Miss Wisconsin wins Miss America 2023 crown
Grace Stanke, Miss Wisconsin 2022, was crowned Miss America 2023 on Thursday night at the Mohegan Sun Casino and Resort in Uncasville, Connecticut.
Stanke, 20, is an undergraduate at the University of Wisconsin – Madison, studying nuclear engineering. Stanke, from Wausau, will receive a $50,000 scholarship as Miss America and immediately start a yearlong reign.
Miss America 2022, Emma Broyles, crowned her successor at Thursday’s finals competition, which streamed on PageantsLive. Stanke received a glittering crown and a bouquet of roses at the end of the ceremony, amid a blizzard of confetti. The new winner also received hugs from her fellow contestants and took her first walk on stage as Miss America 2023.
Story continues after photo gallery
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Miss Wisconsin wins Miss America 2023 crownSteven Senne
Miss Wisconsin Grace Stanke, center, is crowned as Miss America 2023 by Miss America 2022 Emma Broyles, behind center, at the conclusion of the Miss America competition at the Mohegan Sun casino, in Uncasville, Conn., Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Steven SenneMiss Wisconsin Grace Stanke, center, is crowned as Miss America 2023 by Miss America 2022 Emma Broyles, behind center, at the conclusion of the Miss America competition at the Mohegan Sun casino, in Uncasville, Conn., Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
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Miss Wisconsin wins Miss America 2023 crownSteven Senne
Miss New York Taryn Delanie Smith, center left, and Miss Wisconsin Grace Stanke, center right, react as they learn that Stanke has become Miss America 2023 during the Miss America competition at the Mohegan Sun casino, in Uncasville, Conn., Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022. Smith was runner-up at the competition. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Steven SenneMiss New York Taryn Delanie Smith, center left, and Miss Wisconsin Grace Stanke, center right, react as they learn that Stanke has become Miss America 2023 during the Miss America competition at the Mohegan Sun casino, in Uncasville, Conn., Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022. Smith was runner-up at the competition. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
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Miss Wisconsin wins Miss America 2023 crownSteven Senne
Miss Wisconsin Grace Stanke, left, acknowledges the audience moments after she was crowned as Miss America 2023 during the Miss America competition at the Mohegan Sun casino, in Uncasville, Conn., Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Steven SenneMiss Wisconsin Grace Stanke, left, acknowledges the audience moments after she was crowned as Miss America 2023 during the Miss America competition at the Mohegan Sun casino, in Uncasville, Conn., Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
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Miss Wisconsin wins Miss America 2023 crownSteven Senne
Miss Wisconsin Grace Stanke, left, is presented with the Miss America 2023 sash by Miss America 2022 Emma Broyles, center, after Stanke is named the winner of the competition at Mohegan Sun casino, in Uncasville, Conn., Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Steven SenneMiss Wisconsin Grace Stanke, left, is presented with the Miss America 2023 sash by Miss America 2022 Emma Broyles, center, after Stanke is named the winner of the competition at Mohegan Sun casino, in Uncasville, Conn., Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
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Miss Wisconsin wins Miss America 2023 crownSteven Senne
Miss Wisconsin 2022 Grace Stanke, right, acknowledges the audience moments after she was crowned as Miss America 2023 during the 2023 Miss America competition at the Mohegan Sun casino, in Uncasville, Conn., Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Steven SenneMiss Wisconsin 2022 Grace Stanke, right, acknowledges the audience moments after she was crowned as Miss America 2023 during the 2023 Miss America competition at the Mohegan Sun casino, in Uncasville, Conn., Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
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Miss Wisconsin wins Miss America 2023 crownSteven Senne
Miss Wisconsin 2022 Grace Stanke, center, acknowledges the audience moments after being crowned as Miss America 2023 during the 2023 Miss America competition at the Mohegan Sun casino, in Uncasville, Conn., Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Steven SenneMiss Wisconsin 2022 Grace Stanke, center, acknowledges the audience moments after being crowned as Miss America 2023 during the 2023 Miss America competition at the Mohegan Sun casino, in Uncasville, Conn., Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
