By Michael Oleaga / m.oleaga@latinospost.com (staff@latinospost.com) | First Posted: Jan 08, 2013 03:05 PM EST

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.

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