- Title: INDIA: Grandmother of maiden Indian origin Miss America delighted
- Date: 17th September 2013
- Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) GODMOTHER OF NINA DAVULURI, THE NEWLY CROWNED MISS AMERICA, SUSHEELA, SAYING: "She is a girl with great determination, and whatever she wants to (achieve), she works very sincerely and very hard (for that) and it became very fruitful today."
- Embargoed: 2nd October 2013 21:49
- Keywords:
- Location: India
- Country: India
- Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment
- Reuters ID: LVAETRXK2DCVXLM192BQOYWFC4T3
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3
- Story Text: Family members of Nina Davuluri, the first-ever contestant of Indian origin to be crowned Miss America, share their elated thoughts, at her ancestral home located in India's southern province of Andhra Pradesh.
Family elders residing in India's southern state of Andhra Pradesh expressed their extreme happiness as Nina Davuluri emerged as winner at the 2014 Miss America pageant, incidentally the first ever US citizen of Indian origin to wear this crown.
They shared their joy with the media on Tuesday (September 17) at her ancestral home located in Vijayawada.
The 24-year-old aspiring physician defeated contestants from 49 other states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, after performing a Bollywood fusion dance and answering a question about plastic surgery.
An elated Koteswaramma, grandmother of Nina Davuluri said she was delighted to see the way things had turned out, earning her name and fame.
"I am really very happy about it, because my child (granddaughter) who aspired for it (the crown of Miss America pageant) is able to come out successful," said Koteswaramma, grandmother of Nina Davuluri.
Contestants were judged on a personal interview, a talent demonstration, an on-stage question, and their appearance in evening gowns and swimwear during the two-hour nationally televised event.
Susheela, who took care of Davuluri when Nina was just a two-year-old infant, recalled to say that she still cherished memories with the newly crowned Miss America, in the form of photographs and occasional chats.
Further, she said that the Nina had always been a very talented and hardworking girl.
"She is a girl with great determination, and whatever she wants to (achieve), she works very sincerely and very hard (for that) and it became very fruitful today," said Susheela.
The coveted title came with of course the sparkly tiara and a cash prize of $50,000 US dollars.
According to reports, the crowning of Davuluri has been followed by a slew of racist messages on social networking websites. - Copyright Holder: ANI (India)
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