display:inline-block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" allowFullScreen=\"true\" title=\"The Miss America Pageant 2025\" width=\"600\" height=\"340\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/CXGprMuSxMY?feature=oembed&#038;color=red&#038;rel=1&#038;controls=2&#038;start=true&#038;end=true&#038;fs=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;autoplay=0&#038;modestbranding=0&#038;cc_load_policy=0&#038;playsinline=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; encrypted-media;accelerometer;autoplay;clipboard-write;gyroscope;picture-in-picture clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen title=\"Alabama cheerleader Abbie Stockard, 22, wins Miss America 2025 pageant \u2013 but fans say contest has been \u2018destroyed\u2019\"><\/iframe><\/div>                        <\/div>\n\n                                            <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    \n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She was crowned by Miss America 2024, Madison Marsh as she was showered in gold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Stockard is the fourth Miss Alabama to win the national title.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Following her victory, Stockard said she felt like the most celebrated girl in the world, but viewers were less than impressed by the production.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She appeared in an&nbsp;Instagram&nbsp;clip on the official Miss America account and broke her silence following her win.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis is insane,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI don\u2019t know what I did to deserve this.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Stockard wants to pursue a career in pediatrics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The event was streamed on YouTube, but one critic said the show had been destroyed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cMiss America used to be a prime TV event,\u201d one blasted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNow I have to search through YouTube to find it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The pageant used to be aired on NBC and ABC and was broadcast on Peacock in 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This year\u2019s contest could be watched on PageantVision.com or the Miss America YouTube channel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Stockard was congratulated online, but some claimed her win was predictable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some wondered why Miss Texas Annette Addo-Yobo, who came second, didn\u2019t emerge victorious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is insane.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Abbie Stockard Miss America, 2025<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Carley Vogel, representing the state of Tennessee, and Casana Fink, Miss Florida 2024, also finished in the runner-up spots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fink received a $3,000 scholarship for her efforts, as reported by the ABC affiliate&nbsp;WCJB-TV.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Stephanie Finoti, Miss Ohio 2024, rounded off the top five.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But, the contest\u2019s production team came under fire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt\u2019s time for my annual they destroyed Miss America post,\u201d another fumed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis isn\u2019t directed at the girls; they are all incredible and talented.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBut off the bat, this production is awful and, honestly, cringe.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Viewers lashed out at the contest\u2019s organizers, calling for a huge overhaul.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2018CRINGEWORTHY\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cCongrats, Miss Alabama, for winning Miss America,\u201d a viewer said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBut I cannot keep repeating how this organization is broken and needs an overhaul.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe significant reduction in production quality does a disservice to these great women.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some claimed this year\u2019s contest was \u201ccringeworthy\u201d and uncomfortable to watch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This year\u2019s Miss America was the 97th edition of the contest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Stockard succeeds Marsh, and the contest paid tribute to last year\u2019s triumphant pageant queen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Marsh was the first active duty Air Force Officer to land the title.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYour incredible achievements go beyond beauty and grace,\u201d a contest\u2019s&nbsp;X&nbsp;account post said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou are a symbol of what\u2019s possible when courage, determination, and service come together.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A NURSING student and cheerleader landed this year\u2019s Miss America gong \u2013 but critics have claimed the event has been destroyed. Miss&nbsp;Alabama&nbsp;winner Abbie Stockard, 22, staved off competition from 51&hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":53145,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"wpai_generated_summary":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":true,"token":"eyJpbWciOiJodHRwczpcL1wvaTAud3AuY29tXC9sYWtlbGFuZGdhemV0dGUuaW5mb1wvbmV3c1wvd3AtY29udGVudFwvdXBsb2Fkc1wvMjAyNVwvMDFcL1NjcmVlbnNob3QtNzQtMTQtcG5nLndlYnA_Zml0PTc2NSUyQzUxNCZzc2w9MSIsInR4dCI6IkFsYWJhbWEgY2hlZXJsZWFkZXIgQWJiaWUgU3RvY2thcmQsIDIyLCB3aW5zIE1pc3MgQW1lcmljYSAyMDI1IHBhZ2VhbnQgXHUyMDEzIGJ1dCBmYW5zIHNheSBjb250ZXN0IGhhcyBiZWVuIFx1MjAxOGRlc3Ryb3llZFx1MjAxOSIsInRlbXBsYXRlIjoiaGlnaHdheSIsImJsb2dfaWQiOjE2MzA0MDY2MX0.g5VmJzPUeIAS30MQUFOc2uRETc3_vGvUQQxzBrKwIWUMQ"},"version":2,"attached_media":[{"id":53145,"url":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Screenshot-74-14-png.webp","type":"image\/png"}]},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false},"categories":[14],"tags":[10702,10701,10703],"class_list":["post-53144","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-10702","tag-alabama-cheerleader-abbie-stockard","tag-wins-miss-america-2025-pageant-but-fans-say-contest-has-been-destroyed"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53144","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=53144"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53144\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":53146,"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53144\/revisions\/53146"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/53145"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=53144"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=53144"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=53144"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}