( CNN ) -- 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 . The 17-year-old Gering resident and Scottsbluff High School student played the piano during the competition . Her platform issue was tackling eating disorders . She hopes to attend law school , become a judge and eventually a politician , according to the Miss America website . Scanlan succeeds last year 's honoree , Caressa Cameron from Virginia . The 22-year-old Virginia Commonwealth University student is the National Goodwill Ambassador for the Children 's Miracle Network . The other four finalists were Emoly West of Oklahoma , Jacquie Brown of Washington , Jalee Fuselier of Hawaii and Alyse Eady of Arkansas . Scanlan is the youngest winner since the pageant instituted age requirements -- between 18 and 28 starting in 1938 . The age limit changed again in 1993 to 17 to 24 . In 1933 , for instance , when there was no upper or lower age limit , 15-year-old Marian Bergeron of Connecticut captured the title . This year 's contest was the 90th anniversary of the Miss America pageant . Margaret Gorman became known as the first Miss America after winning a pair of contests in 1921 -- one consisting of women deemed most popular based on photos shown in various East Coast newspapers and the other for the so-called Golden Mermaid trophy . Today judges rate contestants on talent , appearance and demeanor based on performances , interviews and evening wear and swimsuit competitions . The pageant , which is distinct from the Miss USA crown , aims `` to provide personal and professional opportunities for young women to promote their voices in culture , politics and the community , '' according to the Miss America website .
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 .