Miss Wisconsin 'Laura Kaeppeler' Crowned 2012 Miss America

      A 23-year-old beauty queen Laura Kaeppeler from Wisconsin won the Miss America pageant Saturday in Las Vegas after singing opera and strutting in a white bikini and black beaded evening gown.

Laura Kaeppeler had to answer a question about whether beauty queens should declare their politics.

"Miss America represents everyone, so I think the message to political candidates is that they represent everyone as well," she said. "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."

 Miss Oklahoma Betty Thompson came in second, while Miss New York Kaitlyn Monte placed third.

 Kaeppeler wins a $50,000 scholarship and gets the title for one year.