First day on job a splash for Nina Davuluri
‘It was such an incredible experience knowing my friends and family were watching. It was so meaningful and powerful,’ says Davuluri, the first woman of Indian descent crowned Miss America. And despite the haters, she lets hate talk wash right off her.
Michael Loccisano/Getty Images
Miss America 2014 Nina Davuluri performs in the bathing suit portion of the 2014 Miss America Competition.
Her first day on the job, and she made a real splash.
Newly crowned Miss America Nina Davuluri, the first woman of Indian descent to win the title, ignored hateful tweets and dove right into her new role Monday with a cheery photo-op on the Jersey Shore.
“I’m just really so honored,” the 24-year-old said during a live video
appearance on ABC’s “Good Morning America,” right before she dipped her
toes into the Atlantic City waters for waiting photographers.
RELATED: MISS AMERICA NINA DAVULURI'S BEAUTY SECRETS
“Welcome home, Miss America!” she said, standing barefoot in the
shallow surf, wearing a lime green Miss America T-shirt and white
shorts. “We’re back in Atlantic City!”
The dark-haired beauty, a native of Syracuse who now lives in nearby Fayetteville, said she had teared up the night before during her high-energy performance of a Bollywood dance during the talent portion of the competition.
“Halfway through I just started crying,” she told GMA. “It was such an
incredible experience knowing my friends and family were watching. It
was so meaningful and powerful.”
1ST MISS AMERICA OF INDIAN DESCENT SLAMMED AS ARAB
Detractors lit up Twitter and other social media right after she was
crowned Miss America, but Davuluri said she wasn’t fazed by the
criticism of her Indian heritage.
“I always viewed myself as first and foremost American,” she said in the aftermath of her win.
It’s the second year in a row that Miss America has hailed from New
York — and Davuluri can count on plenty of support from the Empire
State.
“America is a country of immigrants. She is a beautiful girl and deserved to win,” said Zafar Chaudhary, who was born in Pakistan but moved to the U.S. in 1986.
New Yorker July Thayer said it was “racist” of people to say Davuluri shouldn’t have won because of her ethnicity.
“She's American, right? It's typical the way people think. She's a beautiful girl,” said Thayer.
MISS AMERICA CONTESTANTS STRUT THEIR STUFF IN SPARKLY SHOES
The brainy beauty — studying to be a doctor like her father — also
glossed over reports she’d called her predecessor Mallory Hagan “fat” in
a private conversation.
“I did not say that. I called Mallory to apologize because it was the right thing to do,” Davuluri said.
Her relatives in India were bursting with pride as they watched.
Davaluri’s 89-year-old grandmother told the Associated Press she cried
as her granddaughter performed.
“I am very, very happy for the girl. It was her dream and it was
fulfilled,” Vege Koteshwaramma said from her home in Vijaywada, in
southern India.
Davuluri came to Manhattan Monday afternoon to prepare for a round of talk show appearances Tuesday. On Wednesday she’ll meet former Miss America Vanessa Williams, the first black woman to win the pageant. Williams, who also grew up in Syracuse, resigned in 1984 after Penthouse published nude photos of her.
Newly crowned Miss America Nina Davuluri, the first woman of Indian descent to win the title, ignored hateful tweets and dove right into her new role Monday with a cheery photo-op on the Jersey Shore.
Julio Cortez/AP
Miss America 2014 Nina Davuluri kicks water during the traditional dipping of the toes in the Atlantic Ocean.
RELATED: MISS AMERICA NINA DAVULURI'S BEAUTY SECRETS
Michael Loccisano/Getty Images
Miss America 2014 Nina Davuluri shows her joy at winning the 2014 Miss America Competition.
The dark-haired beauty, a native of Syracuse who now lives in nearby Fayetteville, said she had teared up the night before during her high-energy performance of a Bollywood dance during the talent portion of the competition.
Miss America 2014 Nina Davuluri walks on the beach after winning.
1ST MISS AMERICA OF INDIAN DESCENT SLAMMED AS ARAB
Nina Davuluri shows her winning form at the contest for Miss America,
“I always viewed myself as first and foremost American,” she said in the aftermath of her win.
Nina Davuluri's proud 89-year-old grandma Vege Koteshwaramma watches her from Vijaywada, India.
“America is a country of immigrants. She is a beautiful girl and deserved to win,” said Zafar Chaudhary, who was born in Pakistan but moved to the U.S. in 1986.
New Yorker July Thayer said it was “racist” of people to say Davuluri shouldn’t have won because of her ethnicity.
Norman Y. Lono/for New York Daily News
Nina Davuluri takes a traditional walk on the beach after winning.
MISS AMERICA CONTESTANTS STRUT THEIR STUFF IN SPARKLY SHOES
“I did not say that. I called Mallory to apologize because it was the right thing to do,” Davuluri said.
Miss New York Nina Davuluri, 24, the new Miss America is the first Indian woman to win.
Davuluri came to Manhattan Monday afternoon to prepare for a round of talk show appearances Tuesday. On Wednesday she’ll meet former Miss America Vanessa Williams, the first black woman to win the pageant. Williams, who also grew up in Syracuse, resigned in 1984 after Penthouse published nude photos of her.
Miss America 2014 Nina Davuluri poses on the beach during the traditional dipping of the toes in the Atlantic Ocean.
Miss New York Nina Davuluri, 24, the new Miss America does the traditional dip her toes in the ocean on the beach in front of Boardwalk Hall.
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