Scanlan , 17 , is a high schooler who plans to attend law school and hopes to become a judge . Teresa Scanlan of Nebraska will spend the next year as Miss America after besting 52 other pageant hopefuls at Saturday 's event in Las Vegas . She succeeds Caressa Smith , 22 , a Virginia law student . This year 's competition marked the 90th anniversary of the pageant .
Scanlan , 17 , is a high schooler who plans to attend law school and hopes to become a judge . She succeeds Caressa Smith , 22 , a Virginia law student . This year 's competition marked the 90th anniversary of the pageant .