Miss America 2013 is set to be crowned this weekend
Heading into its 92nd year, the Miss America pageant continues to be among the nation's largest scholarship providers for young women with $45 million in cash and scholarship assistance made available last year. The winner of Miss America does not get the entire prize as portions of the scholarship are made available to over 12,000 other women who compete in state and local competitions.
The 2013 pageant comes after Miss Wisconsin Laura Kaeppeler won over Miss Oklahoma Betty Thompson, Miss New York Kaitlin Monte, Miss Arizona Jennifer Sedler, and Miss California Noelle Freeman.
Miss America 2013 will be crowned among the 53 participants, which includes all 50 states as well as Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and the District of Columia.
The 53 contestants:
Miss Alabama: Anna Laura Bryan
Miss Alaska: Debbe Jo Ebben
Miss Arizona: Piper Stoeckel
Miss Arkansas: Sloane Roberts
Miss California: Leah Cecil
Miss Colorado: Hannah Porter
Miss Connecticut: Emily Audibert
Miss Delaware: Alyssa Murray
Miss District of Columbia: Allyn Rose
Miss Florida: Laura McKeeman
Miss Georgia: Leighton Jordan
Miss Hawaii: Skyler Kamaka
Miss Idaho: Whitney Wood
Miss Illinois: Megan Ervin
Miss Indiana: Merrie Beth Cox
Miss Iowa: Mariah Cary
Miss Kansas: Sloane Lewis
Miss Kentucky: Jessica Casebolt
Miss Louisiana: Lauren Vizza
Miss Maine: Molly Bouchard
Miss Maryland: Joanna Guy
Miss Massachusetts: Taylor Kinzler
Miss Michigan: Angela Venditti
Miss Minnesota: Siri Freeh
Miss Mississippi: Marie Wicks
Miss Missouri: Tippe Emmott
Miss Montana: Alexis Wineman
Miss Nebraska: Mariah Cook
Miss Nevada: Randi Sundquist
Miss New Hampshire: Megan Lyman
Miss New Jersey: Lindsey Petrosh
Miss New Mexico: Candice Bennatt
Miss New York: Mallory Hagan
Miss North Carolina: Arlie Honeycutt
Miss North Dakota: Rosie Sauvageau
Miss Ohio: Elisa McCracken
Miss Oklahoma: Alicia Clifton
Miss Oregon: Nicole Mead
Miss Pennsylvania: Jordyn Colao
Miss Puerto Rico: Kiaraliz Media
Miss Rhode Island: Kelsey Fournier
Miss South Carolina: Ali Rogers
Miss South Dakota: Calista Kirby
Miss Tennessee: Chandler Lawson
Miss Texas: DaNae Couch
Miss Utah: Kara Arnold
Miss Vermont: Chelsea Ingram
Miss Virgin Islands: Aniska Tonge
Miss Virginia: Rosemary Willis
Miss Washington: Mandy Schendel
Miss West Virginia: Kaitlin Gates
Miss Wisconsin: Kate Gorman
Miss Wyoming: Lexie Madden
Miss America 2013 starts Jan. 12 from 9 p.m. EST to 11 p.m. EST on ABC following a "20/20" special showcasing the behind the scenes events at 8 p.m. EST, leading up to the annual pageant.