Miss America Nina Davuluri Crowned in Groundbreaking Win (VIDEO)
Miss America 2014 is Nina Davuluri who was crowned the winner in Atlantic City, New Jersey on Sunday night.
The 24-year-old New Yorker is the first contestant of Indian descent to win the Miss America pageant, and her talent was a Bollywood fusion dance routine.
Furthermore, Miss New York is the second consecutive Miss America winner from her state- Davuluri succeeded another Miss New York, Mallory Hagan, who won the Miss America title last year.
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During the competition, Davuluri's classical Bollywood fusion dance performance was not without error- she missed her cue during the talent portion, but the beauty queen still proved victorious.
The Syracuse, New York native participated in the pageant with the platform "celebrating diversity through cultural competency," and noted her delight in being the first Miss America winner with Indian heritage.
"I'm so happy this organization has embraced diversity," Davuluri said in a statement following the pageant, according to USA Today. "I'm thankful there are children watching at home who can finally relate to a new Miss America."
As for others on social media who complained about her win, 2014's Miss America said she will "have to rise above that."
"I always viewed myself as first and foremost American," she said.
In winning the Miss America crown, Davuluri received a $50,000 scholarship as part of the title. Watch a video of her win " target="_blank">here.
Following her win, Davuluri will take the traditional trip to the Atlantic City surf on Monday morning before visiting Seaside Park and Seaside Heights.
This year, Miss America saw a range of contestants, including a tattooed Army sergeant and a woman who was born without part of her arm.
Miss America's first runner-up was Miss California; Crystal Lee. The other top five finalists were as follows: Miss Minnesota Rebecca Yeh, Miss Florida Myrrhanda Jones, Miss Oklahoma Kelsey Griswold.
