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.

Wausau native Grace Stanke, a 20-year-old nuclear engineering student at UW-Madison, was crowned the winner of the Miss America competition on Thursday at the Mohegan Sun casino in Uncasville, Conn., becoming the pageant’s 95th winner. She is the third woman from Wisconsin to win the title.

Stanke shared her passion for nuclear engineering and performed “Storm,” a selection from the Summer movement of Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons,” on violin during the competition.

A graduate of Wausau West High School, Stanke is the daughter of Darrin and Jenny Stanke.

She previously served as Miss Madison for two years at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and went on to place in the top 10 at Miss Wisconsin before returning to the stage and becoming Miss Wisconsin this year.

Congratulations to #MissAmerica2023, Grace Stanke from Wisconsin!

1st Runner Up – New York
2nd Runner Up – Texas
3rd Runner Up – West Virginia
4th Runner Up – Georgia pic.twitter.com/czu6wCryOo

— The Miss America Org (@MissAmerica) December 16, 2022

One of them will succeed last year’s winner Alaska’s Emma Broyles and walk away with the highly coveted title on Thursday, December 15 at the Mohegan Sun’s Earth Expo & Convention Center.

Don’t forget to vote for your favorite contestants. America’s Choice will automatically earn a spot in the finals and receive a $5,000 scholarship. Where to vote? Find the link here.

Who will be the next Miss America?

Meet the contestants:

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Miss Alabama – Lindsay Fincher

Miss Alaska – Jessica Reisinger

Miss Arizona – Melody Pierce

Miss Arkansas – Ebony Mitchell

Miss California – Catherine Liang

Miss Colorado – Savannah Cavanaugh

Miss Connecticut – Sylvana Gonzalez

Miss Delaware – Grace Otley

Miss District of Columbia – Alivia Roberts

Miss Florida – Lindsay Bettis

Miss Georgia – Kelsey Hollis

Miss Hawaii – Lauren Teruya

Miss Idaho – Sarah Jensen

Miss Illinois – Monica Nia Jones

Miss Indiana – Elizabeth Hallal

Miss Iowa – Bailey Hodson

Miss Kansas – Ayanna Hensley

Miss Kentucky – Hannah Edelen

Miss Louisiana – Gracie Reichman

Miss Maine – Madison Leslie

Miss Maryland – Kayla Willing

Miss Massachusetts – Katrina Kincade

Miss Michigan – Melissa Beyrand

Miss Minnesota – Rachel Evangelisto

Miss Mississippi – Emmie Perkins

Miss Missouri – Clare Marie Kuebler

Miss Montana – Alexa Baisch

Miss Nebraska – Steffany Lien

Miss Nevada – Heather Renner

Miss New Hampshire – Sarah White

Miss New Jersey – Augostina Mallous

Miss New Mexico – Kaitlin Kerl

Miss New York – Taryn Delanie Smith

Miss North Carolina – Karolyn Martin

Miss North Dakota – Sidni Kast

Miss Ohio – Elizabetta Nies

Miss Oklahoma – Megan Gold

Miss Oregon – Sophia Takla

Miss Pennsylvania – Alysa Bainbridge

Miss Rhode Island – Abby Mansolillo

Miss South Carolina – Jill Dudley

Miss South Dakota – Hunter Widvey

Miss Tennessee – Lauren Dickson

Miss Texas – Averie Bishop

Miss Utah – Lindsey Larsen

Miss Vermont – Alexina Federhen

Miss Virginia – Victoria Chuah

Miss Washington – Regan Gallo

Miss West Virginia – Elizabeth Lynch

Miss Wisconsin – Grace Stanke

Miss Wyoming – Hazel Homer-Wambeam

Visit the Miss America official website to learn more about the contestants’ profiles, how to purchase tickets for the live show, or get access to online streaming.

Photos: Miss America Organization