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]

Miss America 2023
Grace Stanke
Date	December 15, 2022
Presenters	Laura Rutledge
Venue	Mohegan Sun, Uncasville, Connecticut
Broadcaster	Pageants Live
Entrants	51
Placements	11
Returns	Maine
Winner	Grace Stanke Wisconsin
Congeniality	Hannah Edelen (Kentucky)
← 2022 2024 →

Instead of airing on television, the pageant was streamed for the second consecutive year.^[2] Unlike the 2022 edition, which streamed on the mainstream service Peacock, the 2023 edition was available only through Pageants Live, a pageant-specific streaming service featuring a subscription price of $32.99 per month at the time with no lower-cost or event-only option available.^[3]

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.^[4]

Background

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.^[5] Candidates must also have been in proper, good or excellent health, including being fully vaccinated from COVID-19.^[5]

U.S. state contests occurred during spring and summer 2022.^[6]

Results

Placements

Placement	Contestant
Miss America 2023	Wisconsin – Grace Stanke
1st Runner-Up	New York – Taryn Smith
2nd Runner-Up	Texas – Averie Bishop
3rd Runner-Up	West Virginia – Elizabeth Lynch
4th Runner-Up	Georgia – Kelsey Hollis
Top 7	Indiana – Elizabeth Hallal Nevada – Heather Renner
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

Awards	Candidates
Social Impact Pitch[citation needed]	Georgia – Kelsey Hollis Iowa – Bailey Hodson
Talent[citation needed]	Indiana – Elizabeth Hallal Wisconsin – Grace Stanke

Other awards

Awards	Candidates
America's Choice (guarantees top 11 placement)	Illinois – Monica Nia Jones[citation needed]
Equity and Justice Scholarship	Nevada – Heather Renner (Winner)[citation needed] Texas – Averie Bishop (Finalist) Florida – Lindsay Bettis (Finalist)
Jean Bartel Military Awareness Scholarship	Maryland – Kayla Willing[citation needed]
Miss Congeniality	Kentucky – Hannah Edelen[citation needed]
Non-Finalist Talent[citation needed]	California – Catherine Liang Louisiana – Gracie Reichman Nebraska – Steffany Lien Utah – Lindsey Larsen
Non-Finalist Social Impact Pitch	Florida – Lindsay Bettis[citation needed]
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	Virginia – Victoria Chuah (Winner)[citation needed] Alaska – Jessica Reisinger (1st Runner-up) South Dakota – Hunter Widvey (2nd Runner-up)
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	Texas – Averie Bishop (Winner)[citation needed] Vermont – Alexina Federhen (Finalist) Arizona – Melody Pierce (Finalist)

