Miss Wisconsin Laura Kaeppeler sang opera,
wise-cracked, spoke candidly about being the child of a convct, and
refused to get drawn into politics en route to grabbing the 2012 Miss
America crown last night. Kaeppeler, when asked if beauty queens should
bare their politics, responded: "Miss America represents everyone, so I
think the message to political candidates is that they represent
everyone as well. And so in these economic times, we need to be looking
forward to what America needs, and I think Miss America needs to
represent all."
Kaeppeler beat
out second-place Miss Oklahoma, Betty Thompson, and third-place Miss New
York, Kaitlyn Monte, for the $50,000 scholarship, reports the
AP.
Her platform of mentoring the children of jailed parents came from her
father's 18-month stint in prison for mail fraud. "It taught us that God
can turn everything into good if you let him," said Jeff Kaeppeler
after the contest. His daughter, 23, in introducing herself jokingly
told the Green Bay Packers quarterback, "If you're watching, Aaron
Rodgers, call me."
