Miss Wisconsin Laura Kaeppeler is Miss America 2012
Laura Kaeppeler was crowned as the winner of Miss America 2012 Saturday night in Las Vegas. The 23-year-old Miss Wisconsin beat other candidates from all 50 states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Miss Oklahoma Betty Thompson came in second, while Miss New York Kaitlyn Monte placed third.
As the new Miss America, Kaeppeler will spend the next year touring the country to speak to different groups and raising money for the Children’s Miracle Network, the Miss America Organization’s official charity.
The show was televised live on ABC.
The rest of the Miss America 2012 winners:
3rd runner-up: Miss Arizona – Jennifer Sedler
4th runner-up: Miss California – Noelle Freeman
Top 10
Miss Illinois – Hannah Smith
Miss Iowa – Jessica Pray
Miss Louisiana – Hope Anderson
Miss Tennessee – Erin Hatley
Miss Texas – Kendall Morris
Top 15
Miss Alabama – Courtney Porter
Miss Florida – Kristina Janolo
Miss South Carolina – Bree Boyce
Miss North Carolina – Hailey Best
Miss Virgina – Elizabeth Crot