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Miss Wisconsin wins Miss America 2023 crownSteven Senne
Miss Wisconsin 2022 Grace Stanke plays the violin during the Miss America 2023 competition at the Mohegan Sun casino, in Uncasville, Conn., Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022. Stanke was crowned Miss America 2023 Thursday. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Steven SenneMiss Wisconsin 2022 Grace Stanke plays the violin during the Miss America 2023 competition at the Mohegan Sun casino, in Uncasville, Conn., Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022. Stanke was crowned Miss America 2023 Thursday. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
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Miss Wisconsin wins Miss America 2023 crownSteven Senne
Miss Wisconsin 2022 Grace Stanke, center, is crowned as Miss America 2023 by Miss America 2022 Emma Broyles, behind center, at the conclusion of the 2023 Miss America competition at the Mohegan Sun casino, in Uncasville, Conn., Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Steven SenneMiss Wisconsin 2022 Grace Stanke, center, is crowned as Miss America 2023 by Miss America 2022 Emma Broyles, behind center, at the conclusion of the 2023 Miss America competition at the Mohegan Sun casino, in Uncasville, Conn., Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
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Miss Wisconsin wins Miss America 2023 crownSteven Senne
Miss Wisconsin 2022 Grace Stanke, center, during the Miss America 2023 competition at the Mohegan Sun casino, in Uncasville, Conn., Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022. Stanke was crowned Miss America 2023 Thursday. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Steven SenneMiss Wisconsin 2022 Grace Stanke, center, during the Miss America 2023 competition at the Mohegan Sun casino, in Uncasville, Conn., Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022. Stanke was crowned Miss America 2023 Thursday. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
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Miss Wisconsin wins Miss America 2023 crownSteven Senne
Miss Wisconsin 2022 Grace Stanke pauses on the red carpet during the Miss America competition at the Mohegan Sun casino, in Uncasville, Conn., Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022. Stanke was crowned Miss America 2023 Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Steven SenneMiss Wisconsin 2022 Grace Stanke pauses on the red carpet during the Miss America competition at the Mohegan Sun casino, in Uncasville, Conn., Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022. Stanke was crowned Miss America 2023 Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
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Miss America turns 100. Will she last another 100 years?STF
FILE - Contestants in the first Miss America pageant line up for the judges in Atlantic City, N.J., in September 1921. The competition is marking its 100th anniversary on Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021, having managed to maintain a complicated spot in American culture with a questionable relevancy. (AP Photo/File)
STFFILE - Contestants in the first Miss America pageant line up for the judges in Atlantic City, N.J., in September 1921. The competition is marking its 100th anniversary on Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021, having managed to maintain a complicated spot in American culture with a questionable relevancy. (AP Photo/File)
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Miss America turns 100. Will she last another 100 years?STF
FILE - Contenders for the title of Miss America line up on the Boardwalk at Atlantic City, N.J., on Sept. 2, 1952. In the late 1930s, 40s and 50s, minority women were excluded from competition by "rule number seven," which stated that contestants had to be "of good health and of the white race." Having managed to maintain a complicated spot in American culture, the competition is marking its 100th anniversary, on Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021. (AP Photo/File)
STFFILE - Contenders for the title of Miss America line up on the Boardwalk at Atlantic City, N.J., on Sept. 2, 1952. In the late 1930s, 40s and 50s, minority women were excluded from competition by "rule number seven," which stated that contestants had to be "of good health and of the white race." Having managed to maintain a complicated spot in American culture, the competition is marking its 100th anniversary, on Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021. (AP Photo/File)
