Nina Davuluri became the first Miss America of Indian descent when she was crowned 2014 Miss America in Atlantic City. She became the second consecutive winner from the state of New
York, succeeding Brooklyn-bred Mallory Hagan as the nation’s most beautiful ambassador.
“I haven’t even had time to get emotional,” said a still shell-shocked Davuluri, 24, told the press immediately after winning. “I haven’t even had time to speak to my parents yet.”
Davuluri emanates from Fayetteville, N.Y., near Syracuse, and she awed the crowd with vestiges of her Indian culture by performing a traditional Bollywood dance for the talent portion of the competition.
The Miss America pageant returned its home in Atlantic City after televising the blockbuster TV bash for nine years in Las Vegas.
Davuluri’s first official act as Miss America on Monday will be to visit Seaside Heights, N.J. that was ravaged first by Hurricane Sandy and then by a devastating fire last week.
The aspiring doctor has struggled with her own weight issues — Davuluri lost more than 50 pounds and suffered with bulimia.
Miss California Crystal Lee was the runner-up. Miss Oklahoma Kesley Griswold took third place.
Look at some of the hottest photos of 2014 Miss America pageant winner Nina Davuluri.
