Wikipedia

Miss America 2023

Miss America 2023 was the 95th edition of the Miss America pageant, which occurred at the Mohegan Sun on December 15, 2022.[1] The 2023 calendar year, based on several sources, may be the final year at Mohegan Sun.[2]

Miss America 2023
Grace Stanke
DateDecember 15, 2022
PresentersLaura Rutledge
VenueMohegan Sun, Uncasville, Connecticut
BroadcasterPageants Live
Entrants51
Placements11
ReturnsMaine
WinnerGrace Stanke
Wisconsin
CongenialityHannah Edelen (Kentucky)
← 2022
2024 →

Instead of airing on television, the pageant was streamed for the second consecutive year.[3] Unlike the 2022 edition, which streamed on Peacock, the 2023 edition was available only through Pageants Live, the pageant streaming service which features a subscription price of $32.99 per month with no lower-cost or event-only option available.[4]

Emma Broyles of Alaska crowned Grace Stanke of Wisconsin as Miss America 2023 at the end of the event. Stanke became the third woman from Wisconsin won the title. Coincidentally, both Stanke and Broyles had previously competed together in Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2018.[5]

Background

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Miss America 2023 was the 95th installment of the pageant, but the 101st Miss America anniversary. Contestants were required to be between ages 18 and 26 (born between January 1, 1996, and December 31, 2003), be a United States resident or citizen, and meet the particular residency requirements of the states, municipalities, and districts they represent.[6] Candidates must also have been in proper, good or excellent health, including being fully vaccinated from COVID-19.[6]

U.S. state contests occurred during spring and summer 2022.[7]

Results

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Placements

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Placement Contestant
Miss America 2023
1st Runner-Up
2nd Runner-Up
3rd Runner-Up
4th Runner-Up
Top 7
Top 11
  •   Hawaii – Lauren Teruya
  •   Illinois – Monica Nia Jones §
  •   Ohio – Elizabetta Nies
  •   Oregon – Sophia Takla

§ – Voted into the Top 11 by receiving the America's Choice Award[a]

Preliminary awards

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Awards Candidates
Social Impact Pitch[citation needed]
Talent[citation needed]

Other awards

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Awards Candidates
America's Choice (guarantees top 11 placement)
Equity and Justice Scholarship
Jean Bartel Military Awareness Scholarship
Miss Congeniality
Non-Finalist Talent[citation needed]
Non-Finalist Social Impact Pitch
Social Impact Scholarship
  • Mississippi – Emmie Perkins (Winner) -- Music is Medicine[citation needed]
  • Alabama – Lindsay Fincher (1st Runner-up) -- Catalyst: Arts for All
  • Kentucky – Hannah Edelen (2nd Runner-up) -- Read, Ready, Kentucky
STEM Scholarship
Women in Business Scholarship
  • Texas – Averie Bishop (Winner)[citation needed]
  • Florida – Lindsay Bettis (1st Runner-up)
  • California – Catherine Liang (2nd Runner-up)
Women Who Brand Scholarship

Contestants

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A total of 51 titleholders competed.

  •   Winner
  •   Runner-up
  •   Finalist
  •   Non-Finalist Award Winner
State or district Name Age[b] Hometown Talent "Social Impact Initiative" Placement Special awards Notes
Alabama Lindsay Fincher[8] 22 Wedowee Dance, "Bossa Nova Baby" by Elvis Presley, from Fun in Acapulco "Catalyst: Arts For All" Social Impact Finalist
Alaska Jessica Reisinger[9] 23 Anchorage Acrobatic Dance, "I Was Here" by Beyonce "Supporting Survivors: Increasing Access to Sexual Assault Response Resources" Women in STEM Finalist
Arizona Melody Pierce 26 Phoenix Tap Dance "S.T.E.P.S. Towards Eating Disorder Recovery and Awareness" Women Who Brand Finalist
Arkansas Ebony Mitchell[10] 25 Harrison Tap Dance "A Responsible Digital You"
California Catherine Liang[11] 22 California Piano "To Be a Champion of Courage" Non-Finalist Talent

Women in Business Finalist
Colorado Savannah Cavanaugh[12] 25 Beaver Creek Vocal "Healthy Lungs, Healthy Life"
Connecticut Sylvana González[13] 24 Farmington Latin Jazz Dance, "Get on Your Feet" by Gloria Estefan "With Heart, Redressing the Run of Abuse"
Delaware Grace Otley[14] 22 Hockessin Violin/Vocal/Keyboard "Teaching Others to Love Themselves Through Music" Previously Miss Delaware's Outstanding Teen 2014[14]
District of Columbia Alivia Roberts[15] 26 Shannon, MS Ballet en Pointe, "Thunderstruck" by AC/DC "The D.R.E.A.M. Impact"
Florida Lindsay Bettis[16] 26 Ponte Vedra Beach Jazz Dance "Prescription for Change: Prevention-Treatment-Recovery" Equity and Justice Finalist

