I’ve experienced just about everything over the years, but holding press for a cover story switch-out at the eleventh hour is not one of them. Until this issue that is, when, on September 21st, 2013, Miss America crowned its first South Asian beauty queen, warranting a stop-the-press moment.

We all saw how New Yorker Nina Davuluri, the all-American Indian girl, shot from obscurity to overnight global recognition after Twitter exploded with negative backlash about her “right” to be crowned Miss America. She was labeled a non-American (even though she was born in the States), an Arab (even though she’s a Hindu by birth), and even a terrorist (even though she’s an honour roll student headed to medical school who loves to watch her favourite team, the Michigan Wolverines, play ball).

Needless to say, the press was understandably stopped and the A-list Bollywood cover personality was flipped out to make room for this new phenomena — a young girl no one, until recently, knew anything about, who had made history in more ways than one. I had an eye-opening, in-depth chat with this barrier-breaking beauty queen, just days after the win, where, amongst numerous other insights, she spoke candidly about following her heart to actualize her American dream, one which may never be repeated again in our lifetime

Read On…

THE MISS AMERICA 2014 TITLE

The Miss America pageant is a well-established cornerstone of American culture. What are the organization’s core mandates?

Miss America is a non-profit scholarship and service organization. We emphasize the educational aspect of the competition.

Is it associated with the Miss Universe pageant?

Miss America and Miss USA are separate organizations. Donald Trump owns Miss USA, and that is where you progress to Miss Universe. Miss America is what I am.

So the Miss America title is not a stepping stone to another title then?

No, it’s not.

Got it. What is it about this organization, of all the beauty pageants that you could have competed in, that garnered your decision to compete? Especially in light of the fact that your chosen future career path is to become a medical doctor.

The scholarship money is actually a big part of the reason I joined the organization. I started in the Miss America’s Outstanding Teen program and, through that program, I won $25,000 in scholarship money. With that money and with the help of my parents, I was able to graduate from the University of Michigan. I took about a five-year hiatus from the Miss America organization and finished my undergrad and now I am currently in the process of applying to medical school. I honestly had zero means to pay for my education. So I was ecstatic when I won Miss New York, which awarded me $10,000 in scholarship money. Then when I went on to win Miss America, I went on to win $50,000 in scholarship money. The total of $60,000 will be put towards my medical school. I have a long history with this organization.

Participating in a beauty pageant is not your typical route for soliciting education funding, and being that you’re South Asian, the stats become even rarer. With the odds stacked against you, what was the response that you received from your family when you told them that you were planning on competing?

They were all extremely supportive.

Really? So no challenges in that regard?

No. Becoming Miss America is something I have worked for essentially my entire life. I have won so many trophies because of this organization. I have grown up dancing and enjoyed being a leader, not only within school but in my community as well. It was just an avenue that I felt I had all the skills to succeed in.

It’s great to know that you had full support from your parents as that wouldn’t be the common reaction in our community, as you know. For those parents who would be challenged by their daughter choosing to participate in beauty pageants, what would you say to them and to that faction of the community that looks upon them negatively?

Thankfully my parents were very supportive and encouraging. The advantage that this platform has given to me is the fact that I can educate our first generation parents, our community at large, even Americans all over the country, about diversity and acceptance. The fact of the matter is that you cannot come to America and expect to raise your children 100 per cent Indian. I am sorry but it’s not going to happen. My parents have raised me an Indian, and I have held on to and cherished my Indian roots, culture and heritage, but I will always, first and foremost, be an American. It is so important for me to share that as today’s Miss America. It hasn’t been easy; it’s been a learning curve for my parents too. It is really finding that healthy balance between assimilation and your culture. And it’s absolutely doable.

And the interesting thing is, India itself is so progressive in its dynamic perspectives, yet those in our community that reside outside of India, seem on many levels to be living static ideologies from decades past when they first emigrated. There is such a disparity of cultures just within our global community, let alone the challenge of assimilation in the West for those of us who reside here.

I absolutely agree! We live in a culture and a country which is not a simple black and white landscape anymore. And in order for Miss America to be relevant and to target a new demographic, diversity needs to be echoed from the country to our institutions, Miss America being no less.

With that said, why do you feel that you qualify as today’s American woman, thus eligible to win Miss America as you have?

It’s timely and poignant because Miss America has always embodied the “girl next door.” Today’s “girl next door” is evolving as the diversity in America evolves. I can’t say that enough. I grew up in America feeling that I could never be her because I was not the stereotypical blond-haired, blue-eyed girl. Becoming Miss America has given me the platform to show and motivate other diversity group girls to think that: “Wow! I can very well be Miss America too!”

