The new Miss America celebrates her win with a traditional barefoot frolic in the Atlantic City surf

Making a splash already: The new Miss America celebrates her win with a traditional barefoot frolic in the Atlantic City surf

By ASSOCIATED PRESS

PUBLISHED: 19:35, 16 September 2013 | UPDATED: 18:21, 17 September 2013

On her first day as the new Miss America, Nina Davuluri dipped her toes into the Atlantic City surf.

But hours earlier, she had to dive headfirst into the complex challenges of becoming the first Miss America of Indian heritage.

Moments after winning, Davuluri had her first test as Miss America: The first question she was asked in a news conference was about social media users who were upset that someone of Indian heritage had won.

Making a splash: On her first day as the new Miss America, Nina Davuluri followed pageant tradition by dipping her toes into the Atlantic City surf

Time of her life: The ocean frolic took place Monday morning, in front of Boardwalk Hall, where she won the title hours earlier

'I have to rise above that,' said Davuluri. 'I always viewed myself as first and foremost American.'

She said she is delighted that the nearly century-old pageant sees beauty and talent of all kinds.

'I'm so happy this organization has embraced diversity,' she said. 'I'm thankful there are children watching at home who can finally relate to a new Miss America.'

Davuluri's pageant platform was 'celebrating diversity through cultural competency.' Her talent routine was a Bollywood fusion dance.

The 24-year-old is the second Asian-American winner, after Angela Perez-Baraquio, who is of Filipino descent, and won in 2001.

All smiles: 'Welcome home, Miss America!' Davuluri said as she stood barefoot in the shallow surf, wearing a lime green Miss America T-shirt and white shorts. 'We're back in Atlantic City!'

Home sweet home: The pageant, which originated in Atlantic City 1921, spent the last six years in Las Vegas before returning to New Jersey

Davuluri, a native of Syracuse, New York, wants to be a doctor and is applying to medical school, with the help of a $50,000 scholarship she won as part of the pageant title.

'I'm so happy this organization embraces diversity, and children can finally relate to Miss America'

She is the second consecutive Miss New York to win the Miss America crown, succeeding Mallory Hagan, who was selected in January.

Monday morning, she took the traditional ocean frolic dip in the Atlantic City surf in front of Boardwalk Hall, where she won the title hours earlier. 

The pageant, which originated in Atlantic City 1921, spent the last six years in Las Vegas before returning to New Jersey.

Winning state: Davuluri is the second consecutive Miss New York to win the Miss America crown, succeeding Mallory Hagan, who was selected in January

Brains and beauty: The native of Syracuse, New York, wants to be a doctor and is applying to medical school, with the help of a $50,000 scholarship she won as part of the pageant title

Family confidence: Her grandmother said there are numerous doctors in the family, both in the U.S. and India, and that if her granddaughter wants to become one, 'I am sure she will do it'

'Welcome home, Miss America!' Davuluri said as she stood barefoot in the shallow surf, wearing a lime green Miss America T-shirt and white shorts. 'We're back in Atlantic City!'

Her grandmother told The Associated Press that she cried when she saw the news on television.

'I am very, very happy for the girl. It was her dream and it was fulfilled,' 89-year-old Vege Koteshwaramma said by phone from her home in the city of Vijaywada, in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.

She said there are numerous doctors in the family, both in the U.S. and India, and that if her granddaughter wants to become one, 'I am sure she will do it.'

Proudest moment: Her grandmother, 89-year-old Vege Koteshwaramma, also told The Associated Press that she cried when she saw the news on television

Record-breaking: The 24-year-old is the second Asian-American winner, after Angela Perez-Baraquio, who is of Filipino descent, and won in 2001

Accepting: 'I'm so happy this organization has embraced diversity,' she said of the Miss America pageant. 'I'm thankful there are children watching at home who can finally relate to a new Miss America'

Miss America Nina Davuluri calls her win 'a special moment'

Miss America's grandmother beams with pride

Asked about her granddaughter appearing in a bikini, given the conservative attitudes about such things in India, Koteshwaramma said: 'I haven't seen any such thing. This must be all part of the competition.'

Davuluri had planned to go to the scene of a devastating boardwalk fire in the New Jersey communities of Seaside Park and Seaside Heights on Monday afternoon. 

But pageant officials canceled that visit after learning that Governor Chris Christie was making cabinet officials available at that same time to business owners victimized by the fire.

Beauty queen: Davuluri's pageant platform was 'celebrating diversity through cultural competency.' Her talent routine was a Bollywood fusion dance

Davuluri will visit at an unscheduled future date, pageant officials said.

Instead, she was headed to New York City to prepare for a slew of TV talk show appearances, and planned to take in Broadway musicals over the next several days. 

On Tuesday, she will see Pippin. On Wednesday, she will meet former Miss America (and fellow Syracuse native) Vanessa Williams and see The Trip To Bountiful, a play in which Williams appears.

Williams was the first black Miss America in 1984, but she resigned after Penthouse magazine published nude photographs of her.

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Tap-dancing woman from Brooklyn, 23, is crowned Miss America after speaking out against armed guards in schools

By NINA GOLGOWSKI

PUBLISHED: 06:24, 13 January 2013 | UPDATED: 15:24, 13 January 2013

A 23-year-old woman from Brooklyn, New York, has won the title of Miss America - beating out 13,000 other contestants including the pageant’s first autistic contestant and a woman with Tourettes.

