Grace Stanke Wins the Life-Changing Title of Miss America 2023, A Six Figure Salary and $50,000 in Scholarships
UNCASVILLE, CT (December 16, 2022) – Following three action-packed nights showcasing talent, interview skills and social impact achievements, one outstanding woman was left speechless to a standing ovation as the newly crowned Miss America 2023 by The Miss America Organization, the nation’s oldest women’s competition and leading provider of scholarships for women in the United States. Grace Stanke, representing her home state as Miss Wisconsin, was awarded a $50,000 cash scholarship, the iconic Austrian Crystal emblazoned crown and the life changing title of Miss America 2023. Emceed by Laura Rutledge, former Miss Florida 2012 and on-air talent on ESPN and SEC Network, the final round of competition was held in front of a packed house on Thursday night at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Conn. and live streamed exclusively on www.PageantsLive.com. This year also marks the 50th anniversary of the first Miss Wisconsin, Terry Meeuwsen, to win Miss America.
Each year, The Miss America Organization awards more than $5 million dollars in cash scholarships and millions more in-kind through its national, state, and local programs. Stanke, 20, will also earn a six-figure salary, benefits and will travel approximately 20,000 miles a month during her reign as a representative of the Miss America Organization. The primary function of Miss America is to earn the position as a role model and advocate for young women while sharing her passion, life story, and the more than 100-year legacy of the Miss America Organization.
“Being crowned Miss America 2023 is impossible to put into words – it is a dream come true and has literally changed my life in an instant,” said Grace Stanke, Miss America 2023. “I am so grateful for the opportunity to compete alongside so many inspiring, brilliant, talented women. I hope to live up to the impeccable legacy of Miss America, serving as a positive role model for women of all ages and my community. It’s been an honor to represent the great state of Wisconsin and I look forward to the opportunity to change the world through my social impact initiative Clean Energy, Cleaner Future on the national stage.”
Stanke, who earned a cumulative total $68,900 in scholarship assistance through her state and Miss America competitions, will use her national platform to continue advocating for Clean Energy, Cleaner Future. She believes that America needs to convert to zero-carbon energy sources and her social impact focuses on breaking down misconceptions surrounding nuclear power. Stanke is in her senior year at University of Wisconsin – Madison studying nuclear engineering. For the talent portion of the competition, Stanke won the talent scholarship during night two of the preliminary competition for classical violin performance.
“It has been an honor and privilege to serve as Miss America this past year,” said Emma Broyles, Miss America 2022. “Not long ago, I was in the same shoes as these 51 incredible, young women and can attest to the hard work and tireless hours they have invested, not just this week, but all year,” she said. “I wish the best to this year’s candidates, and especially to Grace Stanke, as she has clearly proven to be a strong, intelligent role model who represents the best of what young women aspire to be. I look forward to seeing all she accomplishes throughout her reign and beyond.”
“On behalf of the Miss America Organization, we congratulate our newly crowned Miss America 2023, Grace Stanke” said Shantel Krebs, Miss America Organization Board Chair. “Since 1921, The Miss America Organization has been leading by example as one of the most recognizable names empowering young women through education, professional development, advocacy and community service. The role of Miss America is not of vanity, but rather community impact and contribution to the crown. Grace has strongly demonstrated her abilities and there is no doubt in our mind she – and all of this year’s class of candidates – are destined for greatness.”
Earlier in the competition week, the Miss America Organization also awarded scholarships to two Preliminary Talent Winners and two Social Impact Pitch Winners during its preliminary competitions on Monday, December 12 and Tuesday, December 13. The organization also announced the Non-Finalist Talent Winners, Non-Finalist Social Impact Pitch Award and Miss Congeniality Scholarship and unveiled the 2022 Scholarship Award winners for Women in Business, STEM, Social Impact Initiative, Equity and Justice, Military Awareness, Allman Medical and Forever Miss America as part of the 2023 Miss America competition. The finalists were interviewed on Wednesday, Dec. 14. Over $500,000 in scholarship assistance was awarded to the 51 candidates this week, a historic high.
