Miss America 2023 was the 95th edition of the Miss America pageant, which occurred at the Mohegan Sun on December 15, 2022.
Instead of airing on television, the pageant was streamed for the second consecutive year. 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.
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.
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. Candidates must also have been in proper, good or excellent health, including being fully vaccinated from COVID-19.
U.S. state contests occurred during spring and summer 2022.
Results
Placements Placement ContestantMiss America 2023 – Grace Stanke 1st Runner-Up – Taryn Delanie Smith 2nd Runner-Up – Averie Bishop 3rd Runner-Up – Elizabeth Lynch 4th Runner-Up – Kelsey Hollis Top 7 – Elizabeth Hallal – Heather Renner Top 11 – Lauren Teruya – Monica Nia Jones § – Elizabetta Nies – Sophia Takla § – Voted into the Top 11 by receiving the America's Choice Award
Preliminary awards Awards Candidates Social Impact Pitch Georgia – Kelsey Hollis Iowa – Bailey Hodson Talent Indiana – Elizabeth Hallal Wisconsin – Grace Stanke
Other awards
Awards CandidatesAmerica's Choice (guarantees top 11 placement) Illinois – Monica Nia JonesEquity and Justice Scholarship Nevada – Heather Renner (Winner) Texas – Averie Bishop (Finalist) Florida – Lindsay Bettis (Finalist)Jean Bartel Military Awareness Scholarship Maryland – Kayla WillingMiss Congeniality Kentucky – Hannah EdelenNon-Finalist Talent California – Catherine Liang Louisiana – Gracie Reichman Nebraska – Steffany Lien Utah – Lindsey LarsenNon-Finalist Social Impact Pitch Florida – Lindsay BettisSocial Impact Scholarship Mississippi – Emmie Perkins (Winner) -- Music is Medicine Alabama – Lindsay Fincher (1st Runner-up) -- Catalyst: Arts for All Kentucky – Hannah Edelen (2nd Runner-up) -- Read, Ready, KentuckySTEM Scholarship Virginia – Victoria Chuah (Winner) Alaska – Jessica Reisinger (1st Runner-up) South Dakota – Hunter Widvey (2nd Runner-up)Women in Business Scholarship Texas – Averie Bishop (Winner) Florida – Lindsay Bettis (1st Runner-up) California – Catherine Liang (2nd Runner-up)Women Who Brand Scholarship Texas – Averie Bishop (Winner) Vermont – Alexina Federhen (Finalist) Arizona – Melody Pierce (Finalist)
Contestants A total of 51 titleholders competed.
State or district Name Age Hometown Talent "Social Impact Initiative" Placement Special awards Notes AlabamaLindsay Fincher22WedoweeDance, "Bossa Nova Baby" by Elvis Presley, from Fun in Acapulco"Catalyst: Arts For All"Social Impact Finalist Alaska Jessica Reisinger23 Anchorage Acrobatic Dance, "I Was Here" by Beyonce"Supporting Survivors: Increasing Access to Sexual Assault Response Resources"Women in STEM Finalist Arizona Melody Pierce26PhoenixTap Dance "S.T.E.P.S. Towards Eating Disorder Recovery and Awareness"Women Who Brand Finalist Arkansas Ebony Mitchell 25 Harrison Tap Dance "A Responsible Digital You" CaliforniaCatherine Liang22California Piano"To Be a Champion of Courage"Non-Finalist TalentWomen in Business Finalist Colorado Savannah Cavanaugh 25 Beaver CreekVocal"Healthy Lungs, Healthy Life" Connecticut Sylvana González 24 FarmingtonLatin Jazz Dance, "Get on Your Feet" by Gloria Estefan"With Heart, Redressing the Run of Abuse" Delaware Grace Otley 22 Hockessin Violin/Vocal/Keyboard "Teaching Others to Love Themselves Through Music" Previously Miss Delaware's Outstanding Teen 2014 District of Columbia Alivia Roberts 26 Shannon, MS Ballet en Pointe, "Thunderstruck" by AC/DC "The D.R.E.A.M. Impact" Florida Lindsay Bettis26 Ponte Vedra Beach Jazz Dance"Prescription for Change: Prevention-Treatment-Recovery"Equity and Justice FinalistNon-Finalist Social Impact PitchWomen in Business Finalist Georgia Kelsey Hollis 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 Hawaii Lauren Teruya 23 HonoluluMusical Theatre"Arts for All" Top 11 Previously Miss Hawaii Teen USA 2017Sister of Kathryn Teruya, Miss Hawaii Teen USA 2012 and Miss Hawaii 2017 Idaho Sarah Jensen 26 Weiser Piano "Why Math Matters" Illinois Monica Nia Jones 26 ChicagoViolin"Music Uniting Souls in Communities"Top 11People's Choice Indiana Elizabeth Hallal 21 Georgetown Vocal "The Triple A Project: Accessibility to the Arts for All" Top 7 Preliminary Talent Award Iowa Bailey Hodson 24 Berwick Vocal "The ABCs: Anti Bullying Campaign" Preliminary Social Impact Pitch Kansas Ayanna Hensley 21 Dodge City Dance"Aces Low: Overcoming Adverse Childhood Experiences" Kentucky Hannah Edelen 24 Springfield Clogging "Read Ready Kentucky" Miss CongenialitySocial Impact Finalist Louisiana Gracie Reichman 21 Colfax Contemporary Clogging "Think Twice, Be Nice" Non-Finalist Talent Previously Miss Louisiana's Outstanding Teen 2018 