Tuesday, January 28, 2014
For the second straight year, the Miss America tiara will reside in the Empire State.
Nina Davuluri — the first Miss America of Indian descent — bested her competitors to succeed Brooklynite Mallory Hagan as the nation’s most beautiful ambassador.
REUTERS/LUCAS JACKSON
Miss New York Nina Davuluri is crowned as Miss America 2014 by Miss America 2013 Mallory Hagan.
“I haven’t even had time to get emotional,” said a still shellshocked Davuluri, 24, after being crowned in Atlantic City. “I haven’t even had time to speak to my parents yet.”
REUTERS/LUCAS JACKSON
Davuluri shows off her Indian dancing skills in the talent competition.
Davuluri of Fayetteville, near Syracuse, wowed the crowd with a traditional Bollywood dance for the talent portion of the competition — and plans to represent her roots and push her platform of diversity in her new role.
MEL EVANS
Davuluri will frolic in the Atlantic City waters Monday morning.
“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,” she said tearfully.
The pageant returned to Atlantic City for this contest after nine years in Las Vegas. Davuluri’s first official act as Miss America on Monday will be to visit Seaside Heights, N.J. — ravaged first by Hurricane Sandy and then by a devastating fire last week.
REUTERS/LUCAS JACKSON
Davuluri hugs other contestants after winning.
“I am making my first official service commitment in Seaside Heights, because the Jersey Shore is our home,” she said.
AP PHOTO/MEL EVANS
Davuluri is from Fayetteville, N.Y.
Before she took the title home, Davuluri was the center of controversy because of a report that she called Hagan “fat as f---” — a charge flatly denied by the beauty queen and pageant officials.
DONALD KRAVITZ/GETTY IMAGES
Davuluri shows off her Indian dancing skills in the talent competition.
Davuluri squashed any talk of infighting with her competitors — or Hagan.
“I’m walking away from this with future bridesmaids,” she said earlier in the day.
AP PHOTO/JULIO CORTEZ
Davuluri takes to the runway after being crowned.
The aspiring doctor has struggled with her own weight issues — Davuluri lost more than 50 pounds and suffered with bulimia.
DONALD KRAVITZ/GETTY IMAGES
Davuluri is the second consecutive Miss New York to win the competition.
“People who’ve been overweight, especially women, feel like at a moment’s notice we can go back to where we were,” she told the Syracuse Post-Standard in July. “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.”
REUTERS/LUCAS JACKSON
Davuluri reacts with runner-up Miss California Crystal Lee after being chosen.
A field of 53 gorgeous women — one for each state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands — squared off in swimsuit, evening gown, talent and interview competitions.
The event was judged by an eclectic group of celebrities, including New York Knicks forward Amar’e Stoudemire, “Shark Tank” personality Barbara Corcoran and former ’N Sync singer Lance Bass.
DONALD KRAVITZ/GETTY IMAGE
Davuluri is the first Miss America of Indian descent.
Miss California Crystal Lee was the runnerup. Miss Oklahoma Kesley Griswold came in third place.
AP PHOTO/JULIO CORTEZ
A day before her victory, Davuluri smiles for the crowd during the Miss America Shoe Parade at the Atlantic City boardwalk Saturday.
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