Wausau native Grace Stanke is crowned Miss America 2023
Miss Wisconsin has won the title of Miss America 2023.
Wausau native Grace Stanke, a 20-year-old nuclear engineering student at UW-Madison, became the third woman from Wisconsin to be crowned as Miss America on Thursday night. The others are Laura Koeppeler of Kenosha, who was Miss America in 2012, and Terry Meeuwsen of De Pere, who was Miss America in 1973.
Stanke shared her passion for nuclear engineering and performed “Storm,” a selection from the Summer movement of Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons,” on violin during Thursday's 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
The 2023 Miss America competition was held over four days in Uncasville, Connecticut.
Miss New York Taryn Delanie Smith was crowned first runner-up to Stanke.
Miss America preview:Miss Wisconsin Grace Stanke advocates for nuclear energy
Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal.
DOWNLOAD THE APP: Get the latest news, sports and more
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wausau native Grace Stanke is crowned Miss America 2023