Laura Kaeppeler will use her new Miss America crown to help raise money throughout 2012 for the Children’s Miracle Network. She’ll use her $50,000 scholarship to get her master’s degree in speech and language pathology. And she’ll use her new fame to get a date with Aaron Rodgers.

Kaeppeler, who is from Kenosha, Wisconsin, won the Miss America Pageant on Saturday night. When she introduced herself, she made to use the opportunity to send a message to Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Kaeppeler said:

“If you’re watching, Aaron Rodgers, call me.”

But it isn’t likely that Rodgers was watching the Miss America Pageant last Saturday night since he was preparing to face New York Giants in the NFL playoffs. But since the Packers lost to the Giants Rodgers should be able to find some time to give Miss America a call.

Kaeppeler won the Miss America pageant while running on a platform that was dear to her heart. Kaeppeler decided to talk about mentoring children of incarcerated parents since her father, Jeff, spent 18-months in prison for mail fraud.

Kaeppeler’s touching platform, coupled with her opera singing and stunning white bikini, helped her win the title of Miss America.

Do you think the crown will help her get a date with Aaron Rodgers?

Laura Kaeppeler’s First Duty as Miss America… Get a Date With Aaron Rodgers is a post from: The Inquisitr

Laura Kaeppeler was crowned Miss America 2012 last night during the Miss America Beauty Pageant in Las Vegas. The 23-year-old Miss Wisconsin winner impressed judges in a white bikini, a black beaded evening gown, and with a little opera singing.

Kaeppeler, who won a $50,000 scholarship last night, also impressed judges during the Q&A portion of Miss America. When asked if Miss America pageant winners should talk about politics, Kaeppeler said:

“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.”

Betty Thompson, Miss Oklahoma, was the runner up.

The Associated Press reports that Laura Kaeppeler’s platform during the competition was mentoring children of incarcerated parents. Kaeppler’s father, Jeff, served 18-months in prison for mail fraud.

Kaeppeler said that she decided on the platform after a long conversation with her father.

Miss America said:

“Before I made platform I had to get his blessing. He knew Miss America was a dream of mine and I told him that if I was going to do this, I was going to spend my year talking about something I was passionate about. And it would be important to be to use this platform. We talked a lot and eventually we came to the conclusion that it’s OK. Because the past is not what this year’s about. It’s about looking forward.”

Jeff Kaeppeler said that watching his daughter be crowned Miss America was the best day of his life.

“We’ve seen this come full circle… It taught us that God can turn everything into good if you let him.”

Kaeppeler studied music and vocal performance at Lutheran Liberal arts college in Kenosha. With her $50,000 scholarship, she plans to obtain a master’s degree in speech and language pathology.

Kaeppler will now take on the duties of Miss America and will spend the next year traveling the country to raise money for the Children’s Miracle Network.

Did you watch the Miss America pageant last night?

Miss America 2012: Miss Wisconsin, Laura Kaeppeler, Wins Pageant [Photos] is a post from: The Inquisitr

The 2012 Miss America will be held this Saturday at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino. But before Miss California, Miss Washington, and the rest of the Miss American contestants hit the main stage they have to compete through a series of preliminary events.

Miss Hawaii (Lauren Cheape) impressed judges in the third round with her jump rope skills. The Wall Street Journal reports that Cheape won a $2,000 scholarship for her “Hawaii Five-O” jump rope routine. Cheape’s talent could also help her win the Miss America contest as 35 percent of a contestant’s score comes from the talent portion.

Miss New York is also hopeful heading into the finals. Miss New York (Kaitlin Monte) earned a $1000 scholarship in the fitness category on Thursday night. The fitness category counts for 15 percent of the total score.

CBS reports that Miss Wisconsin and Miss Oklahoma won the talent portion in the first two preliminary rounds and Miss Utah and Miss Texas won the fitness portions of the first two rounds.

Here’s a video of Lauren Cheape’s jump rope routine from the 2011 Miss Hawaii contest.

Here are some photos from the preliminary rounds of the 2012 Miss America contest.

Miss New York – Lifestyle and Fitness

Miss Utah – Lifestyle and Fitness

Miss Wisconsin – Talent

Miss Texas – Lifestyle and Fitness

Miss America chief Sam Haskell said:

“All of us at Miss America are impressed with this year’s contestants. They are making it very difficult for the judges. This really is the year of the smartest, most talented we’ve had in coming to Las Vegas the past seven years.”

Do you watch the Miss America pageant? Who do you think will win?

Miss America 2012: Miss Hawaii Wins Preliminary Round With Jump Rope Routine [Photos] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Who knew Rush Limbaugh was such a big flaming fan of gay icon Lady Gaga?

Limbaugh’s fire burning in the clip below to Poker Face at the Miss America pageant. And since I don’t mock people for dancing, I’m keeping my mouth shut, but it was certainly… enthusiastic.

Rush Limbaugh cuts a rug to Lady Gaga is a post from: The Inquisitr

So the big question everyone is asking right now is Who will be crowned Miss USA 2009? We’ll have to wait til tonight to find out, but for now we’re reserving a spot for her below.

Miss USA 2009 Photos:

Co-hosts of the Miss USA 2009 pageant will be Billy Bush of Access Hollywood and Nadine Velazquez from “My Name Is Earl.” Bush previously hosted Miss Universe and Miss USA in 2003, 2004 and 2005.

Video of the Miss USA 2009 Swimsuit Preliminaries:

Will You be watching the Miss USA 2009 Pageant With Us? is a post from: The Inquisitr

Miss Indiana, 22-year-old Katie Stam has been crowned winner of Miss America 2009.

“That beauty that you feel on the inside, it’s that confidence, that radiance inside of you, that’s what glamor is,” Stam said.

Katie Stam is a communications major at the University of Indianapolis, and is an aspiring weather girl broadcaster, having interned at two Indianapolis TV stations.

Her prize: a $50,000 scholarship and one year of travel and public appearances.

The first runner-up was Miss Georgia Chasity Hardman.

Katie Stam Crowned Winner of Miss America 2009 is a post from: The Inquisitr

Miss Virginia Tara Wheeler has a mission: win Miss America, and show the world that pageant contestants aren’t all blond airheads.

Wheeler comes with form: when she’s not dressed in a gown on stage, she’s the goalie on Penn State’s women’s ice hockey team.

Says Wheeler:

I think it’s good for the Miss America Pageant right now because there’s a lot of negative stereotypes about pageant girls and I’ve found out that they’re definitely not true. So being a hockey goalie means more attention drawn to our program because it’s someone who’s a little bit different.

Sports by Brooks has more. Miss America is on TLC tonight.

Miss America Finalist Tara Wheeler also an Ice Hockey Goalie is a post from: The Inquisitr