Miss Wisconsin Laura Kaeppeler, 23 was crowned Miss America 2012 on Saturday night in Las Vegas ousting Miss Oklahoma Betty Thompson.

On Sunday, Betty Thompson who was first runner up, congratulated Kaeppeler on her Twitter.

"I can't think of a more incredible woman to represent America! So proud of our new Miss America 2012 Laura Kaeppeler," Miss Oklahoma tweeted on Sunday.

Miss Wisconsin presented an opera performance as her talent, and modeled a black beaded evening gown and a white bikini during the contest last night at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.

She received a $50,000 scholarship which she plans to use to study law and enter the political world.

"In that moment I didn't know what to think," Kaeppeler told People magazine. "It was all kind of a blur."

During the pageant Kaeppeler said she wishes children with their parents in jail feel less alone, have mentoring and as much of a relationship with their parents as possible. Her father served 18 months in Federal prison for mail fraud, reports AP.