Representing the state as Miss Wisconsin, Stanke, of Wausau, wowed the judges in Connecticut with her classical violin performance and advocacy for clean energy.
Beating out 50 other candidates, Stanke is only the third Miss Wisconsin to win Miss America in the contest’s 101-year history. Terry Meeuwsen, of De Pere, became the first Miss Wisconsin to win Miss America 50 years ago. Laura Kaeppeler, from Kenosha, was the last Miss America to represent Wisconsin in 2012.