Mallory Hagan won the beauty pageant on Saturday night after tap dancing to James Brown's 'Get Up Off of That Thing' in Las Vegas and answering a question about whether armed guards belong in grade schools by saying the nation should not fight violence with violence.

Hagan defeated Miss South Carolina Ali Rogers, who took second, and Miss Oklahoma Alicia Clifton, who finished third.

'Sandy may have swept away our shores, but never our spirit. I’m Miss New York, Mallory Hagan,' she declared as she introduced herself to the nation on Saturday night. 

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Newly crowned: Miss New York, Mallory Hytes Hagan, is crowned Miss America 2013 by Miss America 2012 Laura Kaeppeler on Saturday in Las Vegas

Winner: Miss Hagan, 23, won after tap dancing to James Brown's 'Get Up Off of That Thing' and speaking out against armed guards placed in public schools

All eyes: Miss New York waves to her adoring audience in Las Vegas after her crowning

Winner: While Miss New York ultimately crushed her competition for the crown she also earned the highest scores in the swim suit contest while strutting in this black two-piece

Strutting her stuff: Miss Hagan was fearless as she modeled a black two-piece swimsuit on national television

Swarmed by hugs and smiles from the evening’s 52 other contestants, Miss Hagan balanced an armful of long-stemmed roses below her dazzling silver crown, one she will keep for one year while additionally awarded with a $50,000 college scholarship.

The former Fashion Institute of Technology student, whose platform was stopping child sexual abuse, hopes to use her scholarship money to obtain a degree in cosmetics and fragrance marketing according to her bio.

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But first she is expected to spend her title reign on a nationwide speaking tour and raising money for the Children's Miracle Network, the organization's official charity.

Hagan defeated several other notable competitors who grabbed headlines this year because of their backstories.

VIDEO Mallory is crowned Miss America in Las Vegas 

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Slimmed down: On the stage were 53 contestants, cut down from an original 13,000 others

Final decision: Miss South Carolina Ali Rogers, left, and Miss New York, Mallory Hytes Hagan, right, were the last two contestants in the last seconds of the emotional, fanfare pageant

Overjoyed: The Brooklyn native reacts to her win, entirely beside herself

Swarmed: Miss Georgia Leighton Jordan, center, congratulates Miss New York among a swam of other contestants including Miss District of Columbia, left

Miss District of Columbia, a close runner up on Saturday, plans to undergo a preventive double mastectomy to reduce her risk of breast cancer, which killed her mother and grandmother.

Miss Montana, 18-year-old Alexis Wineman, was the pageant's first autistic contestant who advanced to the semi-finals by America's choice vote.

'The girl you’re seeing right now is not the girl you would have seen 10 years ago,' Miss Wineman told ABC News. 'I have overcame a lot. I have overcome so many of my symptoms.'

Miss Iowa, Mariah Cary, who's also 18, has Tourette's syndrome after diagnosed at the age of eight after experiencing mild minor tics. Today she tours her state spreading awareness of the condition.

'I made a choice early in life, that I wanted to use my condition to empower other people, not just kids who have Tourette's, but anyone facing adversity of any kind,' according to Mount Mercy University's website.

There was also Miss Maine, Molly Bouchard, who lost more than 50 pounds before winning her state crown.

And finally Miss Puerto Rico, Kiaraliz Medina, who after twisting her ankle and fainting during the competition was forced to add a pair of crutches to her red swim suit.

She introduced herself to the audience by saying: 'I'm here to make the crutches look good.'

Suit strut: Earlier in the evening the contestants were seen competing in the swimsuit portion of the Miss America 2013 pageant

Stunners: Miss Iowa Mariah Cary, who has a mild form of Tourette's syndrome, strikes a pose in her bikini, left of Miss DC, Allyn Rose, who plans to undergo a double mastectomy to reduce her chances of breast cancer

One of a kind: Miss Montana Alexis Wineman, 18, the first autistic Miss America pageant contestant is seen left of Miss Puerto Rico, Kiaraliz Medina, who also modeled a pair of crutches after twisting her ankle and fainting backstage

Standing out: Miss Washington Mandy Schendel (left) chose a strapless bikini top and nude heels, while Miss Kentucky Jessica Casebolt (right) opted for a snakeskin-patterned swimsuit to show off her toned figure

The 92nd Miss America annual show held this year at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino on the Las Vegas Strip is the culmination of a week of preliminary competitions and months of preparations for the titleholders from all 50 states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The pageant, which started as little more than an Atlantic City bathing suit revue, broke viewership records in its heyday and bills itself as one of the world's largest scholarships programs for women.

But like other pageants, the show has struggled to stay relevant as national attitudes regarding women's rights and civil rights have changed.

More recently, the rise of reality television has provided a superabundance of options for Americans interested in seeing attractive young people in competitive pursuits.

Sparkling: Miss Hagan tap danced to James Brown's 'Get Up Off of That Thing'

Winnings: Miss Hagan will keep for one year while additionally awarded with a $50,000 college scholarship

New lady: After perhaps cleaning up her mascara after her emotional win, Miss New York took a few spins before the cameras during a press conference as the new Miss America

Road ahead: Miss America 2013 poses with a football during a news conference on Saturday night, enjoying just the first hours of her win

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2261605/Miss-America-Miss-New-York-Mallory-Hagan-takes-2013-crown-tap-dancing-James-Brown.html#ixzz2HtcAqSVU
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