“It was a shocker!” Miss Wisconsin wins Miss America competition

The new Miss America is a Cheesehead!

Wausau Native Grace Stanke was awarded the Miss America crown Thursday night.

“It was a shocker,” Stanke told Wis. Morning News on Friday. “I visualized (winning) and pictured myself doing it, but I didn’t expect it.”

Stanke, a little bleary eyed, admitted she had only gotten three hours of sleep.

“Today is Day One,” she declared.

4RU – Georgia
3RU – West Virginia
2RU – Texas
1RU – New York#MISSAMERICA 2023 IS #WISCONSIN! pic.twitter.com/ntFDy5ngxf

— Taylor Kinzler (@Taylor_Kinzler) December 16, 2022

Stanke is a University of Wisconsin student studying Nuclear Engineering — she will receive a $50,000 scholarship for winning the competition.

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

In November, Stanke discussed her future ambitions while joining WTMJ’s Wisconsin’s Afternoon News show.

“I am the first nuclear engineer ever to compete for Miss America,” she told WTMJ. “I’m focused on the energy industry and the power industry. I do work with nuclear power plants.”

You never know who ⁦@gmatzek⁩ and I might run into. Thanks ⁦@misswis⁩ , Grace Stanke for the studio visit! ⁦@620wtmj⁩ pic.twitter.com/FWoPFZVkgh

— John Mercure (@JohnMercure) November 29, 2022