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Miss America turns 100. Will she last another 100 years?STR
FILE - Saundra Williams, 19, center, of Philadelphia, is crowned the first Miss Black America at ceremonies in Atlantic City, N.J., flanked by first runner-up Theresa Claytor, 20, right, and second runner-up Linda Johnson, 21, left, Sept. 8, 1968. The contest was held to revolt against the lack of diversity in the Miss America competition, which is marking its 100th anniversary on Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021, having managed to maintain a controversial spot in American culture. (AP Photo/File)
STRFILE - Saundra Williams, 19, center, of Philadelphia, is crowned the first Miss Black America at ceremonies in Atlantic City, N.J., flanked by first runner-up Theresa Claytor, 20, right, and second runner-up Linda Johnson, 21, left, Sept. 8, 1968. The contest was held to revolt against the lack of diversity in the Miss America competition, which is marking its 100th anniversary on Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021, having managed to maintain a controversial spot in American culture. (AP Photo/File)
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Miss America turns 100. Will she last another 100 years?Tom Patrick
FILE - Miss America 1989 Gretchen Carlson, left, and first runner up, Maryland's Virginia Cha, center, watch as Missouri's Debbye Turner throws her arms up in jubilation after winning Miss America 1990 in Atlantic City, N.J., Sept. 16, 1989. Carlson was part of an all-female leadership team that took over the Miss America organization after a 2018 email scandal in which male leaders insulted former Miss Americas, and helped to eliminate judging on physical appearance. (AP photo/Tom Patrick, File)
Tom PatrickFILE - Miss America 1989 Gretchen Carlson, left, and first runner up, Maryland's Virginia Cha, center, watch as Missouri's Debbye Turner throws her arms up in jubilation after winning Miss America 1990 in Atlantic City, N.J., Sept. 16, 1989. Carlson was part of an all-female leadership team that took over the Miss America organization after a 2018 email scandal in which male leaders insulted former Miss Americas, and helped to eliminate judging on physical appearance. (AP photo/Tom Patrick, File)
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Miss America turns 100. Will she last another 100 years?Daniel Hulshizer
FILE - Miss Florida Ericka Dunlap, center, reacts as outgoing Miss America Erika Harold, right, crowns her Miss America 2004, while host Tom Bergeron holds onto her during the Miss America Competition in Atlantic City, N.J., Saturday, Sept. 20, 2003. Dunlap, who graduated from college debt-free, founded her own public relations firm and became a TV personality said, "I think that people have the wrong idea about what Miss America is all about, because it's not just about getting dressed up and being prim and proper and being perfect on stage." (AP Photo/Daniel Hulshizer, File)
Daniel HulshizerFILE - Miss Florida Ericka Dunlap, center, reacts as outgoing Miss America Erika Harold, right, crowns her Miss America 2004, while host Tom Bergeron holds onto her during the Miss America Competition in Atlantic City, N.J., Saturday, Sept. 20, 2003. Dunlap, who graduated from college debt-free, founded her own public relations firm and became a TV personality said, "I think that people have the wrong idea about what Miss America is all about, because it's not just about getting dressed up and being prim and proper and being perfect on stage." (AP Photo/Daniel Hulshizer, File)
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Miss America turns 100. Will she last another 100 years?Spencer Tirey
FILE - Shawntel Smith Wuerch, left, Miss America 1996, shows the organization's homepage with help from student Quinesha Farr, 11, during a visit to showcase advance internet technology at Fuller Elementary School in Little Rock, Ark., Feb. 8, 1996. A donation from Smith Wuerch and her husband made it possible to award a top scholarship of $100,000 to this year's winner of the Miss America crown, marking 100 years of the competition, on Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021. (AP Photo/Spencer Tirey, File)
Spencer TireyFILE - Shawntel Smith Wuerch, left, Miss America 1996, shows the organization's homepage with help from student Quinesha Farr, 11, during a visit to showcase advance internet technology at Fuller Elementary School in Little Rock, Ark., Feb. 8, 1996. A donation from Smith Wuerch and her husband made it possible to award a top scholarship of $100,000 to this year's winner of the Miss America crown, marking 100 years of the competition, on Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021. (AP Photo/Spencer Tirey, File)
