Miss Wisconsin crowned new Miss America
Miss Wisconsin 2022, Grace Stanke (Credit: Miss Wisconsin)
(ABC 6 News) – Miss Wisconsin 2022 has been crowned the new Miss America.
Grace Stanke, 20, of Wausau, Wisc. was crowned the winner Thursday night at the pageant held at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.
Stanke will receive a $50,000 scholarship as Miss America and will hold the title for the next year.
Stanke also won the Miss America Talent Scholarship for her classical violin performance, earning a $2,500 scholarship.
Stanke’s journey in the Miss America Organization began when she was just 13 years old. She competed for two years in the Miss Wisconsin’s Outstanding Teen Organization, where she held the titles of Miss Wausau’s Outstanding Teen 2016, Miss Harbor Cities’ Outstanding Teen 2017, before becoming Miss Wisconsin’s Outstanding Teen 2017.
Stanke went on to become Miss Madison 2020/2021, Miss Badgerland 2022, and ultimately Miss Wisconsin 2022.
Stanke is studying nuclear engineering at the University of Wisconsin in Madison.
Stanke is the third Miss Wisconsin winner to go on to win Miss America. The others include Laura Koeppeler of Kenosha in 2011 and Terry Meeuwsen of De Pere in 1973.