Maine Madison Leslie 22 Lewiston Vocal"Time to Shake Your Beauty" Previously Miss Maine's Outstanding Teen 2016 Maryland Kayla Willing19Deal Island Vocal"The Write Reason"Jean Bartel Military Awareness Scholarship MassachusettsKatrina Kincade25BostonVocal"Special Olympics: Inclusion Revolution"First Muslim woman to win Miss Massachusetts Michigan Melissa Beyrand 22 MilfordViolin"Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts & Mathematics (STEAM)" Minnesota Rachel Evangelisto24 Minnesota Praying Mantis Kung Fu "Foster Care in Crisis: Native Youth in Minnesota" First Native American to win Miss Minnesota Mississippi Emmie Perkins21HattiesburgVocal"Music is Medicine" Social Impact Winner Missouri Clare Marie Kuebler 21 Wildwood Dance "Celebrating Courage: Childhood Cancer Advocacy" MontanaAlexa Baisch22GlendiveDance"The New Stranger Danger: Safety Through Education"Previously Miss Montana's Outstanding Teen 2017 Nebraska Steffany Lien 24 Lincoln Dance Twirl "Developing Resilience Over Adversity" Non-Finalist Talent Previously Miss Nebraska's Outstanding Teen 2015 Nevada Heather Renner 23 RenoClassical Vocal"Performing for a Purpose" Top 7 Equity and Justice Winner Previously Miss Nevada's Outstanding Teen 2016First openly gay Miss Nevada New Hampshire Sarah White 23 Weirs BeachTap Dance"Mind Your Mental Health" New Jersey Augostina Mallous 20 Cape May Court House Acrobatic Dance"Stop the Traffic: Human Trafficking Prevention" Previously Miss New Jersey's Outstanding Teen 2017 New Mexico Kaitlin Kerl 25 Albuquerque Dance "Building Bridges Through Inclusion" New YorkTaryn Delanie Smith25ManhattanVocal"S.O.S. Supporting Our Shelters"First Runner-up North Carolina Karolyn Martin22 Charlotte Vocal "#SelfKare: Eat to Success" North Dakota Sidni Kast 24 Minot Piano/Vocal "The One Body Movement" Ohio Elizabetta Nies 19 Cincinnati Piano "Living from the Inside Out: A Proven, Global Method of Making Aspirations Attainable" Top 11Daughter of Kathleen Farrell Nies, Miss Illinois 1992 and Miss Illinois USA 1994 Niece of Mary-Ann Farrell, Miss New York 1984 and Monica Farrell, Miss Florida 1985 and Miss Florida USA 1988 OklahomaMegan Gold22EdmondFlute"America, Let's do Lunch-Ending Senior Hunger" Oregon Sophia Takla 21 Portland Vocal "Operation Joy: Bringing Happiness to Pediatric Care Patients" Top 11 Daughter of Kimberly Stubblefield Takla, Miss Oregon USA 1986 Pennsylvania Alysa Bainbridge 24 Reading Lyrical Dance "Tyler's Triumph: The More Than Project" Previously Miss Pennsylvania's Outstanding Teen 2016 Rhode IslandAbby Mansolillo23ProvidenceFilm Dialogue, "On the Basis of Sex""Trust Your Gut: Be Your Own Health Advocate" South Carolina Jill Dudley23Myrtle Beach Vocal "Luke's Legacy: Advocacy for Diabetes Education, Prevention and Affordable Insulin for All" South DakotaHunter Widvey23Rapid CityVocal"Childhood Cancer Awareness"Women in STEM FinalistPreviously Miss South Dakota's Outstanding Teen 2016 Tennessee Lauren Dickson24 Parsons Vocal "Heart for the Hungry: Overcoming Food Insecurity" Texas Averie Bishop25Dallas Vocal"Y'all Means All"Second Runner-upWomen in Business WinnerWomen Who Brand WinnerEquity and Justice Finalist First Asian American to win Miss Texas Utah Lindsey Larsen 21 LehiBallet en Pointe"The MOVEMENT Movement"Non-Finalist Talent Vermont Alexina Federhen 24 Bennington Vocal"Reach Out, Speak Out"Women Who Brand FinalistPreviously Miss Vermont's Outstanding Teen 2014 VirginiaVictoria Chuah23AshburnBallet en Pointe"4A: Advocacy and Awareness for Adults with Autism"Women in STEM Finalist WashingtonRegan Gallo23PuyallupDance"Making the Invisible Visible: Advocating for Those with Chronic Disease" West Virginia Elizabeth Lynch25MartinsburgOriginal Monologue, "It's Not Just Dirt""Growing Up, Growing Ag"Third Runner-up Wisconsin Grace Stanke 20 Wausau Violin "Clean Energy, Cleaner Future" Winner Preliminary Talent Award Previously Miss Wisconsin's Outstanding Teen 2017 Wyoming Hazel Homer-Wambeam21Laramie Musical Theater Performance"EveryBODY Dance! Body Positivity through Movement"Top Fundraiser 4th Runner-upPreviously 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. 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." Likewise, the clothes worn by some Miss Americas, particularly since 1983, are scrutinized for promoting objectification.
2023 marks the second year of the final competition night and crowning not being aired on mainstream television. 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. Streaming the 2022 competition on Peacock was free, but the 2023 competition could only be streamed on PageantsLive.com, requiring the site's per month fee to watch.
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