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Miss America 2023 winner, Miss Wisconsin Grace Stanke, reflects on her shocking win: 'Just absolute chaos'
Miss Wisconsin Grace Stanke, a nuclear engineering student, was crowned Miss America 2023. Stanke succeeds Emma Broyles, the first Miss Alaska contestant to win the Miss America title in the competition’s 100-year history.
Culture & Entertainment
Miss Wisconsin Grace Stanke, a nuclear engineering student, was crowned Miss America 2023.
The ceremony took place Thursday night at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. Miss New York Taryn Delanie Smith was crowned 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 about hearing her home state called. "There [were] no thoughts, just screaming and excitement. And then after it kind of sunk in a little bit because I still think it hasn’t fully sunk in… it’s the honor of being the representative of those… incredible women that I stood on that stage with."
"Every single one of those women is doing something powerful in their community," the 20-year-old shared. "Some are going to go on to become trauma surgeons, some are attorneys, some are just making a huge difference in their communities. And being selected as Miss America 2023 is just a huge honor."
The top 11 finalists were 10 women selected by the judges and one selected by America’s 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 Miss America title in the competition’s 100-year history. Along with the crown, Stanke was awarded a $50,000 cash scholarship, as well as a $2,500 scholarship she received as a preliminary talent winner for her classical violin performance.
"I started in Miss America’s Outstanding Teen organization when I was 13 years old," Stanke explained. "I was a violinist and I had just started competing in local violin competitions. At the time, I was shaking, I forgot my music — overall, everything that could have gone wrong went wrong. So 13-year-old me wanted to find other ways to improve my performance capabilities. And I found the Miss America’s Outstanding Teen organization, which has the talent portion of the competition. And I also learned interviewing skills. I gained lifelong friends, I earned scholarship dollars and I could stick with the organization. … And now here I am as Miss America 2023!"
Stanke, a student at the University of Wisconsin, impressed the panel of judges with her classical violin skills. She played "Storm" from Vivaldi’s "Four Seasons." Stanke revealed she was eager to follow in her sister’s musical footsteps.