Non-Finalist Social Impact Pitch

Women in Business Finalist
Georgia Kelsey Hollis[17] 22 Warner Robins Vocal, "I Didn't Know My Own Strength" by Whitney Houston "Autism Acceptance: A Platform for Change" Fourth Runner-up Preliminary Social Impact Pitch Previously Miss Georgia's Outstanding Teen 2016[17]
Hawaii Lauren Teruya[18] 23 Honolulu Musical Theatre "Arts for All" Top 11 Previously Miss Hawaii Teen USA 2017

Sister of Kathryn Teruya, Miss Hawaii Teen USA 2012 and Miss Hawaii 2017[18]
Idaho Sarah Jensen 26 Weiser Piano "Why Math Matters"
Illinois Monica Nia Jones[19] 26 Chicago Violin "Music Uniting Souls in Communities" Top 11 People's Choice
Indiana Elizabeth Hallal[20] 21 Georgetown Vocal "The Triple A Project: Accessibility to the Arts for All" Top 7 Preliminary Talent Award
Iowa Bailey Hodson[21] 24 Berwick Vocal "The ABCs: Anti Bullying Campaign" Preliminary Social Impact Pitch
Kansas Ayanna Hensley[22] 21 Dodge City Dance "Aces Low: Overcoming Adverse Childhood Experiences"
Kentucky Hannah Edelen[23] 24 Springfield Clogging "Read Ready Kentucky" Miss Congeniality[citation needed]

Social Impact Finalist
Louisiana Gracie Reichman[24] 21 Colfax Contemporary Clogging "Think Twice, Be Nice" Non-Finalist Talent Previously Miss Louisiana's Outstanding Teen 2018[24]
Maine Madison Leslie 22 Lewiston Vocal "Time to Shake Your Beauty" Previously Miss Maine's Outstanding Teen 2016[25]
Maryland Kayla Willing[26] 19 Deal Island Vocal "The Write Reason" Jean Bartel Military Awareness Scholarship[citation needed]
Massachusetts Katrina Kincade[27] 25 Boston Vocal "Special Olympics: Inclusion Revolution" First Muslim woman to win Miss Massachusetts[28]
Michigan Melissa Beyrand[29] 22 Milford Violin "Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts & Mathematics (STEAM)"
Minnesota Rachel Evangelisto[30] 24 Minnesota Praying Mantis Kung Fu "Foster Care in Crisis: Native Youth in Minnesota" First Native American to win Miss Minnesota[30]
Mississippi Emmie Perkins[31] 21 Hattiesburg Vocal "Music is Medicine" Social Impact Winner
Missouri Clare Marie Kuebler[32] 21 Wildwood Dance "Celebrating Courage: Childhood Cancer Advocacy"
Montana Alexa Baisch[33] 22 Glendive Dance "The New Stranger Danger: Safety Through Education" Previously Miss Montana's Outstanding Teen 2017[34]
Nebraska Steffany Lien[35] 24 Lincoln Dance Twirl "Developing Resilience Over Adversity" Non-Finalist Talent Previously Miss Nebraska's Outstanding Teen 2015[36]
Nevada Heather Renner[37] 23 Reno Classical Vocal "Performing for a Purpose" Top 7 Equity and Justice Winner Previously Miss Nevada's Outstanding Teen 2016[38]

First openly gay Miss Nevada
New Hampshire Sarah White[39] 23 Weirs Beach Tap Dance "Mind Your Mental Health"
New Jersey Augostina Mallous[40] 20 Cape May Court House Acrobatic Dance "Stop the Traffic: Human Trafficking Prevention" Previously Miss New Jersey's Outstanding Teen 2017[41]
New Mexico Kaitlin Kerl 25 Albuquerque Dance "Building Bridges Through Inclusion"
New York Taryn Smith[42] 25 Manhattan Vocal "S.O.S. Supporting Our Shelters" First Runner-up
North Carolina Karolyn Martin[43] 22 Charlotte Vocal "#SelfKare: Eat to Success"
North Dakota Sidni Kast[44] 24 Minot Piano/Vocal "The One Body Movement"
Ohio Elizabetta Nies[45] 19 Cincinnati Piano "Living from the Inside Out: A Proven, Global Method of Making Aspirations Attainable" Top 11 Daughter of Kathleen Farrell Nies, Miss Illinois 1992 and Miss Illinois USA 1994[45]

