New miss Americals a symbol of change
America is more diverse (dih-VURS) than ever. The nation has many different people. And it has many different ideas of beauty and grace.
Nina davuluri is a symbol of those changes. She is the new Miss America.
She is the first Indian-American woman to win the title.
The contest began 92 years ago. It has changed over the years. It now rewards talent and confidence (KON-fi-duhns).
But beauty has always been part of it. So the newest choice is important to many. It means that our idea of “American” beauty is always changing.
Past winners
Past winners didn’t always have blond hair and blue eyes.
Vanessa Williams was the first black woman to win. That was in 1984. Six other black women have followed her. A Filipina born in Hawaii won in 2001. Crystal Lee was in second place this year. She is Chinese American.
Winners have been diverse in other ways, too. In 1995, the first deaf winner was crowned.
But some were not ready to see Davuluri win. There were racist posts on social media sites. Some people were wrong about her identity. They called her an Arab. She was even called a terrorist.
“I have to rise above that,” she said after the contest. “I always viewed myself as first and foremost (an) American.”
She said she is “thankful there are children … who can finally relate to a new Miss America.”
Miss New York
Davuluri was in the contest as Miss New York. She was born in Syracuse. She is 24 years old. She wants to go to medical school and become a doctor. There are other doctors in her family, both in the U.S. and in India. The $50,000 she won will help pay for college.
In India, her grandmother cried when she heard the news.
“I am very, very happy for the girl,” Vege Koteshwaramma said by phone. She is 89. She lives in southern India.
“It was her dream,” she said, “and it was fulfilled.”