A new Miss America, but not everyone’s happy!

Medical student Nina Davuluri broke new cultural ground early this week in the USA by winning the nation's beauty pageant - Miss America. Ms Davuluri is the first Miss American with Indian origin. Speaking after the event Ms Davuluri said:

I'm so happy this organisation has embraced diversity. I am first and foremost American but I'm thankful there are children watching at home who can finally relate to a new Miss America."

However, social media being what it is, the trolls and bigots flooded blog-sphere with abusive comments towards the US-born beauty queen:

This is Miss America and she’s not even American";

"Well they just picked a Muslim for Miss America, President Obama must be pleased";

"Miss America or Miss Foreign Country?"

Racial bigotry, often by its definition, is consumed with ignorance. The fact is that the history of USA is a nation of immigrants, many fleeing religious persecution, all looking for a better way of life. Nina Davulari is American as anyone else born in the USA. The fact she is a second generation American does not diminish her citizenship.

Personally, I’m not a big fan of beauty pageants, I think they too often objectify women. However, in a cultural context having an African American, Chinese American and now Indian American winner broadens the often Eurocentric view about what beauty is. For that reason alone Ms Davuluri’s win is critically important.

Lastly, although Miss America can now make millions of dollars from the world wide publicity and ironically the negativity of her win, I hope she continues with her career at medical school. Miss America is no more than skin deep, being a doctor saves lives. Good luck to her.

Simon Woolley