When She Said Yes to the Dress
A Story of Fashion, Advocacy, and the Future of Health in America
Throughout history, fashion has been more than just style—it has been a powerful catalyst for change. From the suffragette white of the early 1900s to the AIDS awareness red ribbons of the '90s, what we wear has helped define what we stand for. Even in recent decades, the fashion world has been a platform for activism, including climate action runways, and breast cancer awareness campaigns. At its best, fashion fuses form and purpose, turning heads while turning tides. This has been especially true in the world of pageantry and advocacy, as seen in the long-standing partnership between the Miss America Organization and the American Heart Association through the Red Dress Collection Fashion Show—an annual event dedicated to raising awareness for women's heart health. It’s in this spirit that the story of a gown—green, bold, and inscribed with a message of unity—made its mark during Inauguration Weekend January 2025.
Fashion has long been a mirror of culture—a powerful vehicle for self-expression, resistance, unity, and change. But every once in a while, a garment becomes more than a symbol—it becomes a spark. That spark came to life on January 20, 2025, when the newly crowned Miss America, Abbie Stockard, stepped onto the red carpet at the MAHA Inaugural Ball in Washington, D.C., wearing a custom-designed gown by Andre Soriano with a bold and beautiful message: Make America Healthy Again.
What may have seemed like a stunning fashion moment to onlookers was, in reality, the culmination of a deeply personal, bipartisan mission: to unite the country in a call for better health, for all.
Where MAHA Began
My own journey to this moment began not with politics, but with motherhood. My son and daughter both live with cystic fibrosis (CF), a rare and life-threatening genetic disease. Their survival depends on access to optimal nutrition, clean environments, and continual advancements in science and care. What I learned through their battles is something we all must acknowledge: health is not a privilege. It is a necessity. And more than that, it is a national responsibility.
This led to my work on Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s presidential campaign, where I helped shape the chronic illness outreach and health reform agenda. Out of that work, MAHA was born—a simple but powerful phrase: Make America Healthy Again. A unifying vision, not a partisan slogan. Because when over 40% of American children now suffer from chronic illness, and when our healthcare costs are the highest in the developed world with some of the poorest outcomes, it is clear that our nation's health is in crisis.
A Gown with a Mission
During this time, I reached our to my good friend, world-renowned designer Andre Soriano, known for his cultural statement pieces—most famously the "MAGA dress" worn by Joy Villa at the 2016 Grammys. I approached him with a new vision: a gown for MAHA. One that would speak to health, unity, and empowerment without division.
Andre didn't hesitate. He agreed immediately and told me, "You will find the right person to wear it."
That right person came into focus thanks to a chance conversation with celebrity makeup artist Austin Ryder, who was working with the Miss America Organization (MAO). I shared the vision with him and asked, "What if Miss America wore this dress?" The idea took root instantly.
Within days, the team at MAO saw the potential. And then, as fate would have it, Abbie Stockard of Alabama was crowned Miss America 2025.
Destiny in the Details
The day after her crowning, I found myself on a Zoom call with Andre Soriano and Robin Fleming, CEO of MAO. It was there I learned that Abbie was pursuing a career in nursing and had selected cystic fibrosis awareness as her year-long platform, inspired by her childhood best friend, Abbie, who lives with CF.
I was stunned. CF is an incredibly rare disease, affecting only about 45,000 Americans. Yet here we were, on opposite sides of this vast country, connected by the very same mission.
From that moment forward, things moved quickly. I introduced Abbie and the Miss America Organization to my network in the CF world, including the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Boomer Esiason Foundation, and my dear friend Melissa Yeager, founder of Claire’s Place Foundation, which supports families affected by CF. These were organizations I had worked with for years as both a caregiver and an advocate.
