The top 12 contestants for the Miss America 2013 pageant have been annonced one hour into the competition tonight.

The top 12 beauty queens who have made it into the finals after modeling in bikinis were: Miss Washington, Miss Maryland, Miss Texas, Miss Alabama, Miss New York, Miss South Carolina, Miss Indiana, Miss Tennessee, Miss Oklahoma, Miss Wyoming, Miss Illinois, Miss Iowa. 

Miss Montana Alexis Wineman who made headlines becoming the first autistic contestant in the pageant, was left out of the competition. 

This year's panel of judges include "Dancing with the Stars" co-host 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. 

The 2013 Miss America pageant preliminary stage took place this week with 53 beauties in preparation for tonight's big event. 

The annual Miss America pageant has been a staple since it first began in 1921 and has become one of the largest providers of scholarship assistance for young women with $45 million that was made available for tuition use last year.

The organization seeks to provide a way for young women to reach their goals as well as uniting to a common cause of service to the community. 

The first phase of the competition began Tuesday with three nights of preliminary events. The first day of competition started on Tuesday where Miss Oklahoma Alicia Clifton did a tap dance show to "Money Can't Buy Me Love" won the talent portion and earned her a $2,000 scholarship, according to the organization's website. 

Miss South Carolina Ali Rogers won the first round of the Lifestyle and Fitness category in a white Catalina swimsuit, earning a $1000 scholarshipMiss Maryland Joanna Guy won the talent portion with her performance of "I Dreamed a Dream" from "Les Miserables," which helped her earn a $2,000 scholarship on the second day of the preliminary round. Guy was followed by Miss Illinois Megan Ervin who won the Lifestyle and Fitness competition in her Cataline swimwear, earning the $1,000 scholarship. 

Finally, on the third day of competition, Miss North Dakota Rosie Sauvageau won the talent portion and the $2,000 scholarship with a piano and vocal performance of "To Make You Feel My Love," while Miss Washington Mandy Schendel won the $1,000 scholarship for the Lifestyle and Fitness portion in another white Catalina swimsuit, according to a press release by the pageant organization on Thursday.

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