Miss America returned to Atlantic City for the first time in six years to crown a new 2014 winner.
Miss New York, Nina Davuluri earned the top prize. The 24-year-old walked off with the tiara and the $50,000 scholarship.
"I'm so happy this organization has embraced diversity," she said in her first press conference after winning the crown, according to USA Today. "I'm thankful there are children watching at home who can finally relate to a new Miss America."
Davuluri is the first Indian-American to serve as Miss New York. Her pageant platform was "celebrating diversity through cultural competency."
The Syracuse native performed a Bollywood fusion dance and answered a question about plastic surgery.
"'ve always viewed Miss America as the girl next door," Davuluri said. She once battled bulimia, according to a Syracuse.com. "And Miss America is always evolving. I wouldn't want to change someone's looks. Be confident in who you are."
Davuluri spoke about wanting to be a doctor like her father, who is an obstetrician, and admitted she's currently in the process of applying to medical schools.
She's the second consecutive Miss New York to win the Miss America crown, succeeding Mallory Hagan, who was selected in January when the pageant was still held in Las Vegas. The Miss America Organization will compensate Hagan for her shortened reign.
Davuluri's victory led to some negative comments on Twitter from users upset that someone of Indian heritage had won the pageant. She brushed those aside.
"I have to rise above that," she said, according to Yahoo News. "I always viewed myself as first and foremost American."
OMFG! RT @ashermadan @chhabs And the racist tweets have started. pic.twitter.com/zAk09Nkl9X #MissAmerica #NinaDavuluri
— Aseem Chhabra (@chhabs) September 16, 2013
So miss america is a terrorist — Nick Pizzo (@pizzo_nick) September 16, 2013
This miss America pageant needs to have more background checks simple as that #mericaonly
— Dayton (@dayton11810283) September 16, 2013
An Asian and an Indian?? I thought this was Miss America!? — Brock May (@BrockMay21) September 16, 2013
The celeb judges for the night: Lance Bass, Mario Cantone, Carla Hall, Barbara Corcoran, Joshua Bell, Amar'e Stoudemire and the last Miss America to be crowned in Atlantic City, Deidre Downs Gunn
The pageant had pitted 53 contestants, one from each state, plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. They compete in swimsuit, evening gown, talent and interview competitions.
