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04 May 2024

Miss America 2014 Nina Davuluri's Indian roots raise Twitter storm

Miss America contestant, Miss New York Nina Davuluri performs during the 2014 Miss America Pageant in Atlantic City, New Jersey, September 15, 2013. (REUTERS)

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By Staff

Moments after winning the 2014 Miss America crown, Nina Davuluri described how delighted she is that the nearly century-old pageant sees beauty and talent of all kinds.

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.

"I'm so happy this organisation has embraced diversity," she said in her first press conference after winning the crown in Atlantic City, New Jersey's Boardwalk Hall.

"I'm thankful there are children watching at home who can finally relate to a new Miss America."

Miss America 2014 contestant Miss New York Nina Davuluri wins the 2014 Miss America Competition at Boardwalk Hall Arena on September 15, 2013 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. (AFP)

Her pageant platform was "celebrating diversity through cultural competency."

Even though the newly crowned Miss America is on cloud nine, there is a war raging on Twitter and the moot point is the beauty’s Indian origin.

While on one extreme end of the scale Twitter exploded with some pretty hateful tweets, it quickly became evident that a section of the public was not impressed with an all-American not winning the pageant.

Some of the tweets are too racist to re-print here.

However, just as fast came overwhelming support for her and the Twitter-sphere was rendered a war-zone over the issue.

Here are some of the non-vile and pro-diversity tweets on the issue.

Deanna Phouthavone‏@Dear_Deannanow: People need to chill out on #MissAmerica, she's from NY. Last time I checked, being an American is about patriotism and liberty for all.

Adam Lieblein‏@acmeadam4m: I'm trying to evaluate which problem is worse: the ignorant racist tweets about Miss America, or the fact we still have beauty pageants. ??

Sonia Faleiro‏@soniafaleiro1h: So far Miss America, who is of Indian origin, has been "accused" of being Pakistani, Arab, and, wait for it: Chinese.

Sai Pangu‏@Sai_Pie: Miss America IS American. Being of Indian descent does not make her a terrorist, nor any less deserving of the crown than anybody else.

Mary Park‏@hellyeaahmarynow: I think it's wonderful that Davuluri won Miss America. She's classy, smart, and beautiful.

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Indian-origin Nina Davuluri is Miss America 2014