Who is Miss Wisconsin Grace Stank, the 2023 Miss America winner?
The “nuclear nerd” is Miss America.
Miss Wisconsin Grace Stank, who gave herself the moniker in her Instagram bio as a nod to her professional aspirations, was given a new title Thursday night: Miss America 2023.
Behold Stanke’s crowning moment Thursday night at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut, as she presented her new sash and tiara while fellow contestants celebrated her title behind her.
Who was the runner-up in the Miss America 2023 pageant?
After Stank were first runner-up Miss New York Taryn Delaney Smith, second runner-up Miss Texas Avery Bishop, third runner-up West Virginia Elizabeth Lynch and fourth runner-up Miss Georgia Kelsey Hollis.
Here’s more about what you should know about Stanke, the third woman to be crowned Miss America from Wisconsin in the organization’s 101-year history.
Who is Grace Stank?
The 20-year-old from Wausau, Wisconsin, grew up competing in scholarship-based competitions, is an advocate for clean energy sources, and on Thursday was the 95th winner of the Miss America pageant. She won a $50,000 cash grant along with the title.
Who are Grace Stank’s parents?
Stank is the daughter of Darren and Jenny Stank.
Stanke is a nuclear engineering student
She is a first year student at UW-Madison studying to be a nuclear engineer. After a year of serving as Miss Wisconsin, she plans to finish her college degree.
Of course, her Badger family had a lot of support for her after her win.
Where did Stank go to high school?
Wausau West High School
Stanke has a long history in the Miss America pageant
Her victory on Thursday wasn’t the first time she’d worn the crown.
When she was 13 years old, she first participated in the Miss Wisconsin Outstanding Teen Organization. Stanke won Miss Wausau’s Outstanding Teen in 2016 and then in 2017 took over Miss Harbor Cities’ Outstanding Teen. She became Miss Wisconsin’ Outstanding Teen that year.
She continued her success a few years later by becoming Miss Madison in 2020-21 (she was a semi-finalist in the Miss Wisconsin pageant last year). Stanke came back this year and won the Miss Badgerland title before winning Miss Wisconsin 2022 in June.
Stanke’s platform is “clean energy, cleaner future” because it promotes nuclear energy
Its social impact initiative is “Clean Energy, A Cleaner Future” as it advocates for America’s transition to zero-carbon energy sources as well as eliminating misconceptions about nuclear energy.
She said her father, a civil engineer, had a great influence on her to enter nuclear engineering. She previously told Oshkosh Northwestern that Nuclear Science helped save her father’s life during treatments for Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
When she enters the profession, Stanke wants to be an advocate for nuclear energy and influence policies to improve the environment. Through it all, her goal is to inspire young girls to get into STEM fields.
Stank is a talented violinist
She picked up the musical instrument at the age of eight and it became one of her passions. She displayed this talent during the Miss America pageants as a teenager.
Then she shone on the biggest stage.
Stanke wins the Miss America Talent Scholarship, stunning the judges with her classic performance, while being awarded $2,500 in scholarship money.
What’s next for Stanky as Miss America?
She will be the face of the Miss America Organization over the next year, while promoting its social initiative. Stanke will be a full-time, paid contract employee of the organization. She will travel the country and will also visit other countries to give speeches and conduct research on her platform.
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