An Alabama cheerleader won Miss America - and urged America's young adults to get back to work. Abbie Stockard, 22, won big at the 97th annual pageant on Sunday at the Walt Disney Theater in Orlando, Florida, beating 51 other hopefuls for the ultimate pageant crown.
![[Abbie Stockard, 22, won big at the 97th annual pageant on Sunday at the Walt Disney Theater in Orlando, Florida, beating hopefuls for the ultimate pageant crown]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/06/19/93797517-14256051-Abbie_Stockard_22_won_big_at_the_97th_annual_pageant_on_Sunday_a-m-108_1736191665384.jpg)
Abbie was asked about employment by the judges, and discussed young people having difficulty getting jobs after the Covid pandemic. The beauty queen said, 'I believe we need to encourage those [people] to join the workforce.'. She also urged them to 'adapt to new skills and learn to grow in our current workforce and industries we have today.'.
![[Abbie was asked about employment by the judges, and discussed young people having difficulty getting jobs after the Covid pandemic]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/06/19/93780293-14256051-Abbie_was_asked_about_employment_by_the_judges_and_discussed_you-a-1_1736191780050.jpg)
Abbie was reacting to people in the labor force between 25 and 54 who have had trouble finding work. People thought the Auburn University cheerleader was alluding to vocational training. Research from a scientific paper titled 'Where Are the Missing Workers' examined what was causing worker shortages across the country.
![[Abbie is studying to become a nurse and is also a member of the nationally ranked Tiger Paws Dance Team]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/06/19/93780297-14256051-Abbie_is_studying_to_become_a_nurse_and_is_also_a_member_of_the_-a-2_1736191780162.jpg)
An Alabama cheerleader won Miss America - and urged America's young adults to get back to work when asked about employment. Abbie Stockard, 22, won big at the 97th annual pageant on Sunday at the Walt Disney Theater in Orlando, Florida, beating hopefuls for the ultimate pageant crown.
![[The 22-year-old said that she was inspired by her mom, who juggled several jobs, and her friend, who has cystic fibrosis]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/06/19/93797515-14256051-image-a-3_1736191780163.jpg)
Abbie was asked about employment by the judges, and discussed young people having difficulty getting jobs after the Covid pandemic. Abbie is studying to become a nurse and is also a member of the nationally ranked Tiger Paws Dance Team. She wants to earn a PhD in anesthesia and specialize in pediatrics.
![[The competition was streamed on YouTube and PageantVision.com, even though it was previously shown on NBC, ABC and Peacock]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/06/19/93780295-14256051-The_competition_was_streamed_on_YouTube_and_PageantVision_com_ev-a-4_1736191780239.jpg)
