Miss America 2012: Laura Kaeppeler, Miss Wisconsin (Photos)
Laura Kaeppeler or Miss Wisconsin was crowned Miss America 2012 Saturday night.
The 23-year-old from Kenosha, Wisconsin was wearing a black dress as she was crowned winner of the 91st Miss America pageant, and was also prized with a $50,000 scholarship.
According to People.com, Kaeppeler didn't know what to think when she was named winner. "It was all kind of a blur", she said.
In the question and answer session, Kaeppeler was asked whether or not beauty pageant winners should discuss and make known their political perspectives to which she responded that winners should remain neutral and "Miss America needs to represent all," according to People.
The newly elected beauty queen will represent the pageant for one year during which she revealed she would focus on helping "stress the importance of education."
The brunette stunned the crowd with her vocals in an opera rendition of Luigi Arditi waltz "II Bacio" to which she received a $2000 scholarship.
She is the first woman representing the state of Wisconsin to win the pageant since 1973.
