Miss America 2014: First of Indian heritage, cheers diversity in the pageant
Miss New York crowned Miss America 2014
Nina Davuluri becomes the first contestant of Indian heritage and the second consecutive contestant from New York to win the Miss America pageant.
The 24-year-old Miss New York is the first contestant of Indian heritage to become Miss America; her talent routine was a Bollywood fusion dance.
Miss New York; exhibited her talent routine, a Bollywood fusion dance. |
Miss New York Nina Davuluri walks down the runway after winning the the Miss America 2014 pageant. |
"I'm so happy this organization has embraced diversity," she said in her first press conference after winning the crown in Atlantic City, N.J.'s Boardwalk Hall. "I'm thankful there are children watching at home who can finally relate to a new Miss America."
Her pageant platform was "celebrating diversity through cultural competency."
The native of Syracuse, N.Y. wants to be a doctor, and is applying to medical school, with the help of a $50,000 scholarship she won as part of the pageant title.
She is the second consecutive Miss New York to win the Miss America crown, succeeding Mallory Hagan, who was selected in January when the pageant was still held in Las Vegas. The Miss America Organization will compensate Hagan for her shortened reign.
Davuluri's victory led to some negative comments on Twitter from users upset that someone of Indian heritage had won the pageant. She brushed those aside.
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