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Miss New York 2013, Nina Davuluri was crowned Miss America 2014 last night at the national competition held at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.
This is second year in a row for New York, succeeding Mallory Hagan.
Davuluri is the first Miss America of Indian heritage. She is the first Miss America from Syracuse since Vanessa Williams.
The native of Syracuse, NY, won a $50,000 academic scholarship and the opportunity to serve as ambassador for the Miss America Scholarship Organization for the coming year.
"I'm so happy this organization has embraced diversity," she said in her first news conference after winning the crown. "I'm thankful there are children watching at home who can finally relate to a new Miss America."
Davuluri will promote her social platform of Diversity throughout her year. She performed a Bollywood Fusion dance as her talent during the Miss America competition.
The Miss America program recently took on STEM as it's national platform. Davuluri is an aspiring medical student who graduated the University of Michigan with a degree in Brian Behavior and Cognitive Science.
In 2006, Davuluri placed 1st Runner Up in the Miss America's Outstanding Teen, a sister program to Miss America. She is the first former state titleholder from the Outstanding Teen program to become Miss America.
Fans can follow Nina during her year on twitter at @MissAmerica. Media inquiries for Nina are to be directed to the Miss America Organization.
