LAS VEGAS — A 23-year-old beauty queen from Kenosha, Wis., has won the Miss America pageant in Las Vegas. Laura Kaeppeler won the pageant Saturday night after
strutting in a white bikini and black beaded evening gown, singing opera and answering a question about whether beauty queens should declare their politics by saying Miss
America represents everyone.”Miss America represents everyone, so I think the message to political candidates is that they represent everyone as well,” Kaeppeler said. “And so
in these economic times, we need to be looking forward to what America needs, and I think Miss America needs to represent all.”Story: Miss America contestants beat hardship
to take the stageMiss Oklahoma Betty Thompson came in second, while Miss New York Kaitlyn Monte placed third.Kaeppeler wins a $50,000 scholarship and gets the title for
one year. Her platform during the competition was supporting and mentoring children of incarcerated parents.Kaeppeler was chosen as the winner by a panel of seven judges
during a live telecast on ABC. The event was the culmination of a week of preliminary competitions and months of preparations for the titleholders from all 50 states plus the
District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. AP file Miss Wisconsin performed opera in the talent competition category during the first round of the Miss
America. The new Miss America will spend the next year touring the country to speak to different groups
and raising money for the Childrens Miracle Network, the Miss America Organizations official charity.Teresa Scanlan of Nebraska won Miss America last year at age 17 to
become the pageants youngest winner ever. She said contestants nerves likely were at their highest point just before the pageant.
via Wisconsinite wins 2012 Miss America crown – style – TODAY.com.
Loading ...