When Miss USA 2025 Audrey Eckert accepted her crown, she signed on not only to represent the organization but to represent the entire country.
Last year, Eckert was crowned by the then-reigning Miss Universe ******* leholder Victoria Kjær Theilvig on Oct. 24, 2025. Since then, she has spent the past year traveling the country, representing the organization and the country at appearances as part of her duties as the pageant queen.
For Eckert, who has been competing in pageants since she was nine years old, the win was the realization of a dream for the young ******* leholder. In 2020, she won Miss Nebraska Teen and placed third runner-up at the Miss Teen USA competition in the same year.
During her time as one of the more than 80 women to hold the prestigious Miss USA ******* le, Eckert has attended events like the Oscars, made her debut at the Cannes Film Festival, and more.
Speaking with PEOPLE as her reign draws to a close, the current pageant ******* leholder breaks down the lesser-known facets of what it takes to be the leading lady of the national pageant that those unfamiliar with the pageant might not know.
Audrey Eckert.
Credit: Audrey Eckert/Instagram
Eckert tells PEOPLE that one thing outsiders might not understand about holding ******* les like Miss USA, Miss Teen USA or even Miss Universe is that the women spend "a lot of time on the road traveling."
While travel days can be long, Eckert says the women are expected to "maintain" their appearances — to always "look the part" of Miss USA.
"You're traveling across the world trying to get workouts in, get your nails done, get your hair done, all those tactical things," she explains. "People don't always think of the logistics of it."
She admits that it can be hard, appearing in back-to-back appearances and travel days, but that she is aware she must always show up as the pageant queen she was elected to be, no matter what.
#country #year
Last year, Eckert was crowned by the then-reigning Miss Universe ******* leholder Victoria Kjær Theilvig on Oct. 24, 2025. Since then, she has spent the past year traveling the country, representing the organization and the country at appearances as part of her duties as the pageant queen.
For Eckert, who has been competing in pageants since she was nine years old, the win was the realization of a dream for the young ******* leholder. In 2020, she won Miss Nebraska Teen and placed third runner-up at the Miss Teen USA competition in the same year.
During her time as one of the more than 80 women to hold the prestigious Miss USA ******* le, Eckert has attended events like the Oscars, made her debut at the Cannes Film Festival, and more.
Speaking with PEOPLE as her reign draws to a close, the current pageant ******* leholder breaks down the lesser-known facets of what it takes to be the leading lady of the national pageant that those unfamiliar with the pageant might not know.
Audrey Eckert.
Credit: Audrey Eckert/Instagram
Eckert tells PEOPLE that one thing outsiders might not understand about holding ******* les like Miss USA, Miss Teen USA or even Miss Universe is that the women spend "a lot of time on the road traveling."
While travel days can be long, Eckert says the women are expected to "maintain" their appearances — to always "look the part" of Miss USA.
"You're traveling across the world trying to get workouts in, get your nails done, get your hair done, all those tactical things," she explains. "People don't always think of the logistics of it."
She admits that it can be hard, appearing in back-to-back appearances and travel days, but that she is aware she must always show up as the pageant queen she was elected to be, no matter what.
#country #year
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