MAIN Pop Culture Miss America Pageant 2022

WHEN: Thursday, December 15, 2022 at 8PM ET

WHERE: Live streamed on the web on PageantsLive.com from the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.

The most beautiful women across the nation returned in December 2022 to compete in the Miss America pageant at the Mohican Sun Arena in Connecticut.

Just like last year, the Miss America final was livestreamed over the web in all time zones. This year's show streamed on PageantsLive.com beginning at 8PM ET

ESPN reporter Laura Rutledge was host at this year's Miss America competition while celebrity judges included "Indian Matchmaking" star Aparna Shewakramani, former NBA basketball player Trevor Booker, Trish Regan host of "The Trish Regan Show" podcast, "Home Improvement" actress Debbe Dunning; and Mirai Nagasu, American figure skater and Winter Olympic athlete.

And the winner is ....

It was Miss Wisconsin, Grace Stanke, who won this year's Miss America crown along with a $50,000 scholarship and a six-figure Miss America salary at evening's end.

First runner-up was Miss New York, Taryn Delanie Smith; second runner-up was  Miss Texas, Averie Bishop; third runner-up was  Miss West Virginia, Elizabeth Lynch; and fourth runner-up was Miss Georgia, Kelsey Hollis.

In the early preliminaries, Talent was won by Miss Indiana Elizabeth Hallal, vocal performance, and Social Impact was taken by Miss Georgia Kelsey Hollis.

Just up ahead, check out more information about the Miss America pageant including milestone moments, fun facts, and related resources around the Web:

Miss America - decades of tradition

The first Miss America Pageant was held in 1921 to promote Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Until 2006, the pageant was a big part of the glitz and glamour of the famed boardwalk when it was suddenly announced that Las Vegas would be the new home of Miss America. However, in 2013, the pageant finally regained its crown as an Atlantic City institution after a six-year fling in Sin City. More recently, organizers announced at the end of 2018 yet another move to a location as yet undecided.

Miss America on TV

Miss America premiered on the new medium - television! - in 1954.

The following year, legendary host Bert Parks added his showmanship and singing voice to the event. He would host the Miss America Pageant for the next twenty five years, and for a generation of pageant fans his rendition of "There she is, Miss America..." became closely identified with the beautiful women who walked the runway wearing the Miss America crown.

In 2012, contract and copyright disputes over "There she is" resulted in pageant officials dropping the famous song from the show. Today, fans continue to hold out hope that it might return as the iconic big finish to the Miss America pageant ....someday.

DID YOU KNOW? Miss America fun facts

• California, New York, Oklahoma and Ohio boast the most Miss America wins with six each. States that have never produced a Miss America are Alaska, West Virginia, Montana, Maine, and South Dakota.

• Although pageant officials will never confirmed it, the diamond-encrusted Miss America crown is valued at about $200,000. During official appearances, Miss America wears a replica while the real crown is kept under lock and key until pageant night.

• 1937 is known as The Year Without a Miss America. Although Miss New Jersey Bette Cooper was crowned that year, she ran off with her boyfriend the next morning and later returned to school instead of fulfilling her duties as Miss America. No other contestant was given the title in her place.

• Before the 1945 pageant got underway, officials pressured Bess Myerson -- the first and only Jewish Miss America -- to change her name. But the New York City native refused, saying: "If I should win, I want everybody to know that I'm the daughter of Louie and Bella Myerson." And when she did win, it was Bess Myerson, Miss America.

also see -> Miss Universe | Miss USA

Miss America around the Web

For more information the Miss America Pageant, these sites bring an in-depth look with pictures, videos and plenty of good information, and even advice on how you can enter...

2022 Miss America Pageant - Here's the place to find out about becoming a contestant, plus everything else you always wanted to know, featuring the latest news and announcements, Miss America trivia, history, video clips from past shows, a past-winners' photo gallery, current contestants, and media contact and registration info...

Miss America - How much do you know about the pageant? Check it all out at Wikipedia with a complete history, notable winners and controversies dating back to 1921 with a photo gallery and related references.