Miss America 2013 Winner is Miss New York Mallory Hagan Gets $50,000 Scholarship [PHOTO]

By Sally Garcia

Miss New York Mallory Hytes Hagan was crowned Miss America 2013 on Saturday, beating out 52 other beauty queens at the Planet Hollywood casino-resort in Las Vegas.

Hagan, a Brooklyn native, will keep the Miss America title for one year and take a $50,000 scholarship. She won over the judges after rocking the stage in a black bikini, a white evening gown, tap dancing to a James Brown song and answering a question about gun control.

THe 23-year-old winner said she believed arming teachers in schools was not the right direction to take in the fight against gun violence in the country after the Newtown, Connecticut shootings.

Miss South Carolina Ali Rogers came in second, while Miss Oklahoma Alicia Clifton placed third.

Seven judges picked her as the winner during a two-hour telecast that aired on ABC after three days of preliminary competitions.

This year's panel of judges included "Dancing with the Stars" pro dancer Cheryl Burke, Good Morning America's Sam Champion, Fashion designer Bradley Bayou, "Entertainment Tonight" host Mary Hart, "Shark Tank's" Daymond John, Olympic gymnast McKayla Maroney and Miss America 2009 Katie Stam Irk.

Laura Kaeppeler of Wisconsin won Miss America last year when she was 23 years old.

Photo Gallery: Miss America 2013 Top 12 Contestants in Photos

The Miss America Organization is one of the nation's leading achievement programs and the world's largest provider of scholarship assistance for women, according to organizers. Last year, the Miss America Organization and its state and local organizations made available more than $45 million in cash and scholarship assitance.

Officials of the competition earlier announced the winners of the preliminary competitions last week. Miss Washington Mandy Schendel, Miss South Carolina Ali Rogers and Miss Illionis Megan Ervin won the awards for the Lifestyle and Fitness categories after modeling in bikini.

Miss Oklahoma Alicia Clifton, Miss Maryland Joanna Guy and Miss North Dakota Rosie Sauvageau were named preliminary Talent winners.

See All the Results of Tonights Competition Below Compiled by the Miss America Organization:

Miss America 2013