Miss America 2025 disappointed fans and critics alike, with some calling the pageant "destroyed"

Alabama state representative Abbie Stockard, 22, won the Miss America 2025 pageant, in an event that has been heavily criticised by specialists.

The nursing student and cheerleader took the win at the event held at the Walt Disney Theatre in Orlando, Florida, by beating the beauty queens from 50 states, plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, after competing in the evening gown, talent, fitness and Hot Topic events to receive a $50,000 prize.

In the talent category, Abbie performed a dance routine to Lauren Daigle's 2018 hit You Say, noting that she was inspired by her mother and her best friend who suffers from cystic fibrosis, The Sun reported.

Stockard said she felt like the most famous girl in the world, but viewers were not very impressed with the production.

At the end of the event, Stockard said on Miss America's Instagram account: "This is crazy. I don't know what I did to deserve this."

Miss America receives harsh criticism on social media

The event was streamed live on YouTube, but one critic even went so far as to say that the show had been destroyed.

"Miss America used to be a prime-time television event," the critic said. "Now I have to search YouTube to find it."

The pageant used to be broadcast on NBC and ABC and was streamed on Peacock in 2022.

But this past edition, the event could be seen through PageantVision.com or on the Miss America YouTube channel.

In addition, several questioned the triumph of Miss Alabama, and said that Miss Texas, Annette Addo-Yobo, who finished in second place, deserved the victory.

The criticism continues on social media, with another specialist saying "they destroyed the Miss America pageant, this has nothing to do with the girls, they are all amazing and talented, but from the beginning, this production is horrible and honestly embarrassing".

Similarly, viewers lashed out at the pageant organisers and called for a major overhaul.

"Congratulations, Miss Alabama, on winning Miss America, but I can't keep repeating that this organization is broken and needs an overhaul," one viewer of the show noted. "The significant reduction in production quality does these great women no favours."

Some claimed that this year's contest, which was the 97th edition of the pageant, was "embarrassing" and uncomfortable to watch.

"This year's #MissAmerica hosts are absolutely embarrassing and it's incredibly awkward to watch. The production quality too, oh my God."

Stockard succeeds Madison Marsh and the pageant paid tribute to last year's triumphant pageant queen, who was also the first active duty Air Force officer to win the pageant.

"Your incredible achievements go beyond beauty and grace," read a post on the pageant's X account. "You are a symbol of what is possible when courage, determination and service come together."