Source: NBC News
Nina Davuluri made history last year as the first Indian American to win the Miss America pageant. Born in Syracuse, New York, the daughter of Indian immigrants, Davuluri beat out 52 contestants for the 2014 title with a Bollywood-inspired dance performance and a platform of "Celebrating Diversity through Cultural Competency." Though her win was marred with an online barrage of racist tweets and social comments -- questioning Davuluri's American identity and incorrectly calling her Arab and Muslim -- the 24-year-old met her first challenge wearing the crown with grace and aplomb, rising above fray and focusing on her year ahead.
As she prepares to hand over that crown at the Miss America 2015 pageant this weekend, Davuluri looks back at what she was able to accomplish in the last year, and hints at what could be ahead. Below, five things to know about Nina Davuluri before she adds "former" to her title.
1. She doesn't actually remember the most memorable moment of her Miss America pageant.Before she was even named the winner, Davuluri seemed to know the significance ahead as she stood with fellow contestant and finalist Miss California, Crystal Lee. At the time, she said "We're both so proud. We're making history right here, standing as Asian Americans." But as she thinks back to "The Moment" -- as her name was called, as a sea of faces celebrated her, as the crown was placed on her head? "I honestly don't remember the actual crowning moment," said Davuluri. "It was such a blur!"
"Unfortunately, I was prepared," said Davuluri. "However, I can honestly say that for every one negative tweet, comment, or post, there were hundreds if not thousands of people who had positive words of encouragement and support all across the country and world for that matter."
2. Davuluri wasn't completely surprised by the torrent of negative tweets and nasty social media comments following her win.
3. She won the title by celebrating, not playing down, her Indian heritage, with the hope of sending a message to other young, minority women.
"I came into this organization wanting to change the face of who Miss America was," said Davuluri. "It was so timely for this organization to finally reach out to a new demographic of young women that is representative of America today. I hope this encourages young women to embrace their ethnicities and cultural heritage."
4. Born and raised in New York, Davuluri spent two early years of her life in India, and believes finding balance between both cultures is a lifelong process.
"I'm very blessed to have a family that was always supportive and encouraging of my dreams," said Davuluri. "The biggest thing I've learned through this experience is that assimilation has to happen from both sides. It has been a constantly evoloving journey in my household."
5. She once had designs on becoming a doctor, but now plans on pursuing her MBA. Her advice for the next woman to wear the crown?
"I will always say that becoming Miss America was something I have worked for my entire life," said Davuluri. "My biggest advice is to know who you are, love who you are, and stand up for who you are."
Armi Kuusela Williams rarely goes to her native Finland without being surrounded by media. It’s the price the she pays for making history in 1952 when she was crowned the first “Miss Universe. ”That happened a lifetime ago, says Williams modestly, “I don’t talk about it much.” Her days as “Miss Universe” opened many doors, including travel around the world and a starring role, playing herself, in the Finnish movie, “World’s Most Beautiful Girl.” Williams is forever grateful. “But 62 years is a long time ago… I want to be remembered for other things, not just for being Miss Universe.”
She became a businesswoman and good will ambassador. When her husband died in 1975, Williams took over management of the family hotel properties in Manila. She has served as an honorary counsel for Finland, and was knighted by the Finnish government two years ago, earning the Order of the White Rose.
In 1978, she married American diplomat Al Williams. After living in Barcelona and Turkey, they settled in La Jolla in 1991. Here she has supported cancer research and numerous cultural and arts organizations, including co-chairing San Diego Youth Symphony’s program for disadvantaged youth. In fact, many who meet Williams today remain unaware of the international spotlight she commanded at age 17 when actress Piper Laurie crowned the 108-pound beauty queen. Williams just celebrated her 80th birthday at her family’s home in Finland. She is delighted to have made it there and back without word leaking out to the media.
By Mia Watkins
Miss Alabama 2014 Caitlin Brunell's journey to Miss America is a big deal, according to her dad.
