“Attention, people of Alabama! We have exciting news – a new Miss Alabama has been crowned!”
Miss Alabama was crowned on Saturday night at the Wright Center on the campus of Samford University. Abbie Stockard, who competed as Miss Hoover, emerged as the winner of the prestigious title.
Brianna Burrell, a native of Mobile, Alabama, was crowned as Miss Alabama 2023, succeeding the title to Kaitlyn Stockard. Burrell, who is the third black woman to hold the title, spent her reign traveling across the state and the country. She worked tirelessly to advance her community service initiative, ‘Save-A-Stem’, which aims to promote science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education among minority students and those attending underfunded schools.
Abbie Stockard, the newly crowned Miss Alabama, is a 21-year-old nursing student studying at Auburn University. Hailing from Vestavia Hills, her aspiration is to become a pediatric nurse practitioner. She is passionate about spreading awareness about cystic fibrosis and has made it her community service initiative.
During the three-day event, the crown was up for grabs as 39 contestants competed in various categories such as talent, evening gown, interview, and health and fitness.
In the Miss Alabama pageant, Emma Terry from Jefferson County took home the first-runner up title, while Maddi Heath representing Jubilee was named the second runner-up. Marissa Luna, who represented the University of Alabama, became the third-runner up, and Hannah Adams from Mobile Bay was named fourth runner-up.
Effective immediately, Stockard will take on the duties of representing the State of Alabama as an ambassador and competing as Miss America. Winning the title of Miss Alabama also means earning a $15,000 cash scholarship.