Miss America Faces Abuse Over Indian Descent

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".