I must admit, I’m impressed with the intent and strategy you’ve deployed. Great opportunity for women in America to seek financial support, as winning Miss America has given you scholarship funding for your education that otherwise would not have been possible. Are there any other advantages to winning this title that future candidates should know about?

It’s a wonderful opportunity to network and promote yourself on a national level. Once you are Miss America, you are forever a Miss America. It is such a prestigious title and honour with an organization that has integrity, and as such, it can open many doors in any way that you want. You can do anything you want with it. The thing is that the experience has also taught me so much.

What have you learned that you attribute to this experience?

Networking and communicating effectively with people is so important. These are some things that this organization has taught me. And I continue to learn more.

What about the stigma that beauty pageants are for pretty, dumb girls?

There is the stigma and stereotype associated with pageants for the uninitiated. Pageants require a lot more than looks to compete.

Like?

There is a talent round and a question round, both requiring a lot of work to stand out. Additionally, I’m well educated and well spoken, which is something that has garnered equal importance as well. There’s a lot more to competing than looking good in swimwear.

Now that you mention that, some would say judging people on their physical attributes is an archaic, outdated notion. Comment?

When you’re competing to showcase yourself as a well-rounded person, physical attributes is one of many criteria that requires showcasing to prove that you have it all and are a perfect role model for today’s woman on all levels.

Okay, so let’s talk about what you did to prepare for the Miss America pageant. From the day you decided to compete to the day that you won the Miss America title, what specifically did you do to get yourself ready?

A lot of it was actually practicing my talent. I decided to perform a Bollywood-style, Indian dance.

Yes, the first such dance performance for this genre of dance style to make it on the Miss America stage — the first of two firsts you’ve accomplished during competing for Miss America. Some would say that it was a very risky decision considering the pageant is an all-American institution that hasn’t showcased much diversity historically. Why take the road less travelled when you could have easily followed the status quo? Especially with so much riding on the talent component of the pageant. This could have been a do-or-die situation. Don’t get me wrong, I sincerely admire your decision but the question has to be asked — what were you thinking?

This was something I struggled with. I can’t tell you how many people told me that if I was really serious about winning Miss America, I should change my talent because you just don’t know how a Bollywood dance will be interpreted by the masses. I thought about this perspective for a very long time. You know, I could have sung as I have grown up singing as well. But I am not as good a singer as I am a dancer. I did, however, think about changing my talent. But what it really came down to was the fact that I knew that if I was going to win Miss New York and continue to go on to Miss America, it would have to be my way and on my terms. I had to stay true to myself, and that for me, was a Bollywood dance performance at Miss America. I had grown up a classically trained, Indian dancer. It was a huge part of my life and my culture, so to be able to share that on the Miss America stage in front of a live audience for the first time ever, was more meaningful to me than anything else.

The authenticity of you staying true to who you are is a part of the legacy that defines the value system of the America dream, so it’s great that you exercised your right and it paid off. It was a proud moment for the South Asian community, but also a strong moment to advocate diversity in front of the entire world.

Thank you Raj! This is one of my mandates — to advocate diversity — so I’m pleased I had this platform to do so.

Let’s go back to the fateful day. How did you feel on that day right before competing? What was your mindset?

It’s so interesting that many people don’t know that all of the contestants were in the city for two weeks prior to the competition day. So while there, we had to go through rehearsals and appearances, and three nights of preliminary competition. Miss America is the final night. So for three nights we all competed until they narrowed it down to the top 15. The top 15 then went onto compete on the competition day, which is what the public sees, until Miss America is named.

Wow, I didn’t realize it was such a process!

Yes! Throughout the entire week, I felt a calming presence. It was the strangest thing because I was so at peace and so calm throughout the entire experience. I mean, yes I had my nervous moments, but for the most part, I had this feeling. In my mind, I didn’t want to really admit it or get excited because you never know what’s going to happen, but I definitely had that feeling.

Can you define that feeling?

It’s so hard to describe. I am a very faithful person; more spiritual than anything. It was just an out-of-body experience of accomplishment. I couldn’t believe it was all happening. We all worked so hard for it. It was just very surreal.

You are absolutely right, because your surreal experience was also ours, watching you win the title as the first woman of South Asian descent to ever be crowned Miss America — the second of two firsts during the Miss America competition.

Oh thank you!

That moment when they announced you as the title winner, your reaction on stage spoke volumes of the sheer joy in achieving this incredible milestone, not only as a woman, but as the only woman from our community to have ever accomplished this feat. Has it sunk in? And if so, what is the feeling now?

