Miss America crowns 1st winner of Indian descent

 She's the second consecutive New York beauty queen to take the Miss America title, but she's the first Indian-American to wear the national crown -- er, tiara -- atop her perfectly coiffed head.

"I was the first Indian Miss New York, and I'm so proud to be the first Indian Miss America," Nina Davuluri said after she won.

Davuluri's resume goes considerably deeper than her heritage, however.

The 24-year-old Fayetteville, New York, native was on the dean's list and earned the Michigan Merit Award and National Honor Society nods while studying at the University of Michigan, where she graduated with a degree in brain behavior and cognitive science.

Her father, who emigrated from India 30 years ago, is a gynecologist, and Davuluri said she'd like to become a physician one day as well.

"During her year as Miss America she will serve as spokesperson for STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) this year as she travels to Washington, D.C., to work with the Department of Education," according to a Miss America statement.

  

She also is passionate about healthy lifestyles after battling obesity and bulimia when she was younger.

Davuluri's platform was "Celebrating Diversity Through Cultural Competency." For the talent portion of the competition, she performed classic Indian dances fused with Bollywood moves.

She has studied the Kuchipudi and Bharatanatyam styles of dance, and in preparation for the Miss America contest, she worked with famed Bollywood choreographer Nakul Dev Mahajan.

Miss California Crystal Lee was first runner-up, and Miss Oklahoma Kelsey Griswold was second runner-up, while Theresa Vail, the tattooed, bow-hunting, Chinese-speaking Miss Kansas, won the online viewers' poll.

According to CNN, thousands of viewers were upset that the new Miss America wasn't actually "American." (Although, it bears repeating that Miss Davuluri is American, and of Indian descent.) Even Fox News' Todd Barnes chimed into the mix, tweeting out "The liberal Miss America judges won't say this — but Miss Kansas lost because she actually represented American values." Others on the social networking site mistakenly assumed she was Muslim, and even compared her to the 9/11 hijackers — seriously.

Many came to Davuluri's defense in the face of the racist tweets, while others simply celebrated the cultural milestone. "I think it's amazing that @NinaDavuluri was crowned Miss America. THIS is the american story," tweeted Questlove. Davuluri, who also happens to be an aspiring doctor, has yet to comment on the shocking reaction, but here's hoping she doesn't let it ruin her celebration. Miss America, if you're reading this, we're sending you a big congratulations.