Will promote positive dialogue between all Americans: Nina Davuluri

Washington: A victim of racial slur and messages after being crowned Miss America over the weekend, Nina Davuluri has announced to use her position to celebrate diversity through cultural exchanges. Nina, 24, who has been working on these issues for the past several years now, yesterday asked her fans to forward representative thoughts and stories about their experiences on how “we as a nation” can advance cultural awareness. “I’m so proud to be the first Miss America of Indian descent,“said Nina Davuluri, Miss America 2014. She is the first Indian American to have been crowned with the coveted title. “She isn’t the Miss America of ten years ago and she’s not going to be the same ten years down the road. I’m so thankful that children watching at home can relate to a new Miss America,” she said. [caption id=“attachment_1121913” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Miss America 2013 Nina Davuluri. AFP.[/caption] “They can look at me and see that they can break barriers, be who they are and be successful despite their race or socio-economic status. I want to use this opportunity to encourage positive dialogue among all Americans about the ways in which we are all unique and how that makes us stronger as a country,” Nina said. In a statement, she said people can send information using the hashtag #CirclesOfUnity on Twitter to @MissAmerica, Instagram to  @missamericaorg and to Facebook.com/MissAmericaOrganization. “This year, 13,000 young women began the journey to Miss America. Nina is representative of a new generation of women - a diverse generation of women - who are making their mark, through education and community service,” said Sam Haskell, chairman and CEO of the Miss America Organisation. Miss America is the largest scholarship organisation for young women in the world making $ 45 million available to young women across the country. PTI