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Audrey Eckert, the former Miss USA 2025, joins us in this episode to share her incredible journey from pageants to planning her upcoming wedding with her high school sweetheart, Austin Schneider. Their love story is as captivating as her pageant career.
A Love Story in the Making
Audrey’s pageant journey began at the tender age of nine. Competing for 15 years, she eventually became Miss Nebraska Teen USA, making it to the top five at Miss Teen USA. Her journey culminated when she was crowned Miss USA, a moment made even more special with Austin by her side throughout it all.
“He’s literally seen the evolution of me through pageants, which made it so much more rewarding for us both when I was crowned Miss USA.”
— Audrey Eckert
How They Met
The couple’s love story began in high school, where Audrey was a cheerleader and Austin was the quarterback. Despite the typical teen romance, their relationship grew deeper over the years, navigating long distances as they pursued their respective college careers.
Audrey shares, “It’s been like, my gosh, this hasn’t happened since high school. It’s kind of crazy.”
The Proposal
On October 24, 2026, exactly one year after Audrey’s Miss USA crowning, Austin proposed. They had discussed marriage for years, knowing it was just a matter of time. Audrey wanted to enjoy her reign as Miss USA before diving into wedding planning.
“We knew what it was gonna happen. We were just figuring out when.” — Audrey Eckert
Austin kept the engagement a secret, planning meticulously to ensure she would be available when he finally popped the question.
Planning the Wedding
Audrey is now embracing the wedding planning phase, excited to shift her focus from pageants to creating their special day. She emphasizes the importance of having a separate moment for their engagement, stating, “I wanted that wedding era to be its own moment.”
Their journey together is just beginning, and we can’t wait to see where it leads. For more on Audrey and her incredible story, tune in to the full episode!
Show Notes
Former Miss USA 2025 and Nebraska native Audrey Eckert joins Alyssa to share the story of her seven-year relationship with Austin Schneider, from high-school sweethearts to a carefully planned Kansas City proposal. She recounts the whirlwind of winning Miss USA and heading to Miss Universe with just four days to prepare, then talks about the hidden sapphire in her engagement ring and her early wedding plans.
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