America has a new Queen as Miss Wisconsin Grace Stanke, a nuclear engineering student from the University of Wisconsin has won the Miss America 2023 crown on Thursday at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The new American Queen made a big impression on the panel of judges with her answers during the Red Carpet portion and final round of the competition. Her performance during the talent portion of the competition was also spectacular – she stunned the judges with by playing the violin.
Miss New York And Miss Texas Also Win Big
Miss New York, Taryn Delanie Smith emerged first runner-up, while Miss Texas Averie Bishop emerged as the second runner-up. For the the Top 11 finalists — the judges selected 10 women America’s vote selected one woman. The list featured Miss Nevada Heather Renner, Miss Oregon Sophia Takla, Miss Hawaii Lauren Teruya, Miss Indiana Elizabeth Hallal , Miss Ohio Elizabette Nies, and Miss Illinois Monica Mia Jones, who was voted in by Americans as the 11th contestant to make the list.
Five contestant — including Miss West Virginia Elizabeth Wench and Miss Georgia Kelsey Hollis —moved on to the final round of the contest, where they were asked to share the causes that they are passionate about. Stanke said during the segment that she is “excited” to be able to discuss meaningful issues as Miss America and represent “the women who can.”
Stanke explained that, “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.” Grace Stanke succeeds Korean American, Emma Broyles, who is the first Miss Alaska contestant to become Miss America in the competition’s 100-year history.
