Nina Davuluri Indian, participant and winner of the Miss America beauty pageant. Date of Birth: 20.04.1989 Country: India

1. Biography of Nina Davuluri
2. A Non-Traditional Winner
3. A Diverse Competition
4. Overcoming Weight Issues and Asthma
5. Showcasing Talent and Promoting Cultural Diversity
6. Controversy and Apologies

Biography of Nina Davuluri

Nina Davuluri is an Indian-American beauty pageant contestant and winner of the Miss America pageant. She made history by becoming the first Indian-American to be crowned Miss America and the second consecutive Miss New York to win this prestigious title.

A Non-Traditional Winner

Beauty pageants are often seen as competitions among typical, indistinguishable beauties with perfect figures and rehearsed lines about world peace and happiness for all. However, the Miss America pageant took a different turn this year. The winner was an Indian-American woman with asthma, who had overcome obesity and bulimia in the past few years.

A Diverse Competition

This year's Miss America pageant was notable for its inclusion of diverse contestants. Alongside the usual conventional beauties, the competition featured a heavily tattooed military servicewoman, a woman without a portion of her left arm, and a woman with braces on her knees. Nina Davuluri's participation in the pageant was also atypical as Indian-American women with asthma and a history of obesity are not often contenders for the title of Miss America.

Overcoming Weight Issues and Asthma

According to Davuluri herself, she decided to lose weight abruptly one day when she realized that obesity and severe asthma would significantly shorten her life expectancy. She embarked on a strict diet and regular exercise regimen, successfully shedding the excess weight. Unfortunately, as is often the case with women trying to lose weight, it became unexpectedly challenging for Davuluri to stop, and she soon found herself battling bulimia. However, she emerged victorious from this struggle as well.

Showcasing Talent and Promoting Cultural Diversity

During the pageant, Davuluri showcased her talent by performing a "classic Bollywood fusion" dance. Her official platform for Miss America was "knowledge as a pathway to respect for cultural diversity."

Controversy and Apologies

Shortly after her victory, Davuluri became involved in a significant scandal. During post-pageant celebrations, she allegedly made derogatory comments about the figure of the previous year's winner, Mallory Hagan. These comments were overheard and partially recorded by a girl in a neighboring room. Another party attendee was accused of making racist remarks. Davuluri later apologized for any comments that may have been made by her guests but vehemently denied making the remarks herself.