Nina Davuluri becomes first Miss America of Indian Heritage

The 24-year old winner, Davuluri, is a native of Syracuse who wants to be a doctor. She will be applying to medical school, with the help of a US$50,000 scholarship she won as part of the pageant title.

"I'm so happy this organisation has embraced diversity," she said after winning the crown in Atlantic City, New Jersey on the 16th of September. "I'm thankful there are children watching at home who can finally relate to a new Miss America."

Davuluri's victory has however led to some negative comments on Twitter from users upset that someone of Indian heritage had won the pageant. Many wrongly described her as an Arab who looks like a terrorist.