HISTORIC!
First Indian-American Miss USA embark on National Media Tour…Says ‘I’m New Face of America in Diversity’
*Confesses: ‘I will rise above social media attacks…On Twitter I wrote that Muslims are Terrorists’
*Wins $50,000 Scholarship to begin Medical School Career
*Talks about Bollywood Adventure in United States
* Pageant pitted 53 contestants – one from each state, plus Washington DC, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands – in swimming wear, evening gown, talent and interview competitions
*Miss America Organization: “The Miss America Organization is one of the nation’s leading achievement programs and the world’s largest provider of scholarship assistance for young women. Each year, the Miss America Organization and its state and local organizations make available more than $45 million in cash and scholarship assistance”
BY KATE TURKAS/ PAGEANT EDITOR, NEW YORK
NINA Davuluri, an Indian-American has made history as the first lady from India to have emerged ‘Miss America 2013’ in a keenly contested pageantry in New York which had 53 contestants from various states in United States. This aspiring medical doctor, very classy, humble, determined to impact positively on the lives of innocent children in America has now embarked on a national media tour of various press houses in God’s Own Country.
Her Media Tour in USA
Naija Standard observed that the newly crowned Miss America Nina Davuluri continued on her whirlwind national media tour few days ago, with a pit stop in Manhattan.
The 24-year-old from Syracuse, New York, stepped out in a fuchsia floral-print dress and her dazzling pageant crown as she appeared on ABC’s Live with Kelly and Michael.
During her interview, the aspiring doctor said her motivation for entering the famous beauty contest was to make history as ‘the first Indian Miss America.’ ‘You know, she’s not who she was ten years ago and she’s not going to be the same person come ten years down the road.’ She attracted the angst of some sections of people, when she tweeted that ‘Muslims are terrorists’.
However, while the majority of people online rushed to congratulate the new Miss America on Sunday evening, racist comments also began to trickle onto the web. Meredith Talley (@MeredithRoanell) tweeted: ‘This is Miss America… Not Miss Foreign Country.’
Her Twitter profile disappeared shortly after her comments, which was shared by numerous people, most of whom were shocked.
And Kat (@KathrynRyan50), who says on her Twitter profile that she is happily in love with her ‘savior Jesus Christ’, posted: ‘Shes (sic) like not even American and she won miss America.’
Nina says she is above negative criticisms on social media
Shrugging off negative comments, Miss America said “I have to rise above that…I always viewed myself as first and foremost American,” according to Associated Press.
She said she is delighted that the nearly century-old pageant sees beauty and talent of all kinds.
‘I’m so happy this organization has embraced diversity,’ she said. ‘I’m thankful there are children watching at home who can finally relate to a new Miss America,’ being “New Face of America.”
Live with Kelly and Michael 48 hours ago, she stated that in order for Miss America to ‘stay relevant’, diversity is key.
She gave Bollywood dance
During her stint on the show she also gave a quick Bollywood dance lesson, following on from her performance in the talent section of Miss America. However, hosts Kelly Ripa and Michael Strahan struggled to replicate her moves, with Mr Strahan falling to his knees at one point.
Relates Bollywood adventure
Speaking on Good Morning America on Monday, Miss Davuluri highlighted how it was the first time Bollywood has been performed in Miss America’s 92-year history.
She said: ‘It’s such an honor for myself, my family and my community as well. I just remember performing my talent and halfway through just crying. ‘It was such an incredible experience being on that stage… It was so meaningful and powerful.’
Her grandmother also told The Associated Press that she cried when she saw her granddaughter strut her stuff on television.
‘I am very, very happy for the girl. It was her dream and it was fulfilled,’ 89-year-old Vege Koteshwaramma said by phone from her home in the city of Vijaywada, in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. She said there are numerous doctors in the family, both in the U.S. and India, and that if her granddaughter wants to become one, ‘I am sure she will do it.’
Asked about her granddaughter appearing in a bikini, given the conservative attitudes about such things in India, Koteshwaramma said: ‘I haven’t seen any such thing. This must be all part of the competition.’
Her Medical Dream
Miss America said she 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. Her father is also a doctor and Davuluri said she was currently determined to excel in her studies. Her first runner-up was Miss California, Crystal Lee. Other top five finalists included Miss Minnesota, Rebecca Yeh; Miss Florida, Myrrhanda Jones, and Miss Oklahoma, Kelsey Griswold.
Media Itinerary in USA
Next up on her media tour will be a personal one-on-one interview with Bethenney Frankel on the Bethenney Frankel Show, scheduled to air on Thursday, September 19.
Today she will meet former Miss America – and fellow Syracuse native – Vanessa Williams and see ‘The Trip To Bountiful on Broadway’, a play in which Williams appears.
Davuluri is the second Asian-American to win Miss America, after Angela Perez-Baraquio, who is of Filipino descent, claimed the title in 2001.
The pageant, which originated in Atlantic City 1921, spent the last six years in Las Vegas before returning to New Jersey this year.
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