Abbie was named a National Ambassador for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, further cementing her commitment to the cause. Since her crowning, she has used her platform to bring awareness to CF and advocate for healthier lifestyles across America. She’s visited hospitals, spoken at health summits, and engaged with policymakers and youth alike to promote preventive care and health education. Most recently, she will be honored at the Claire's Place Foundation's annual Clairity Ball on May 31st at the Fairmont Miramar in Santa Monica, California, recognizing her dedication to raising awareness for the CF community and championing health equity for all.
Health Is Not Partisan
When Abbie stepped onto the red carpet at the MAHA Inaugural Ball, wearing the gorgeous green gown embroidered with "Make America Healthy Again," the moment was picked up by Vogue and shared across national media. But the true power of that moment was its message: health is not partisan.
The Miss America Organization, long known for its commitment to service and educational excellence, stood shoulder to shoulder with us in saying that we can do better. We can raise awareness, spark innovation, and support communities in need. From nutritional literacy to clean environments and equitable access to care, there is a better way forward—and it will take all of us. Their dedication to public health advocacy was on full display this February in New York City, when Abbie Stockard proudly participated in the American Heart Association's Red Dress Collection Fashion Show, part of a long-standing partnership between MAO and the AHA to promote women's heart health. By using the platform of fashion and pageantry to elevate national health awareness, Miss America continues to play an essential role in the cultural dialogue around wellness and prevention.
This tradition of health advocacy spans decades within the Miss America Organization. In recent years, titleholders have used their national platforms to spotlight critical issues. Miss America 2024, Grace Stanke, raised awareness for pancreatic cancer, inspired by her personal family experience. Camille Schrier, Miss America 2020 and a pharmacy student, used her reign to educate the public on science and drug safety. Others have championed causes ranging from autism and developmental disabilities to childhood nutrition and mental health awareness. These remarkable women represent the power of the crown to uplift important issues, helping to drive change and inspire action across the country.
The MAHA movement is growing. It's not a campaign. It's not a party. It is a call to come together, across divides, and prioritize something that affects every American: our health.Full Circle
As someone who has spent years working in fashion and luxury cosmetics as both a makeup artist and stylist, it was an incredible honor to serve as Abbie Stockard’s personal stylist for the MAHA Inaugural Ball. Helping her step into that iconic gown was more than a professional moment—it was a full-circle experience that bridged my worlds of advocacy, aesthetics, and mission-driven work.
For me, this journey has come full circle. What started as a personal battle to keep my children alive has grown into a national movement. I've watched a designer say "yes" to a dream, a queen say "yes" to a cause, and a community say "yes" to coming together.
To Robin Fleming, the Miss America Organization, and the incredible Abbie Stockard—thank you for your grace, your courage, and your voice. Thank you for reminding us that sometimes, saying "yes" to the dress is also saying "yes" to a healthier, more united America. And to Andre Soriano, thank you for your creative brilliance and fearless spirit. Your talent gave form to this message and turned a vision of unity through health into a powerful and unforgettable statement.
Together, we will Make America Healthy Again.
And one day, we will make CF stand for Cure Found.
Jacqueline Capriotti is a mother to two adult children with cystic fibrosis. Her deeply personal journey through the world of rare disease and chronic illness led her to serve on the board of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation – Greater New Jersey Chapter, where she helped initiate the foundation’s caregiver support program. She played a key role in advocating for and contributing to the FDA approval of groundbreaking therapies—including Orkambi, Kalydeco, Trikafta, and Alyftrék—specifically for her children’s rare CFTR mutations.
Jacqueline is the Founder and CEO of Health Revolution USA, a public relations and strategy firm focused on health, agriculture, and community-based solutions. She also leads the Make New Jersey Healthy Again Coalition and the Victory Garden Alliance , a modern revival of the WWII-era Victory Gardens that once fed 40% of the country. Inspired by that legacy, Jacqueline’s work bridges personal experience, policy reform, and grassroots action with one clear mission: to make American healthcare—and our communities—human again. She lives in Monmouth County, New Jersey, where she raised her family and continues to advocate for change from the ground up.