Dear Bloggery

Miss Wisconsin Laura Kaeppeler was crowned Miss America 2012 in a glittering pageant held in Las Vegas on Saturday, January 14, 2012. The 23 year old winner who hails from Kenosha took home the coveted crown after singing an Italian aria, impressing the judges in a white bikini and walking the catwalk in a black beaded evening gown inspired by the Duchess of Cambridge’s (a.k.a. Kate Middleton) wedding gown.

Kaeppeler was awarded with $50,000 scholarship and holds the title for a year. She was crowned by last year’s winner, Miss America 2011 Teresa Scanlan from Nebraska.

MISS AMERICA 2012 FINAL RESULTS

Miss America 2012: Laura Kaeppeler (Wisconsin)
1st runner-up: Betty Thompson (Oklahoma)
2nd runner-up: Kaitlin Monte (New York)
3rd runner-up: Jennifer Sedler (Arizona)
4th runner-up: Noelle Freeman (California)

TOP 10
Hannah Smith (Illinois)
Jessica Pray (Iowa)
Hope Anderson (Louisiana)
Erin Hatley (Tennessee)
Kendall Morris (Texas)

TOP 13
Courtney Porter (Alabama)
Kristina Janolo (Florida)
Bree Boyce (South Carolina)

Top 15
Hailey Best (North Carolina)
Elizabeth Crot (Virginia)

PRELIMINARY AWARDS

PRELIMINARY LIFESTYLE & FITNESS (SWIMSUIT)
Danica Olsen (Utah)
Kendall Morris (Texas)
Kaitlin Monte (New York)

PRELIMINARY TALENT
Laura Kaeppeler (Wisconsin)
Betty Thompson (Oklahoma)
Lauren Cheape (Hawaii)

QUALITY OF LIFE AWARDS

Winner: Ann-Blair Thornton (Kentucky)
1st runner-up: Regan Hartley (New Hampshire)
2nd runner-up: Elizabeth Wertenberger (Michigan)

Finalists
Kristen Glover (Arkansas)
Lauren Cheape (Hawaii)
Natalie Davis (Minnesota)
Kaitlin Monte (New York)
Ellen Bryan (Ohio)

OTHER AWARDS
Fourpoints Award: Genevieve Nutting (Idaho)
Miracle Maker Award: Hope Anderson (Louisiana)
Non-Finalist Talent:
Louanne Gamba Instrumental Award:
Ric Ferentz Non-Finalist Interview:
Miss Congeniality:
Marion A. Crooker Award:

Duke of Edinburgh Awards
Courtney Porter (Alabama)
Morgan Amarone (Connecticut)
Kristina Janolo (Florida)
Hope Anderson (Louisiana)
Julia Furtado (Maine)
Elizabeth Wertenberger (Michigan)
Hailey Best (North Carolina)
Ariana Walker (North Dakota)
Ellen Bryan (Ohio)
Laura Ramirez (Puerto Rico)
Bree Boyce (South Carolina)
Katie Levasseur (Vermont)
Spenser Wempe (West Virginia)
Catherine Brown (Wyoming)

Congratulations!

Cheers,

Photo credits: IB Times and Washington Post