It’s definitely starting to hit me. I have been approached by so many people who have said things like, “Thank you for breaking the mould and the barriers. You have forever changed so many young children’s lives.” I have had people saying, “You are my hero!” I can’t wrap my head around that because it’s such a humbling experience. I have felt so much love, not only Americans or Indian-Americans, but love from across the world. It’s just very humbling and it’s a lot to handle.

Well, the fact of the matter is, you are a role model, especially to young girls from our community and other ethnic communities, because you’ve broken into an institution that has been, up to now, a predominantly white American dream. For future generations who aspire towards following in your footsteps, what advice would you give in light of the trials and tribulations you have faced to get to where you have in the beauty pageant world — as a South Asian woman and a woman of diversity?

I have always said, “Be yourself.” I know it’s so much easier said than done, but it’s so easy to lose yourself in today’s society if you don’t. So, you really have to know who you are, to love who you are, and to stand up for it all. I can’t tell you how many people said that I should change my talent or change my response to questions. So you have to stand strong by your own thoughts and convictions. That’s the most valuable advice I can give to anyone.

That’s the best advice you can give to anyone in any field they aspire to be part of.

And that’s a huge message right?

Right!

It’s not only about becoming Miss America. In this country, cultures are not only accepted but welcome; it’s in our constitution. The message I want to send is that anyone can become anything they want, not only Miss America, regardless of their race, socio-economic status, religion or skin colour, because that is the American dream. This is my American dream and I am living it!

Amen sista! How has your life changed since being crowned?

My life has definitely changed and that’s something I still can’t process. As soon as you win Miss America, so many things are thrown at you at once. I’m travelling 20,000 miles a month on average as part of my title requirements so it’s not the most glamorous lifestyle. But it’s an incredible opportunity and so many doors have been opened now.

Give me an example of a couple of those doors.

I have a personal platform that has global reach, especially since the Twitter backlash occurred.

What is this platform, in your words?

To celebrate culture and diversity. Everything that has happened to me, the silver lining in all of that was that I have been able to talk about my platform on a national and global scale, which is incredible! To be able to have this platform, to educate people about diversity and cultural competency, and to start the discussion is the silver lining for me.

THE CONTROVERSY. . .

Now that you’ve touched upon it, I want to ask you about the Twitter backlash. Immediately after you were crowned, Twitter exploded with negative backlash from Americans around the country who made hateful comments of outrage that you had won the crown to represent America. You were racially profiled, as you know, as a non-American, an Arab, and even as a terrorist. Were you surprised or somewhat expectant?

I wasn’t surprised. It was something that I had experienced already when competing for Miss New York, and quite truthfully, I was surprised at that time. It prepared me somewhat, as I knew, if I were to win Miss America, I would experience it on a much larger scale. And to be honest Raj, the silver lining for me here was that for every one negative comment I received, hundreds and now thousands of positive words of encouragement, hope and support were channelled my way. It has been amazing because now I have been able to launch a national campaign called Circles of Unity, and I have been asking everyone to tweet pictures or videos of cultural awareness with the hashtag #circlesofunity. All of this has started a discussion about cultural competency and that’s one of my goals.

How has the response been to the campaign?

The response has been really great!

How did you feel post the win when you realized the comments that were being hurled out about your win?

Honestly, I didn’t even have time to really react because, as contestants, we didn’t have our phones with us when we were competing. So the first time I was asked this question, or told that this was happening, it was at the press conference right after I was crowned Miss America. When the reporter asked me about it, it was then that I realized it was all happening. I didn’t really have time to react or to process it.

That’s a good thing. But I have to admit Nina, personally speaking, I couldn’t stop laughing at the insurmountable ignorance of these people citing you as non-American. Because the fact of the matter is, the last time I checked, being born in America or being a green card resident makes you American, not your ethnicity and skin colour.

It was just plain ignorant [Laughs].

Especially in light of the fact that, today, most of America is of coloured skin anyway, so you are, by default of this, a true representative of today’s American woman.

Thank you, yes!

In all honesty, it wasn’t the American-based backlash that shocked me as much as the comments that sprouted from the Indian subcontinent, where reports surfaced about the fact that the tone of your skin colour — and this is so ridiculous — would have disqualified you from ever having the chance to compete in India due to the countrywide obsession they have with light skin, furthering the notion that beauty is defined by how “white” your skin colour is. What were your thoughts upon discovering that such discussions were taking place in the country of your origin where most people’s skin tone is like yours!

