by HALEY MILLAN Editor-in-chief
Miss New York Nina Davuluri, 24, was crowned Miss America in Atlantic City on Sunday, September 15. She is the first Indian-American winner and second consecutive winner from New York. However, the online world lashed out with hateful and racist comments against Davuluri.
Davuluri’s platform was “celebrating diversity through cultural competency.” In her first news conference after winning the crown, she said, “I’m so happy this organization has embraced diversity. I’m thankful there are children watching at home who can finally relate to a new Miss America.”
It did not take long for mass amounts of tweets to connect Davuluri to terrorism: “9/11 was 4 days ago and she gets miss America?” @LukeBrasili tweets.
Another tweeter, Shannon McCann, says, “Miss America right now or miss Al Qaeda?”
Racist tweets also spilled in: “Miss America? You mean Miss 7-11,” says @JPLman.
One more against Davuluri says, “If you’re #Miss America you should have to be American.”
Davuluri brushed aside the rude comments from Twitter. She says, “I have to rise above that. I always viewed myself as first and foremost American.”
There are some tweeters who come to the defense of Davuluri: “i think its amazing that @NinaDavuluri was crowned Miss America. THIS is the american story,” says @questlove.
Another tweeter, @gottabemariahc, says, “meanwhile in america, our country’s citizens have officially reached their lowest point. #MissAmerica is Indian; GET OVER IT.”
Davuluri performed a Bollywood fusion dance during the talent competition and answered a question on plastic surgery, stating, “Be confident in who you are.” She is a Syracuse native and hopes to become a doctor, like her father.
In addition to the tiara, Davuluri won a $50,000 scholarship. She plans to use this scholarship to apply to medical school.
Davuluri will partake in the tradition frolic in the Atlantic City surf. Her trip to Seaside Park and Seaside Heights has been cancelled for Monday afternoon. She will visit the scene of the boardwalk fire at a later date.