What’s A Girl To Do?

What does it really mean to be Miss America? Is it all about the performance and having what appears to be a glorious crying session with perfect crystal clear tears rolling down your cheek, or is there something more to the pageant? Well this year the 2014 Miss America winner, 24 year old Nina Davuluri, proved that there is more to her than just a pretty face.

On September 15, 2013 Davuluri was given the title 2014 Miss America, and became the first crowned winner of Indian decent. She took in the crown and the titles with all smiles and glory, but some other Americans did not react in the same way.

Just seconds after Davuluri won the Miss America pageant, thousands of tweets flooded onto Twitter, with many of them targeting her racial heritage. The tweets ranged from anti-Arab remarks to Anti-Indian racism. Some tweeters called Davuluri a terrorist while others declared her as “Miss 7-11.” Other tweets even went so far as to call her an “Arab” and said “that the only reason she won is bc her people said they would lower gas prices.”

Many would take these comments to heart and be offended, but not Nina Davuluri. Davuluri said that she wasn’t surprised by the backlash and expected it. She handled it in the most professional way possible by simply going about her business and acknowledging that racism is still an issue in the country. Unlike most, Davuluri didn’t get on Twitter and start backfiring at tweeters, instead she held her head high. In today’s society people often act on emotion without thinking about the consequences of putting their inner thoughts out onto the internet. People in this century type without thinking and find social media to be a way of venting. In the way that Davuluri responded she showed that you don’t have to put every personal feeling out onto social media, causing her to be a role model to millions. 

This guest blog post was written by PRowl Staff Member Alissa Steele.