Miss America Abbie Stockard knows she is never alone — she has her faith.
Stockard, a 22-year-old nursing student, was crowned Miss America in early January in Orlando, Florida. She spoke to Fox News recently about how her faith has helped her in life.
“I am very driven by my faith,” the fourth Miss Alabama to win the Miss America crown said. “Based on the morals and the values that my family taught me, I believe that every single person is called to make a difference.”
“I believe we were all created on purpose, for purpose. And so, while it is so amazing to have this platform of influence and be an ambassador for the organization, my main mission is to use this title to serve others.”
Stockard said she’s ready to travel and meet people with an opportunity to offer them hope.
“I think our world is broken,” she said. “I think it is polarized and divided, and I want to be a light. I want to be an inspiration, and I want to make every single person feel seen, valued and appreciated, because that is who the Lord is. That’s what He would want me to do. And I know that I was anointed to this position for a purpose, and that’s why I’m not going to take it for granted.”
Stockard will spend her reign traveling the country as she goes after her degree at Auburn University.
“I want to use [my title] to touch the lives and the hearts of the people across our nation,” she said.
Stockard said her relationship with God gave her the motivation to be a positive role model on a public platform.
“The two words that I channeled the entire week of Miss America were peace and confidence,” she said. “Peace that surpasses all understanding, knowing that the Lord is taking care of my needs for me. He has a plan for my life, and His plan is good. Reminding myself that He is for me, and He is not against me. Why worry? Because he already knows the results of this competition.”
“The second word [was] confidence – confidence in the work that I’ve put in, but also confidence in His plan for my life,” she said. “One of my favorite verses is ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not rely on your understanding and all of your ways. Acknowledge him and he will make your path straight.’ That is what I leaned on… the entire week.”
That enabled her to do well in the competition.
“I think that’s why I did so well,” Stockard continued. “I didn’t put this pressure on myself. Because at the end of the day, there was only so much I could control. He was taking care of all of it. That’s why I’m excited to have this position and to continue spreading my faith to people who need it.”
