Miss Wisconsin Grace Stanke, nuclear engineering student, was crowned Miss America 2023.
The ceremony took place Thursday night at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. Miss New York Taryn Delanie Smith was named first runner-up and Miss Texas Averie Bishop was named second runner-up.
“[It was] just absolute chaos,” the Wausau native told Fox News Digital after hearing her home state called out. [were] no thoughts, just screams and excitement. And then after it sort of sank because I still think it didn’t completely sink… it’s an honor to be the representative of these… amazing women that I was with on this stage.”
“Each of these women is doing something powerful in their community,” the 20-year-old explained. “Some are going to be trauma surgeons, some are lawyers, some are just making a huge difference in their communities. And being selected as Miss America 2023 is just a huge honor.”
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Miss Wisconsin Grace Stanke was crowned Miss America Thursday night.
(Miss America Organization)
The top 11 finalists were 10 women selected by the judges and one selected by the American vote. They included Miss Nevada Heather Renner, Miss Hawaii Lauren Teruya, Miss Oregon Sophia Takla, Miss Ohio Elizabette Nies, Miss Indiana Elizabeth Hallal and Miss Illinois Monica Mia Jones, who was selected by voters as the 11th contestant to make the cut.
Stanke succeeds Emma Broyles, the first Miss Alaska contestant to win the title of Miss America in the competition’s 100-year history. In addition to the crown, Stanke received a cash award of $50,000, as well as a $2,500 award she received as a preliminary talent winner for her classical violin performance.
“I started in the Miss America’s Outstanding Teen organization when I was 13,” Stanke explained. “I was a violinist and had just started participating in local violin competitions. At the time, I was shaking, forgetting my music – basically everything that could have gone wrong went wrong. So , at 13 years old, I wanted to find other ways to improve my performance abilities. And I found the Miss America’s Outstanding Teen organization, which has the talent part of the pageant. And I also learned performance skills. interview. … And now here I am as Miss America 2023!
Stanke, a student at the University of Wisconsin, impressed the jury with his talents as a classical violinist. She performed “Storm” from Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons”. Stanke revealed that she is eager to follow in her sister’s musical footsteps.
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Grace Stanke, who comes from a musical family, wowed the Miss America pageant judges with her classical violin performance.
(Miss America Organization)
“My childhood thing was I did gymnastics, but I quit in second grade when I was 8,” she said. And then my parents encouraged us to have a hobby because my sister and I quit gymnastics at the same time, so she chose the viola, an orchestral instrument… And my brother was playing trombone at the time… flute or violin. And of course I followed my sister because I was 8 years old. And that’s really how I started with the violin…As I continued to grow and learn more, I loved learning how a classic instrument can be played with a modern twist and create really amazing music.”
“I always thought a violin would just be Vivaldi or Beethoven, like all those classic pieces,” Stanke continued. “But I’ve also played AC/DC’s ‘Thunderstruck’ and I’ve played Michael Jackson’s ‘Smooth Criminal.’
The glitzy competition was born out of a 1921 Atlantic City beauty pageant just one year after women won the right to vote. Loyal Miss America organizers and enthusiasts say the annual ritual is here to stay and will continue to change over time. Many attendees say the organization – a major provider of scholarships for young women – has changed their lives, opening doors for them professionally and personally.
Stanke is aware that many critics insist the competition is outdated. However, she pointed out that the show, more of a sisterhood, celebrates leadership and talent.
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Grace Stanke wants to raise awareness about clean energy during her reign.
(Miss America Organization)
“I would say as a nuclear engineer…someone who is there to make a difference, are each of those 51 women standing on that stage there just to enter a beauty pageant? No, we are here to change the world. We are here to be the best version of ourselves that we can be. The Miss America organization has helped me become who I am today. And I’m sure a lot of women on this stage, if not all of them, would say the same thing,” she claimed.
The competition also makes her even more proud to be American, Stanke said.
“I’m just proud…of the support and creativity that comes from the american people“, She said. “The amount of feeling of unity that we get is really great… Miss America is an opportunity to speak to people from all over the country. And that’s something everyone can support. And that’s what’s really great about America.”
In the new year, Stanke wants to use his platform to raise awareness about clean energy.
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Grace Stanke succeeds Emma Broyles, the first Miss Alaska contestant to win the title of Miss America in the competition’s 100-year history.
(Araya Doheny/Getty Images)
“America is transitioning to carbon-free energy right now for a variety of reasons,” Stanke explained. “First, climate change is a scientifically proven reality that we need to start addressing as one of the world’s leading carbon emitters. But right now, too, the world is running out of fossil fuels. It’s just a inevitable truth.Then we need to start finding other options for our electricity as our population continues to grow.With that, moving to carbon-free energy is going to be a critical thing.I’m excited to talk about…all these different types of energy The choices we have and how our homes can help make a difference in the world.”
Stanke is also eager to share her love for the Midwest as she embarks on a journey across the country.
“The ‘Midwest nice’ is real“, she said. “That’s one thing I love about my home state. One thing I’m thrilled to bring to Miss America’s work as I travel across the country is to share that little bit of Wisconsin culture, to just say, “Hey, let me open the door for you. gate.” The little things that can make someone’s day. It’s just a piece of Wisconsin that I love.”
“I will present 100% of myself,” she added. “That’s the most important thing. My family and friends know that too. I’m Miss America, but I’m also just me.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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