The Miss America competition this year brought out the worst in people.
As a child I was taught if you can’t say something nice you shouldn’t say anything at all.
It’s a shame some Miss America viewers didn’t get the memo.
Sunday night, viewers across the nation tuned into ABC to watch the Miss America pageant. I personally find beauty pageants to be dull, but this year the pageant piqued my interest because of Miss Kansas, Theresa Vail, who grabbed the nation’s attention because she “broke the pageant stereotype.”
The 22-year-old tattooed Kansas Army National Guard sergeant went far in the competition, but came up short when it came to taking home the crown.
The contest came down to Miss New York, Nina Davuluri, and Miss California, Crystal Lee. Davuluri won the crown, making her the first Indian-American to win the title. She is applying to medical school with the $50,000 scholarship she won.
Literally seconds after Davuluri was crowned the new Miss America, hundreds flocked to social media and the insults flew.
Folks on Twitter bristled: “And the Arab wins Miss America Classic,” “Miss America right now or miss Al Qaeda?”, “Darn … I wish Miss Kansas would’ve won! Real American woman!” and “Miss New York is an Indian … with all do respect, this is America.”
With all do respect, please have some class. I’m aware that these are their opinions and if they want to appear ignorant more power to ’em.
However, I am appalled that people would hide behind social media and be hateful to someone they don’t even know. Just because someone has a dark complexion does not mean they aren’t American. Just because someone has a different heritage than you does not mean they are a terrorist. And just because someone doesn’t have blonde hair and blue eyes does not mean she isn’t a “real American woman.”
The negative comments were brought to Davuluri’s attention in a news conference.
“I have to rise above that,” she said. “I always viewed myself as first and foremost American.”
It’s great that she can look past the hurtful words. As a society we need to have more love and respect for one another. Our country is made up of diverse individuals and we should all celebrate that fact. I hope in future pageants viewers can applaud winners instead of tear them down with hateful words. Beauty comes in all forms.
Congratulations Miss Davuluri!
You deserve it.
— Kayla Banzet
Beauty really is more than just skin-deep
