Miss Minnesota 2016 crowned

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (KMSP) - There's a new crown in town.

Judges crowned Madeline Van Ert as the new Miss Minnesota at the The Miss Minnesota Scholarship Pageant on Saturday. The pageant is affiliated with the Miss America Organization.

Van Ert is a legislative intern at the Minnesota Senate and a student assistant to the Dean at the Walter Mondale School of Law. She graduated from Rochester Mayo High School and is currently pursuing degrees in political science and Latin at the University of Minnesota.

Van Ert competed against 26 other contestants from throughout Minnesota. She participated in the pageant as Miss River Valley. The competition is scored in five categories: private interview, talent, evening wear, on-stage question and lifestyle and fitness.

As well as the title, Van Ert also won awards for the preliminary lifestyle and fitness competition and the preliminary talent competition for her performance of "What a Wonderful World."

Van Ert will compete for the national title of Miss America in Atlantic City, New Jersey in September.

The following contestants rounded out the Top Five:

Miss Minnesota 1st Runner Up
Brianna Drevlow, Miss Thief River Falls

Miss Minnesota 2nd Runner Up
Danielle Hron, Miss Brainerd Lakes

Miss Minnesota 3rd Runner Up
Drew Trahms, Miss Waseca County Sleigh & Cutter

Miss Minnesota 4th Runner Up
Kailee Ogden, Miss St. Croix Valley