On Sunday, Nina Davuluri became the first contestant of Indian heritage and the second consecutive contestant from New York to win the Miss America pageant.
Davuluri, 24, won the title as the nationally televised pageant returned to Atlantic City, N.J.
She succeeds another Miss New York, Mallory Hagan, whose tenure was cut short when the pageant moved back to Atlantic City after a six-year stint in Las Vegas, where winners were chosen in January.
After the traditional frolic in the Atlantic City surf this morning, she will later head to the scene of a devastating boardwalk fire.
The pageant had pitted 53 contestants — one from each state, plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands — in swimsuit, gown, talent and interview competitions.
Much attention had been given to Miss Kansas, Theresa Vail, who the first Miss America contestant to openly display tattoos. Vail made it to the Top 10 and won a nationwide voters’ choice award propelling her into the semi-finals.
Miss Florida, Myrrhanda Jones, made it into the top 5 while wearing a jeweled knee brace. She tore knee ligaments while rehearsing her baton routine Thursday.
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