- Abbie Stockard was crowned Miss America 2025 on January 5 in Orlando.
- Stockard told BI that she doesn’t think Miss America should change its age limit like Miss USA did.
- Women must be between the ages of 18 and 28 to compete for the Miss America title.
The Miss America pageant has seen quite a few changes in its 104 years. But Abbie Stockardwho won the crown on January 5, believes some rules should stay the same, including current age limit.
Women must be between 18 and 28 years old to compete for the Miss America title, a rule that Stockard feels has “served our organization well for years,” as she told Business Insider.
“I like the way we have it and I appreciate that we have an age limit,” said the 22-year-old Auburn University student. “This organization has always been about empowering young women. And I think for the sake of strengthening these friendships and creating a sisterhood, there should be some kind of age limit.”
“There has to be some kind of cap to carry out the ultimate mission of this organization, which is to empower young women to lead,” she added.
Stockard is the fourth Miss Alabama to win the Miss America pageant. Courtesy of Miss America
While Miss America has remained firm on its eligibility requirements, the Miss USA pageant now allows all women 18 and older to compete. The rule change was announced in September 2023 and went into effect at Miss USA 2024.
Like Miss America, the organization previously only allowed contestants between the ages of 18 and 28.
Miss USA President Laylah Rose told BI in February 2024 that removing the age limit was about “really proving that we are inclusive.”
“We can start running a marathon at 45, we can take up a hobby at 50, we can go back to school at 65. So why limit a woman and tell her that she can or cannot do something?” Rose said.
At the time, several past competitors told BI they weren’t sure it made sense for the brand. Miss Montana 2020 Merissa Underwood said she thought the rule change was a “total cash grab,” while Miss USA 2020 winner Asya Branch asked how they would “compare someone who is just entering adulthood to someone who lived 20 years in their lives. adulthood.”
“Before we knew who Miss USA was, we knew what her job was and her role in society,” Branch said. “Now, I think the organization needs to redefine what that means and what they’re looking for.”
No woman over 27 made it to the top 20 at Miss USA 2024, where 22-year-old Alma Cooper won. Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images
Others were excited about the new direction, including Miss USA 2003 Susie Castillo.
“I’m excited to see what the future holds for the Miss USA pageant and the incredible women who grew old and never competed because they didn’t have the means or didn’t feel as confident in their younger years,” Castillo told BI. at that time. “This rule change is a game changer, and I love it.”
Miss USA 2024 had many contestants over the age of 28, but none made it to the top 20. Alma Cooper, a 22-year-old US Army officer, won the crown.
Married women and mothers are now allowed to compete at Miss USA, a rule change that took effect in 2023. They are still ineligible to enter Miss America, a decision defended by past winners, including Miss America 2020 Camille Schrier and Miss America 2023 Grace Stanke.
Stockard also doesn’t believe the eligibility requirements should change.
“I think the way we’ve done it has served us well over the years,” she told BI.
Stockard is a 22-year-old student at Auburn University. Courtesy of Miss America
However, Stockard applauded the organization for now allowing contestants to go public with their significant others. Former winners said in the A&E 2023 docu-series “Miss America Secrets” that the organization previously had an unofficial rule against the darlings under the leadership of Sam Haskell.
“I’m so glad it doesn’t really matter now because it doesn’t affect your job as Miss America at all,” said Stockard, who is dating Utah Jazz player Walker Kessler. “And I think that’s a good way to increase recruitment because I’ve heard stories of girls who just didn’t want to compete because they were in a serious relationship.”
“They weren’t willing to keep that relationship on hold or hide it throughout their year,” she added. “But now that’s not the case. They don’t have to worry about it anymore.”