Niece of Mary-Ann Farrell, Miss New York 1984 and Monica Farrell, Miss Florida 1985 and Miss Florida USA 1988[45]

Oklahoma Megan Gold[46] 22 Edmond Flute "America, Let's do Lunch-Ending Senior Hunger"
Oregon Sophia Takla[47] 21 Portland Vocal "Operation Joy: Bringing Happiness to Pediatric Care Patients" Top 11 Daughter of Kimberly Stubblefield Takla, Miss Oregon USA 1986[citation needed]
Pennsylvania Alysa Bainbridge[48] 24 Reading Lyrical Dance "Tyler's Triumph: The More Than Project" Previously Miss Pennsylvania's Outstanding Teen 2016[49]
Rhode Island Abby Mansolillo[50] 23 Providence Film Dialogue, "On the Basis of Sex" "Trust Your Gut: Be Your Own Health Advocate"
South Carolina Jill Dudley[51] 23 Myrtle Beach Vocal "Luke's Legacy: Advocacy for Diabetes Education, Prevention and Affordable Insulin for All"
South Dakota Hunter Widvey[52] 23 Rapid City Vocal "Childhood Cancer Awareness" Women in STEM Finalist Previously Miss South Dakota's Outstanding Teen 2016[52]
Tennessee Lauren Dickson[53] 24 Parsons Vocal "Heart for the Hungry: Overcoming Food Insecurity"
Texas Averie Bishop[54] 25 Dallas Vocal "Y'all Means All" Second Runner-up Women in Business Winner

Women Who Brand Winner

Equity and Justice Finalist 		First Asian American to win Miss Texas[54]
Utah Lindsey Larsen[55] 21 Lehi Ballet en Pointe "The MOVEMENT Movement" Non-Finalist Talent
Vermont Alexina Federhen[56] 24 Bennington Vocal "Reach Out, Speak Out" Women Who Brand Finalist Previously Miss Vermont's Outstanding Teen 2014[57]
Virginia Victoria Chuah[58] 23 Ashburn Ballet en Pointe "4A: Advocacy and Awareness for Adults with Autism" Women in STEM Finalist
Washington Regan Gallo 23 Puyallup Dance "Making the Invisible Visible: Advocating for Those with Chronic Disease"
West Virginia Elizabeth Lynch 25 Martinsburg Original Monologue, "It's Not Just Dirt" "Growing Up, Growing Ag" Third Runner-up
Wisconsin Grace Stanke[59] 20 Wausau Violin "Clean Energy, Cleaner Future" Winner Preliminary Talent Award Previously Miss Wisconsin's Outstanding Teen 2017[59]
Wyoming Hazel Homer-Wambeam 21 Laramie Musical Theater Performance "EveryBODY Dance! Body Positivity through Movement" Top Fundraiser 4th Runner-up Previously Distinguished Young Woman (DYW) of Wyoming 2019, National DYW (formerly Junior Miss) winner of Self-Expression Category. Lifetime National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Scholar. National winner both 1st and 2nd place, National History Day (NHD) competition in performance and documentary categories.

Controversy and criticism

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In an effort to move away from its central focus as a beauty contest, the M.A. Organization removed the bathing suit competition and distanced itself from sexist roots of the past in 2018.[7] Critics allege that the competition still objectifies participants and women generally, with one journalist arguing that "these females, beautiful or otherwise, need not continue being judged on and selected for their appearance (according to many women [and to some men], whether or not they monitor Miss America contests or may be Miss Americas themselves."[7] Likewise, the clothes worn by some Miss Americas, particularly since 1983, are scrutinized for promoting objectification.[60]

2023 marks the second year of the final competition night and crowning not being aired on mainstream television.[3] The 2022 Miss America competition was streamed on NBC's Peacock and had several technical glitches throughout the show, causing many viewers to complain on social media about the production value.[61] Streaming the 2022 competition on Peacock was free, but the 2023 competition could only be streamed on PageantsLive.com and cost over US$30 to watch and avoid clashing the semifinal matches of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.[62] The 2023 competition was streamed on a pageant streaming service despite the Miss America organization announcing in 2018 that the competition is "no longer a pageant."[63]

Notes

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  1. ^ The America's Choice winner may be a Top 10 scorer; if that is the case, the 11th highest scorer joins the Top 11.
  2. ^ Ages at the time of national competition

