Sunday, Sept. 15, Miss New York, Nina Davuluri, was crowned Miss America 2014. She is the first Indian-American to take the Miss America title.
Surprisingly, moments after she was crowned, social media cites were flooded with negative comments concerning her ethnicity. Amongst the tweets, Nina Davuluri was called a Muslim, Arab, Miss-9/11 and even a terrorist.
The reaction to this event was shocking. Individuals connected her to al-Qaeda and 9/11 and many were shocked by these insensitive and racist comments.
Rising above the bitter tweets and messages, Davuluri has launched a social media campaign about Celebrating Diversity through Cultural Competency. In a press conference she stated, “I’m thankful there are children watching at home who can finally relate to a new Miss America.”
To some, the Miss America competition comes across as a negative display because the individual is judged on both her personality and body. However, Davuluri sets a positive example showing how beauty is not just one color. Beauty comes in many skin tones, heights and hair and eye colors.
What is really beautiful is how Davuluri is reacting despite the negative criticism. It shows strength, open-mindedness, leadership and grace. And that is what beauty is all about.