"A lot people would say this is basically her Super Bowl, and they're right," he said. "This is the opportunity of a lifetime and a moment she's been hoping for since she was a little girl. Yeah, this is pretty exciting." He should know. He's Mark Brunell, a former NFL quarterback who has played for the Jacksonville Jaguars, New Orleans Saints and the New York Jets. He, along with Caitlin's mother, Stacy, and her three brothers, will head to Atlantic City next week to cheer Caitlin on in her bid for the Miss America crown. The pageant finale will air live on ABC Sunday, Sept. 14 at 8 p.m., preceded by "The Road To Miss America" at 7 p.m. "I'm very proud of all the work she's put into this," he said. "I mean, it has been for the last three years a dream come true for her to represent Alabama as Miss Alabama and now to go on to Miss America, she's wanted to be Miss America since she was twelve years old. We're about ten days out and she's really close to fulfilling her dream."
Brunell said he was overcome with emotion when his daughter was crowned Miss Alabama in June, calling it a "proud father moment." "It was her third go at it," he said. "She put so much time into it and was disappointed the first go-round. The second go-round, she was so close and she didn't quit. She wanted to be Miss Alabama. She didn't give up, she worked very hard and I was just so proud that she stuck to it." One thing that she didn't stick with is sports, despite coming from an athletic family, according to Brunell. He said Caitlin briefly dabbled in basketball and soccer, but ultimately chose dance. She went on to study dance at the University of Alabama and will also be displaying that talent during the pageant as she performs to the hit "Let It Go" from the hit Disney movie, "Frozen."
She still rooted for him and her athletically inclined brothers. Caitlin told AL.com in a previous interview that she never viewed her father as a professional athlete. "With my relationship with my father, that was just his job," she said. "My family and I never looked at my dad as 'Oh, he's in the NFL, he's a quarterback.' He was just my dad who went to work every day." "He also kept football and family very separate. This time, he said her family and friends will be the ones cheering her on.
"She's a special girl, she's touched a lot of people," he said. "I know a lot of family and friends that are cheering for her. This is an incredible opportunity. They're thinking about her and praying for her." Brunell said he's also proud of his daughter for being candid about some of the family's most difficult moments during her continuing reign as Miss Alabama, including a devastating house fire and a public bankruptcy. "Her story is our story," he said. "Families go through difficult times, and we have found that the things that we've gone through in our lives have made us closer as a family, have strengthened our faith, gave us perspective and helped us to understand really what's most important and that is family."
Brunell said that while next week will be exciting, it will also be trying-- adding that he will be a nervous wreck. "I've played in the Super Bowl. I've played in front of thousands of thousands of people at one time, it doesn't compare to when I'm watching my daughter in a pageant. Those are the moments in my life where I have gotten the most nervous. Nothing comes close."
ATLANTIC CITY(AP) — Miss America is back in Atlantic City, just in time to brighten the mood in this dazed gambling city licking its wounds from the closure of a third of its casinos. The 53 contestants met the public Wednesday afternoon on the Atlantic City Boardwalk. Entrants from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands appeared at the traditional welcoming ceremony across from Boardwalk Hall.
Preliminary competition will begin next Tuesday. This is the second year that the pageant, which began in Atlantic City, has returned to its roots after six years in Las Vegas. The ceremony came hours after the first of 5,000 casino workers who lost their jobs over the holiday weekend began filing for unemployment, health insurance and food stamps. The Showboast and Revel shut down over the weekend; Trump Plaza, next door to Boardwalk Hall, where the winner will be crowned Sept. 14, is shutting down two days after that. And the Atlantic Club closed in January. All told, about 8,000 workers will have lost their jobs.
"I look at Miss America as the jewel in the crown of Atlantic City," said Sam Haskell, CEO of the Miss America Organization. "My heart breaks for the people losing their jobs. But I am confident that the economic boost Miss America brings to Atlantic City will create some calm to sooth the disappointment of these closures." John Palmieri, executive director of the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, said at the ceremony that Miss America should generate about $30 million worth of economic activity in the region.
