For the third time in state history, Miss Wisconsin Grace Stanke became Miss America 2023 after three nights of competition.
Stanke is a 20-year-old University of Wisconsin nuclear engineering student and violinist who brought her passions to the big stage at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Ct. on Thursday, December 15, 2022. She blew the judges away with her answers during the Red Carpet portion of the competition as well as delivered a fantastic violin performance titled “Storm.”
The newly crowned Miss America will bring nuclear energy to the forefront as she advocates for America to convert to zero-carbon energy sources with her social impact titled “Clean Energy, Clean Future.” Her contestant profile reads, “I advocate for nuclear power & improved communication about nuclear science with both the general public and nuclear engineers to bridge the gap of the unknown between the two groups of people.”
Stanke served as Miss Madison for two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic before placing Top 10 at Miss Wisconsin. In her next year, she became Miss Badgerland 2022 before winning the state crown and eventually Miss America 2023.
The final night of competition on Thursday narrowed down the Top 11 contestants – Top 10 and America’s Choice. Five contestants moved on to compete in the final round. The women were asked questions by the judges about the causes the women supported.
During her question, Stanke discussed how excited she was to bring meaningful topics to Miss America. She was specifically excited to talk about how she is sharing her “personal point-of-view as Grace Stanke” about nuclear energy and other “hot political topics.”
The runners-up include Miss New York Taryn Delanie Smith, Miss Texas Averie Bishop, Miss West Virginia Elizabeth Lynch and Miss Georgia Kelsey Hollis.
Stanke succeeds Emma Broyles, the first Korean-American and Miss Alaska to be crowned Miss America 2022.
Follow along on Grace Stanke’s year on the Miss America Instagram page.