The 2022 Scholarship Award Winners are:
MISS AMERICA COMPETITION RUNNER-UPS AND FINALISTS:
FIRST RUNNER-UP, TARYN DELANIE SMITH (MISS NEW YORK), received a $25,000 scholarship
SECOND RUNNER-UP, AVERY BISHOP (MISS TEXAS), received a $20,000 scholarship
THIRD RUNNER-UP, ELIZABETH LYNCH (MISS WEST VIRGINIA), received a $15,000 scholarship
FOURTH RUNNER-UP, KELSEY HOLLIS (MISS GEORGIA), received a $10,000 scholarship
FINALIST, ELIZABETH HALLAL (MISS INDIANA), received a $8,500 scholarship
FINALIST, HEATHER RENNER (MISS NEVADA), received a $8,500 scholarship
FINALIST, SOPHIA TAKLA (MISS OREGON), received a $8,500 scholarship
FINALIST, ELIZABETH NIES (MISS OHIO), received a $8,500 scholarship
FINALIST, LAUREN TERUYA (MISS HAWAII), received a $8,500 scholarship
AMERICA’S CHOICE FINALIST, MONICA NIA JONES (MISS ILLINOIS), received a $5,000 scholarship
REMAINING CANDIDATES, received $3,000 each
PRELIMINARY TALENT WINNERS:
ELIZABETH HALLAL (MISS INDIANA), received $2,500 scholarship
GRACE STANKE (MISS WISCONSIN), received $2,500 scholarship
PRELIMINARY SOCIAL IMPACT PITCH WINNERS:
KELSEY HOLLIS (MISS GEORGIA), received $1,500 scholarship
BAILEY HODSON (MISS IOWA), received $1,500 scholarship
NON-FINALIST TALENT WINNERS:
STEFFANY LIEN (MISS NEBRASKA), received a $1,000 scholarship
CATHERINE LIANG (MISS CALIFORNIA), received a $1,000 scholarship
GRACIE REICHMAN (MISS LOUISIANA), received a $1,000 scholarship
LINDSEY LARSEN (MISS UTAH), received a $1,000 scholarship
NON-FINALIST SOCIAL IMPACT AWARD:
LINDSAY BETTIS (MISS FLORIDA), received a $2,000 scholarship
CANDIDATE CHOICE SCHOLARSHIP:
HANNAH EDELEN (MISS KENTUCKY), received $2,000
WOMEN IN BUSINESS SCHOLARSHIPS:
AVERIE BISHOP (MISS TEXAS), received first place, with a $10,000 scholarship
LINDSAY BETTIS (MISS FLORIDA), received second place, with a $5,000 scholarship
STEM SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS:
VICTORIA CHUAH (MISS VIRGINIA), received first place, with a $10,000 scholarship
JESSICA REISINGER (MISS ALASKA), received second place, with a $5,000 scholarship
ALLMAN MEDICAL SCHOLARSHIP:
AANCHAL SHAH (MISS ORLANDO 2022), received first place, with a $10,000 scholarship
HIMANI SOOD (MISS TRI-VALLEY, OREGAN 2022), received second place, with a $5,000 scholarship
JEAN BARTEL SOCIAL IMPACT INITIATIVE SCHOLARSHIPS:
EMMIE PERKINS (MISS MISSISSIPPI), received first place, with a $10,000 scholarship
LINDSAY FINCHER (MISS ALABAMA), received second place, with a $5,000 scholarship
FOREVER MISS AMERICA SCHOLARSHIP:
GRACE OTLEY (MISS DELAWARE), received a $5,000 scholarship
JEAN BARTEL MILITARY AWARENESS SCHOLARSHIP:
KAYLA WILLING, received a $3,000 scholarship
EQUITY AND JUSTICE SCHOLARSHIP:
HEATHER RENNER (MISS NEVADA), received a $3,000 scholarship
For more information on “Miss America 2023,” visit the www.missamerica.org. For assets from the 2023 Miss America competition, please visit this link.