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Miss America turns 100. Will she last another 100 years?Mel Evans
FILE - In this file photo, 2016 Miss America pageant contestants show themselves in swimsuits as they compete in Atlantic City, N.J., Sept. 13, 2015. In 2018, the pageant announced it would no longer judge contestants in their appearance. (AP Photo/Mel Evans, File)
Mel EvansFILE - In this file photo, 2016 Miss America pageant contestants show themselves in swimsuits as they compete in Atlantic City, N.J., Sept. 13, 2015. In 2018, the pageant announced it would no longer judge contestants in their appearance. (AP Photo/Mel Evans, File)
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Miss America turns 100. Will she last another 100 years?Charles Krupa
FILE - Virginia's Camille Schrier, left, walks the stage after winning the Miss America competition at the Mohegan Sun casino in Uncasville, Conn., Dec. 19, 2019. The Miss America competition is marking its 100th anniversary on Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021, managing to maintain a complicated spot in American culture. With viewership down, the event now held at the Mohegan Sun casino in southeastern Connecticut, is moving from broadcast television to NBC's streaming Peacock service this year. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)
Charles KrupaFILE - Virginia's Camille Schrier, left, walks the stage after winning the Miss America competition at the Mohegan Sun casino in Uncasville, Conn., Dec. 19, 2019. The Miss America competition is marking its 100th anniversary on Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021, managing to maintain a complicated spot in American culture. With viewership down, the event now held at the Mohegan Sun casino in southeastern Connecticut, is moving from broadcast television to NBC's streaming Peacock service this year. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)
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Miss America turns 100. Will she last another 100 years?Anonymous
FILE - Vanessa Williams, the first Black woman to win the Miss America crown, in 1984, speaks at a news conference to announce she would relinquish her title over a nude photo scandal, July 23, 1984. The Miss America organization, which apologized to Williams in 2015 over the resignation, is marking its 100th anniversary on Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021, having managed to maintain a complicated spot in American culture. (AP Photo/File)
AnonymousFILE - Vanessa Williams, the first Black woman to win the Miss America crown, in 1984, speaks at a news conference to announce she would relinquish her title over a nude photo scandal, July 23, 1984. The Miss America organization, which apologized to Williams in 2015 over the resignation, is marking its 100th anniversary on Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021, having managed to maintain a complicated spot in American culture. (AP Photo/File)
Stanke played the violin in the talent portion of Thursday’s finals, answered on-stage questions, walked the runway in an evening gown and emphasized her career goals as an advocate for nuclear power. She’s the daughter of a civil engineer and grew up on construction sites in and around Wausau, according to an interview with Wisconsin Public Radio.
On Instagram, Stanke describes herself as “a nuclear nerd who loves to ski & travel.” She was in tears after her name was announced as Miss America 2023, and could be seen mouthing the words, “Oh, my God.”
Stanke also won a preliminary talent competition earlier in the week, earning a $2,500 scholarship.
A total of 51 women competed in the finals on Thursday, including Lindsay Fincher, Miss Alabama 2022. Fincher didn’t make the top 11 in the competition, so she wasn’t featured in Thursday’s evening gown, interview or talent segments. Fincher could be seen during the show, however, in production numbers and videos filmed earlier in the week.
Fincher earned a $5,000 scholarship at Miss America, as the first runner-up for the pageant’s Jean Bartel Social Impact Initiative Award. Fincher’s initiative, Catalyst: Arts for All, aims to bring arts programming to schools throughout the country.
Another woman in the running for Miss America this year — Miss Montanta 2022, Alexa Baisch — has a tie to Alabama. She’s a graduate of the University of Alabama, with a bachelor’s degree in business management. Baisch was not included in the top 11 at the finals.
The top 11 finalists were featured in segments that emphasized on-stage questions, evening gowns (now called the “red carpet” competition), talent and philanthropic programs (now labeled “social impact initiatives”). Parents of the top 11 were seated on the stage as the women competed in various segments.
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