Contestants

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[7]	22	Wedowee	Dance, "Bossa Nova Baby" by Elvis Presley, from Fun in Acapulco	"Catalyst: Arts For All"		Social Impact Finalist
Alaska	Jessica Reisinger[8]	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[9]	25	Harrison	Tap Dance	"A Responsible Digital You"
California	Catherine Liang[10]	22	California	Piano	"To Be a Champion of Courage"		Non-Finalist Talent Women in Business Finalist
Colorado	Savannah Cavanaugh[11]	25	Beaver Creek	Vocal	"Healthy Lungs, Healthy Life"
Connecticut	Sylvana González[12]	24	Farmington	Latin Jazz Dance, "Get on Your Feet" by Gloria Estefan	"With Heart, Redressing the Run of Abuse"
Delaware	Grace Otley[13]	22	Hockessin	Violin/Vocal/Keyboard	"Teaching Others to Love Themselves Through Music"			Previously Miss Delaware's Outstanding Teen 2014[13]
District of Columbia	Alivia Roberts[14]	26	Shannon, MS	Ballet en Pointe, "Thunderstruck" by AC/DC	"The D.R.E.A.M. Impact"
Florida	Lindsay Bettis[15]	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[16]	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[16]
Hawaii	Lauren Teruya[17]	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[17]
Idaho	Sarah Jensen	26	Weiser	Piano	"Why Math Matters"
Illinois	Monica Nia Jones[18]	26	Chicago	Violin	"Music Uniting Souls in Communities"	Top 11	People's Choice
Indiana	Elizabeth Hallal[19]	21	Georgetown	Vocal	"The Triple A Project: Accessibility to the Arts for All"	Top 7	Preliminary Talent Award
Iowa	Bailey Hodson[20]	24	Berwick	Vocal	"The ABCs: Anti Bullying Campaign"		Preliminary Social Impact Pitch
Kansas	Ayanna Hensley[21]	21	Dodge City	Dance	"Aces Low: Overcoming Adverse Childhood Experiences"
Kentucky	Hannah Edelen[22]	24	Springfield	Clogging	"Read Ready Kentucky"		Miss Congeniality[citation needed] Social Impact Finalist
Louisiana	Gracie Reichman[23]	21	Colfax	Contemporary Clogging	"Think Twice, Be Nice"		Non-Finalist Talent	Previously Miss Louisiana's Outstanding Teen 2018[23]
Maine	Madison Leslie	22	Lewiston	Vocal	"Time to Shake Your Beauty"			Previously Miss Maine's Outstanding Teen 2016[24]
Maryland	Kayla Willing[25]	19	Deal Island	Vocal	"The Write Reason"		Jean Bartel Military Awareness Scholarship[citation needed]
Massachusetts	Katrina Kincade[26]	25	Boston	Vocal	"Special Olympics: Inclusion Revolution"			First Muslim woman to win Miss Massachusetts[27]
Michigan	Melissa Beyrand[28]	22	Milford	Violin	"Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts & Mathematics (STEAM)"
Minnesota	Rachel Evangelisto[29]	24	Minnesota	Praying Mantis Kung Fu	"Foster Care in Crisis: Native Youth in Minnesota"			First Native American to win Miss Minnesota[29]
Mississippi	Emmie Perkins[30]	21	Hattiesburg	Vocal	"Music is Medicine"		Social Impact Winner
Missouri	Clare Marie Kuebler[31]	21	Wildwood	Dance	"Celebrating Courage: Childhood Cancer Advocacy"
Montana	Alexa Baisch[32]	22	Glendive	Dance	"The New Stranger Danger: Safety Through Education"			Previously Miss Montana's Outstanding Teen 2017[33]
Nebraska	Steffany Lien[34]	24	Lincoln	Dance Twirl	"Developing Resilience Over Adversity"		Non-Finalist Talent	Previously Miss Nebraska's Outstanding Teen 2015[35]
Nevada	Heather Renner[36]	23	Reno	Classical Vocal	"Performing for a Purpose"	Top 7	Equity and Justice Winner	Previously Miss Nevada's Outstanding Teen 2016[37] First openly gay Miss Nevada
New Hampshire	Sarah White[38]	23	Weirs Beach	Tap Dance	"Mind Your Mental Health"
New Jersey	Augostina Mallous[39]	20	Cape May Court House	Acrobatic Dance	"Stop the Traffic: Human Trafficking Prevention"			Previously Miss New Jersey's Outstanding Teen 2017[40]
New Mexico	Kaitlin Kerl	25	Albuquerque	Dance	"Building Bridges Through Inclusion"
New York	Taryn Smith[41]	25	Manhattan	Vocal	"S.O.S. Supporting Our Shelters"	First Runner-up
North Carolina	Karolyn Martin[42]	22	Charlotte	Vocal	"#SelfKare: Eat to Success"
North Dakota	Sidni Kast[43]	24	Minot	Piano/Vocal	"The One Body Movement"
Ohio	Elizabetta Nies[44]	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[44] Niece of Mary-Ann Farrell, Miss New York 1984 and Monica Farrell, Miss Florida 1985 and Miss Florida USA 1988[44]
Oklahoma	Megan Gold[45]	22	Edmond	Flute	"America, Let's do Lunch-Ending Senior Hunger"
Oregon	Sophia Takla[46]	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[47]	24	Reading	Lyrical Dance	"Tyler's Triumph: The More Than Project"			Previously Miss Pennsylvania's Outstanding Teen 2016[48]
Rhode Island	Abby Mansolillo[49]	23	Providence	Film Dialogue, "On the Basis of Sex"	"Trust Your Gut: Be Your Own Health Advocate"
South Carolina	Jill Dudley[50]	23	Myrtle Beach	Vocal	"Luke's Legacy: Advocacy for Diabetes Education, Prevention and Affordable Insulin for All"
South Dakota	Hunter Widvey[51]	23	Rapid City	Vocal	"Childhood Cancer Awareness"		Women in STEM Finalist	Previously Miss South Dakota's Outstanding Teen 2016[51]
Tennessee	Lauren Dickson[52]	24	Parsons	Vocal	"Heart for the Hungry: Overcoming Food Insecurity"
Texas	Averie Bishop[53]	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[53]
Utah	Lindsey Larsen[54]	21	Lehi	Ballet en Pointe	"The MOVEMENT Movement"		Non-Finalist Talent
Vermont	Alexina Federhen[55]	24	Bennington	Vocal	"Reach Out, Speak Out"		Women Who Brand Finalist	Previously Miss Vermont's Outstanding Teen 2014[56]
Virginia	Victoria Chuah[57]	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[58]	20	Wausau	Violin	"Clean Energy, Cleaner Future"	Winner	Preliminary Talent Award	Previously Miss Wisconsin's Outstanding Teen 2017[58]
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

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.^[6] 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."^[6] Likewise, the clothes worn by some Miss Americas, particularly since 1983, are scrutinized for promoting objectification.^[59]

2023 marks the second year of the final competition night and crowning not being aired on mainstream television.^[2] 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.^[60] 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.^[61] 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."^[62]

Notes

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