Fresh off a visit to the White House a day earlier, where they met with some of President Barack Obama's advisers, the contestants crossed the Boardwalk and walked onto a stage where they signed a map of their home state, introduced themselves and detailed their career plans. Among the would-be Miss Americas are aspiring doctors, veterinarians, meteorologists, broadcast journalists, music therapists and a future sports agent. As usual, Miss New Jersey got the loudest cheers from the hometown crowd. Cierra Kaler-Jones said she's excited to represent her state, given her family ties to Atlantic City. "As the child of two casino workers," she said, "it is historic for me to be participating in this."
By Capt. Esperanza Meza
LAREDO, Texas – As members of the Texas State Guard, soldiers take an oath to serve Texas and often sacrifice a great deal to do so. For TXSG Sgt. Lauren Guzman, she wears two hats for Texas – her ACU patterned patrol cap and a crown. Guzman was crowned Miss Texas USA 2014 on Sept. 1, 2013, representing the Lone Star State and serving the citizens of Texas as both Sgt. Guzman and as Miss Texas all year.
"In the community, being a role model with high standards is expected when being in and out of uniform," Guzman said, speaking of the TXSG contributing to her success in the pageants. "The TXSG taught me to be on time for events, meetings, and how to network, but it also takes a lot of discipline, commitment and self-motivation when there is no monetary compensation involved."
Guzman is currently assigned to 1st Regiment, TXSG, in the operations section in San Antonio and served with the regiment's Quick Reaction Team before it disbanded. “We've given her the latitude to attend required Miss Texas USA functions without penalty or adverse perception for not being able to attend scheduled unit training assemblies,” stated State Guard Col. Vincent Carag, 1st Regiment commander. "We, the Soldiers of the 1st Regiment, stand behind her efforts 100 percent."
Guzman agreed, stating the troops and command, her “extended second family,” have been very supportive. Guzman joined the TXSG in 2007 and holds a bachelor’s degree in forensic science from St. Mary’s University, which she earned while serving in the Guard and is looking to the future. As her reign comes to an end, she is considering several career options and looking to attend Officer Candidate School. "She was a soldier before she became Miss Texas USA, and I could tell she was a ‘squared away soldier' when I first came on board," said 1st Regiment Command Sgt. Maj. Mario Zuniga, giving accolades to Guzman. "As a leader, she is a coach and mentor and is not afraid to get dirty or ask questions," he said, "and when she won Miss Texas USA, both the colonel and I thought she'd be a great spokesperson and recruiter for the TXSG."
A pageant veteran, Guzman started in 2005, where she won the Miss Laredo Top Model Pageant. In 2006, she was first runner-up in the Miss Laredo Teen USA but claimed the title in 2008. Persevering, she competed for Miss Texas USA, being third runner-up in 2011, first runner-up in 2012 and fourth runner-up in 2013 before winning the title in 2014. Guzman followed her father’s and grandfather's footsteps into the TXSG. Both served several years with 1st Regiment; her father, a major in the medical corps, and her grandfather, an education professor posthumously promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel. Guzman looks to her family for inspiration to do well and set an example for others.
“My mom has always been there and pushed me to do well while I also try to do right to be a role model for my sister,” she said. As Miss Texas USA, Guzman traveled throughout the state and nation addressing issues such as breast and ovarian cancer awareness, attended charity events, parades and visited hospitals and schools to help educate children regarding the dangers of drugs and the importance of education. She also volunteers with numerous nonprofit organizations on top of her work with the Guard. As Guzman relinquishes her crown to the next Miss Texas USA, she leaves us with this advice: "If you have a goal, push for it and ask yourself why you want it,” said Guzman. “Keep your head up till you achieve what you want and accomplish it. I kept competing till I won Miss Texas USA.”
