Miss America 2023 has officially been crowned.
Miss Wisconsin Grace Stanke was crowned Miss America 2023 on Thursday night, per the New York Post.
Stanke, who is a senior in college, is also a classical violinist and performed for the judges during the talent portion of the competition.
The 20-year-old won the judges over with her answers while on the red carpet and also during the final round.
Stanke not only won the title of Miss America 2023, but she was also awarded a $100,000 scholarship.
She is currently studying nuclear engineering at the University of Wisconsin and as Miss America 2023, she will embark on a year-long national tour “to raise awareness about nuclear power and other zero-carbon energy sources,” according to Vogue.
Congratulations to #MissAmerica2023, Grace Stanke from Wisconsin!
— Miss America (@MissAmerica) December 16, 2022
1st Runner Up – New York
2nd Runner Up – Texas
3rd Runner Up – West Virginia
4th Runner Up – Georgia pic.twitter.com/czu6wCryOo
During the competition, Stanke said she was “excited” for opportunities that will open the door for her to be able to discuss issues surrounding around nuclear engineering and to represent “the women who can.”
“As Miss America, I am representing this organization. If they ask further questions, I am able to preface saying, ‘This isn’t the organization’s point of view, this is my personal point of view as Grace Stanke’ and I can go on to state it — especially when it comes to things like nuclear energy and so many other hot political topics,” she shared, per People.
Miss New York Taryn Delanie Smith was crowned first runner-up and Miss Texas Averie Bishop was crowned second runner-up.
In 2018, Miss America made changes that no longer allowed the candidates to be judged on their physical appearance.
On their official website, they wrote that this will allow “additional time and focus on the candidates’ stories, goals, and achievements.”
The website also stated the Miss America competition was one of the first organizations to offer college scholarships to women in America.
