Miss Wisconsin 2012

on Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Miss Wisconsin 2012

Miss Wisconsin 2012

Beautiful 23-year-old Kenosha, Wisconsin native Laura Kaeppeler was crowned Miss America 2012 on Saturday night at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, edging out first runner up Miss Oklahoma Betty Thompson in the final round of the annual beauty pageant.

Miss Wisconsin 2012

Miss Wisconsin 2012

Kaeppeler, the first Miss America from the state of Wisconsin since 1972, received a $50,000 scholarship, which she plans to use to put herself through law school and go into politics. She'll also hold the crown until next year's pageant and travel the country as an ambassador of the Miss America Organization, which is the world's largest provider of scholarship assistance for young women. The organization gave out over $45 million in scholarship assistance in 2011.

Miss Wisconsin 2012

Miss Wisconsin 2012

Laura received her crown from reigning 2011 Miss America Teresa Scanlan, named the youngest ever Miss America last year at 17-years-old, along with a huge bouquet of roses.

Miss Wisconsin 2012

Miss Wisconsin 2012

Miss Wisconsin 2012

Miss Wisconsin 2012

Miss Wisconsin 2012

Miss Wisconsin 2012

Miss Wisconsin 2012

Miss Wisconsin 2012

Miss Wisconsin 2012

Miss Wisconsin 2012

Miss Wisconsin 2012

Miss Wisconsin 2012

Miss Wisconsin 2012

Miss Wisconsin 2012