For the second year running, Miss New York has been crowned Miss America. The 2014 winner is Indian American Nina Davuluri.
The annual competition, held in January for the past six year, exited Las Vegas and returned to its previous September time frame in Atlantic City. According to pageant organizers, they will compensate Miss America 2013 for her shortened reign.
The new Miss America is the 24-year-old daughter of parents who left India more than three decades ago. Her father is a gynecologist and her future plan is to become a cardiologist.
She showed off her Indian dance skills during the talent competition with a traditional Bollywood dance, and revealed during her interview with pageant judges that her platform will focus on diversity.
Davuluri said tearfully, “I’m most excited to promote my platform, I was the first Indian Miss New York and I’m so proud to be the first Indian Miss America.”
During her final question, she said, “I’ve always viewed Miss America as the girl next door. She’s evolving as diversity evolves. She’s not who she was 10 years ago and she’s not going to be the same person 10 years down the road.”
Nina lost more than 50 pounds before winning Miss Syracuse and later Miss New York, and waged a battle with bulimia for a time. “People who’ve been overweight, especially women, feel like at a moment’s notice we can go back to where we were. It makes you more sympathetic, more empathetic. You don’t judge. I’ve been there, and if I can pull myself out of where I’ve been, anyone can.”
Miss America 2013, Mallory Hagan, was publicly criticized for packing on the pounds after securing the title. She responded, “I think that I’m human… and I’d like to equate getting ready for Miss America competition is like getting ready for a boxing match. We get into shape and then afterwards life goes back to normal.”
She explained, “I travel on average 20,000 miles a month so every 48 hours I am in a different place. It’s really a challenge to maintain that same body that I brought to Miss America.”
Posing backstage Sunday night at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City were the newest members of the Runner Up Club: 4th Miss Minnesota – Rebecca Yeh, 3rd Miss Florida – Myrrhanda Jones, 2nd Miss Oklahoma – Kelsey Griswold, and 1st runner up Miss California – Crystal Lee, who will step in as Miss America 2014 if Nina Davuluri is unable to finish her reign.
Photos: Twitter, Facebook-Nina Davuluri, Video Screen Grabs