References

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  1. ^ "Miss America Will Stay at the Mohegan Sun Until 2023". The Hartford Business. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  2. ^ Elise Schoening (December 22, 2021). "Miss America Returns in Person for the 100th Anniversary Competition". Northstar Meeting Group. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  3. ^ a b "The Miss America Pageants Move from the Mainstream Television to Streaming". Reuters News and Business. November 23, 2021. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  4. ^ Kuperinsky, Amy (December 15, 2022). "Watching the Miss America pageant costs how much?! Pricey streaming a departure for TV tradition". NJ.com. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  5. ^ "Miss Wisconsin Grace Stanke crowned as Miss America 2023". The Economic Times. 2022-12-16. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 2023-04-02.
  6. ^ a b "Becoming a Candidate of Miss America". The Miss America Organizations' Rules. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  7. ^ a b c "It's Past Time for a Miss America Makeover". The Wyoming News. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  8. ^ "Lindsay Fincher named Miss Alabama 2022". CBS 42. July 3, 2022. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  9. ^ ago, Anchorage Daily News Updated: 24 minutes ago Published: 24 minutes. "Photos: Anchorage gathers downtown for July Fourth parade". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved July 5, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  10. ^ Webb, Jack (June 18, 2022). "Miss Dogwood Ebony Mitchell crowned Miss Arkansas 2022". KATV. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  11. ^ "Winner of 2022 Miss California competition crowned". YourCentralValley.com. June 27, 2022. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
  12. ^ Organization, Miss America (June 28, 2022). "Savannah Cavanaugh Crowned Miss Colorado 2022". GlobeNewswire News Room. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
  13. ^ Smith, Ashley (April 10, 2022). "Miss Connecticut, Miss Connecticut Outstanding Teen 2022 winner announced". WFSB. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
  14. ^ a b Edelman, Hannah (June 20, 2022). "Miss Delaware crown passed to former Miss Delaware's Outstanding Teen". The News Journal. Retrieved June 22, 2022 – via Yahoo! News.
  15. ^ Carlisle, Zac (June 20, 2022). "Shannon native crowned Miss District of Columbia". WTVA. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
  16. ^ Hogan, Brandon (June 26, 2022). "Miss Seminole County is crowned Miss Florida, will represent state in national competition". WKMG. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
  17. ^ a b "Warner Robins college student crowned Miss Georgia 2022". FOX 5 Atlanta. June 20, 2022. Retrieved June 22, 2022.
  18. ^ a b Ancheta, Dillon (May 16, 2022). "Iolani alumna with passion for the arts crowned Miss Hawaii 2022". Hawaii News Now. Retrieved June 14, 2022.
  19. ^ Gordon, Jacob (June 12, 2022). "Monica Nia Jones crowned Miss Illinois 2022". WSIL-TV. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
  20. ^ "Elizabeth Hallal crowned Miss Indiana 2022". wthr.com. June 20, 2022. Retrieved June 22, 2022.
  21. ^ Geyer, Thomas. "Bailey Hodson of Berwick, Iowa, named Miss Iowa 2022". The Quad-City Times. Retrieved June 14, 2022.
  22. ^ Stultz, Jennifer (June 13, 2022). "Miss Kansas 2022: Hensley credits difficult upbringing, faith in God and helpful connections for success on the 2022 Miss Kansas stage". The Pratt Tribune. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
  23. ^ Honeycutt Spears, Valerie (June 19, 2022). "Public school teacher pursuing a PhD from UK wins Miss Kentucky scholarship pageant". Lexington Herald Reader. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
  24. ^ a b Bolden, Bonnie (June 18, 2022). "Miss Louisiana Watermelon Festival Gracie Reichman crowned Miss Louisiana 2022". The News-Star. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  25. ^ "St. Dom's student appears in Florida pageant". Sun Journal. September 7, 2016.
  26. ^ Jenkins, Dalencia. "Somerset County Kayla Willing Was Crowned Miss Maryland 2022". WBOC TV. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
  27. ^ "Miss Massachusetts 2022 winner is WBZ-TV reporter Katrina Kincaide, first Muslim woman to wear the crown". MSN. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
  28. ^ "WBZ-TV's Katrina Kincade competes in Miss America competition as first Muslim woman to represent Massachusetts". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  29. ^ White, Rose (June 19, 2022). "Miss Michigan 2022 Melissa Beyrand: 'It's unbelievable' winning crown as first-time competitor". MLive Media Group. Retrieved June 19, 2022.
