Miss America Faces Abuse Over Indian Descent
Some people on Twitter accused Nina Davuluri of not being American while others said she was an Arab and looked like a terrorist.12:03pm UK, Monday 16 September 2013



Miss America winner Nina Davuluri

By Sky News US Team
Nina Davuluri has been hit with Twitter abuse after becoming the first woman of Indian descent to be crowned Miss America.

After her victory in Atlantic City, the 24-year-old beauty queen, who was born in Syracuse, New York, and is believed to be a practising Hindu, said: "I'm so happy this organisation has embraced diversity.

"I'm thankful there are children watching at home who can finally relate to a new Miss America."

But others were not so happy with the success of the New Yorker, who wants to be a doctor and is applying to medical school with the help of a $50,000 (£31,000) scholarship she won as part of the pageant title.


Some people accused her of not being American, others said she was an Arab and looked like a terrorist.

One Twitter user, DallasRobinson8, wrote: "I am literally soo mad right now a ARAB won. #MissAmerica"

Jakeamick5 added: "How the **** does a foreigner win miss America? She is a Arab! #idiots"

Emi_adkins said: "It's called Miss America. Get outta here New York you look like a terrorist. #bye #americanforamerica"

And another user said: "Well they just picked a Muslim for Miss America. That must've made Obama happy. Maybe he had a vote."

Others took to Twitter to defend her, however.

TonySals93 said: "I can't believe people are tweeting racist things about our new crowned Miss America! People like that need to vanish. #MissAmerica"

Another user, Aashkey, tweeted: "A country full of racists. That is America. #MissAmerica"

CJlovebug said: "This world is so ignorant. #MissAmerica Indian or not had every right to gain the title of MissAmerica. This is why I want to leave America!"

And GucciMessiah tweeted: "So Indians and Arabs are the same now? O for sure.. #MissAmerica"

Ms Davuluri, whose talent routine was a Bollywood fusion dance, brushed aside the negative comments about her.

"I have to rise above that," she said. "I always viewed myself as first and foremost American."

Her grandmother said she cried with delight when she saw the news on television.

"I am very, very happy for the girl. It was her dream and it was fulfilled," said 89-year-old V Koteshwaramma, speaking by phone from her home in the city of Vijaywada in eastern India.

She said there were numerous doctors in the family, both in the US and India, and if her granddaughter wanted to become one "I am sure she will do it".

Rossikk: In a way it serves the girl right. Hope this news gets to India, where her people would similarly show their racist colours if a black girl was crowned Miss India.

liberty300: Nigerians are a funny bunch, they are not disgusted by the racism/tribalism/bigotry in Nigeria and they are looking at america lol. Remove the log of wood in your eyes first before seeing the speck of dust in someone else's.

Rossikk: In a way it serves the girl right. Hope this news gets to India, where her people would similarly show their racist colours if a black girl was crowned Miss India.

After her victory in Atlantic City, the 24-year-old beauty queen, who was born in Syracuse, New York, and is believed to be a practising Hindu, said: "I'm so happy this organisation has embraced diversity.

demelza: My exact sentiments. I would love to see if Indians themselves would have any moral justification to rail against those racists especially when one considers their caste system.
Besides I dont think she would have won anything like this back at home because she's somewhat dark-skinned.

Nuzo':
Even tho the Indians elected a Dalit (black Indian) as their president for political correctness, I'm not sure they can conveniently crown a Dalit as Miss India without an uproar.....Not to talk of crowning a foreign decent.

liberty300: Nigerians are a funny bunch, they are not disgusted by the racism/tribalism/bigotry in Nigeria and they are looking at america lol. Remove the log of wood in your eyes first before seeing the speck of dust in someone else's.

Gbawe:



To be honest, I really don't see what this focus on India is about for anyone who, first and foremost, accepts completely that this Lady is American and should be entitled to privileges every American should enjoy as a matter of legitimacy.

It is those who do not accept her as American who racially abuse here same as it is also those who do not understand we are talking of someone born and bred in America who would make this about India. This is not about India at all. This is about the racism of the USA and equitable minds will separate issues appropriately.

liberty300: Nigerians are a funny bunch, they are not disgusted by the racism/tribalism/bigotry in Nigeria and they are looking at america lol. Remove the log of wood in your eyes first before seeing the speck of dust in someone else's.

homesteady: Hypocrites!
If they should crown a white girl as Miss Nigeria, would you people be happy?
Even now that because Anna Banner from Bayelsa won the MGBN, igbo's and yorubas are complaining! Then talk-less of when a white girl wins it!

demelza: I agree with your assertions but she is an American who still holds on to her Indian heritage. Infact she gave an interview where she talks of speaking with her grandmother and family who are still resident in India. Thats where the India angle comes in.
It is sad that she's being subjected to racial abuse but one cant help but think of her native country where girls like her are discriminated against and called ugly just because of the colour of thier skin.
Just like Obama, if her win can bring attention to the very racist nature of India then its all good.

berem: We all know that the MBGN winner was a fraud! Miss Bayelsa didn't deserve the crown. The retardeeen and Dickson rigged it. Typical of PDP.



Vanessa Williams was also racially abused when she became Miss America. Even the KKK threatened her life! It's a normal thing in America which is wrong anyway.

Rossikk: In a way it serves the girl right. Hope this news gets to India, where her people would similarly show their racist colours if a black girl was crowned Miss India.

Gbawe:

I think this is the crux of the matter. American is proud of its identity as an "example" for all others as per everything desirable and laudable. It would be good if the loquacity the nation uses to promote itself as 'virtuous above others' is now similarly deployed to explain this very ugly development.

fr3do: Wait a minute
america is not racially abusing her
its just a few americans on twitter.
One should consider their posts when it is in hundreds of thousands.