  30. ^ a b "Rachel Evangelisto is first Indigenous woman to be crowned Miss Minnesota". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved June 22, 2022.
  31. ^ Perlis, Wicker (June 25, 2022). "New Miss Mississippi crowned in final night of competition in Vicksburg". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
  32. ^ Dale, Alan (June 19, 2022). "Clare Marie Kuebler crowned 2022 Miss Missouri". The Mexico Ledger. Retrieved June 19, 2022.
  33. ^ Martin, Spencer. "Miss Montana Scholarship Organization crowns Miss Montana 2022". KULR-8 Local News. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
  34. ^ "Madison Murray crowned Miss Montana 2017". MTN News. June 18, 2017.
  35. ^ "Steffany Lien named Miss Nebraska". News Channel Nebraska. June 13, 2022. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
  36. ^ "Lincoln's Lien named Miss Nebraska's Outstanding Teen". Lincoln Journal Star. July 2, 2015.
  37. ^ "Heather Renner of Reno crowned Miss Nevada". MSN. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
  38. ^ "2016 Miss Nevada's Outstanding Teen – Miss Nevada". www.missnevada.org.
  39. ^ "Miss New Hampshire 2022, Sarah White, Crowned in Derry". Nutfield News. May 6, 2022. Retrieved June 14, 2022.
  40. ^ Hawk, Tim (June 26, 2022). "Miss New Jersey 2022 is crowned". NJ.com. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
  41. ^ Schweder, Hanna (January 27, 2017). "Meet Augostina Mallous, the new Miss New Jersey's Outstanding Teen". Press of Atlantic City.
  42. ^ "Photos and results: Staten Island contestants take honors at Miss New York 2022 pageant". silive. May 31, 2022. Retrieved June 14, 2022.
  43. ^ "Karolyn Martin named 2022 Miss North Carolina". FOX8 WGHP. June 26, 2022. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
  44. ^ Anthony, Michael (June 11, 2022). "Minot's Sidni Kast named Miss North Dakota 2022". KFYR-TV. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  45. ^ a b c "Pianist from Cincinnati wins Miss Ohio on first try". news.yahoo.com. Retrieved June 22, 2022.
  46. ^ World, Jillian Taylor Tulsa. "Megan Gold, OU journalism graduate, crowned Miss Oklahoma 2022". Tulsa World. Retrieved June 14, 2022.
  47. ^ Signal, R. J. MARX Seaside. "Takla is named Miss Oregon 2022". Seaside Signal. Retrieved June 22, 2022.
  48. ^ "Miss Pennsylvania, Miss Pennsylvania Outstanding Teen 2022 crowned". ABC27. June 20, 2022. Retrieved June 22, 2022.
  49. ^ "Miss Pennsylvania's Outstanding Teen 2016 is Schuylkill Valley High School senior". Reading Eagle. July 1, 2016.
  50. ^ Nagle, Kate. "NEW: Miss Rhode Island 2022 Crowned". GoLocalProv. Retrieved June 14, 2022.
  51. ^ Poag, Holly (June 25, 2022). "Gowns and Crowns: Miss SC 2022 is crowned in Columbia. Here's who won". The State. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
  52. ^ a b "Rapid City contestant crowned Miss South Dakota 2022". MSN. Retrieved June 14, 2022.
  53. ^ Finton, Lucas; Hernandez, Porsha (June 25, 2022). "Miss Lexington Lauren Dickson wins Miss Tennessee 2022". The Commercial Appeal. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
  54. ^ a b Manning, Tyler (June 29, 2022). "Carrollton woman becomes 1st Asian American to win Miss Texas". KXAN-TV. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  55. ^ "University of Utah student from Lehi crowned Miss Utah 2022". ABC4 Utah. June 13, 2022. Retrieved June 14, 2022.
  56. ^ Smith, Cam (April 30, 2022). "Newsmaker Interview: 2022 Miss Vermont winners". WCAX-TV. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
  57. ^ Carson, Derek (June 25, 2014). "MAU student Alexina Federhen chosen to receive $500 scholarship". Bennington Banner.
  58. ^ Mouketo, Julia (June 25, 2022). "Ashburn woman wins Miss Virginia title". The Roanoke Times. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
  59. ^ a b "2022 Miss Wisconsin Grace Stanke wants to promote clean energy and inspire more girls to be a part of STEM during her reign". www.yahoo.com. Retrieved June 22, 2022.
  60. ^ "The 15 Most Daring Looks Contests Wore in the Competition". The Business Insider. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  61. ^ Yahr, Emily (December 17, 2021). "Miss America 2022: The best, worst and weirdest moments from the first streaming-only competition". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  62. ^ Kuperinsky, Amy (December 15, 2022). "Watching the Miss America pageant costs how much?! Pricey streaming a departure for TV tradition". NJ.com. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  63. ^ Miss America chairwoman: 'We are no longer a pageant', retrieved December 16, 2022. ABC News.
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