I have heard of these remarks. There are little girls sitting at home feeling that they are not beautiful or whatever we think beautiful is because of their skin tone. And that to me is sad because I grew up that way too. It was always: “Don’t go out in the sun because you are going to be too dark.” And skin lightening creams and bleaching and all that crazy stuff further legitimizing the propaganda. Funny thing is, in America, we spend so much money on tanning products and people are like, “You are so tanned; you are so beautiful.” So I have experienced both sides of this debate. Now that all of this has happened, I hope that even in India, little girls can believe that, “Wow! I don’t have to look a certain way or have to fit a certain mould. Nor is beauty defined by society.” Because it shouldn’t be.

Exactly! And women in India are culturally conditioned into believing this ridiculous propaganda about skin tone, which is heavily capitalized upon by many beauty brands. So it all becomes this whole economic propaganda, which floods the retail market and conditions people into believing that beauty is a certain definition so products can be pushed as solutions as opposed to pushing educational reform. The hysteria is so nuts in India that skin lightening products are being heavily endorsed by Bollywood celebrities like Shah Rukh Khan. Personally, I think the man is hot because of his dusky skin.

Yes I have heard of that, and I agree with you Raj.

To negate this gender profiling in India, actress Nandita Das, who herself is a darker-skinned beauty, has lent her celebrity status to the cause by appearing in the Dark is Beautiful campaign. And she has been quoted as saying, “Stay UNfair, stay beautiful!” What are your thoughts on the notion that beauty is defined by something as peripheral as the colour of your skin?

That’s a campaign I would love to work with. The whole idea and concept that skin tone defines beauty should not even exist in today’s global society. I think this campaign to negate it is a good starting point to open that discussion, as well as to assist young, impressionable girls to look at themselves beyond the tone of their skin to define themselves.

What is your definition of beauty?

Confidence! And it is so much easier said than done, I know. As Miss America, we often fight stigma and stereotype that if you are beautiful you are not intelligent. That is absolutely false and I am amongst many that are a testament to negate that notion. I think that’s the most important thing to promote for myself, that beauty is more than skin deep. As cliché as it sounds, beauty comes from within.

THE FASHION & STYLE STATUS. . .

Montreal-based fashion label Joseph Ribkoff is a fashion brand that sponsors the Miss America organization. Why do you feel that Joseph Ribkoff is the perfect brand to represent the Miss America pageant and the Miss America woman?

Joseph Ribkoff is a support not only from a fashion standpoint, but also from an educational, scholastic perspective. The age demographic of Miss America is that of working age. You are today’s fashion forward businesswoman or potentially applying for a professional job, so your wardrobe needs to align with being able to market yourself accordingly. From that standpoint, Joseph Ribkoff has the perfect clothes: businesslike, trendy, classy, and sexy as well, because it is totally okay for Miss America to be sexy. Joseph Ribkoff clothing is just a wonderful way to package and brand Miss America in all the most positive and appropriate ways.

What is it about their style that exemplifies the woman that you are?

Personally, I love the fit of their clothes. They have an impeccable fit. The quality of their fabrics is great and their designs are timeless. Indicative of what defines Miss America!

As a woman of Indian descent, who are your favourite designers for Indian wear?

OMG, I don’t know any! [Laughs]

WTF! Blasphemy

I know! [Laughs]

We have to introduce you to some then.

Yes, absolutely! I would be totally up for that.

Consider it done! So from a style perspective, are you into chic, trendy, OTT?

I am the most unfashionable kind of girl. My entire wardrobe is really simple. For example, for the Miss America competition, my evening gown was not sequined, beaded or glittery; it was very simple. My interview dress was very simple and plain too. I just love that simple elegance. You can be sexy in a very classy way, and that’s my style.

Your Indian outfit for your performance — who made it for you? And why did you decide on that specific colour palette?

We are going to thank mom on this one because she actually went to India for it in May, and this was before I competed for Miss New York in July. As we were figuring out my talent costume, I said, “Okay mom, you have to figure out something amazing because if I win Miss New York, this is the costume that will go to Miss America.” She did a fabulous job. She chose everything.

The outfit, energy and shear joy with which you performed really showed off our culture wonderfully, on a platform that has never seen it before. Kudos to you darling! Super proud of the fact that you kept strong on that decision.

Thanks so much Raj. I really love to dance and promote my culture!

THE WOMAN. . .

Describe the woman that you are.

Genuine and personable.

ANOKHI means unique or different. Our chat has clearly defined you as an ANOKHI woman!

Thank you! That’s fabulous!

For fun, tell me something most people wouldn’t know about you.

I love sci-fi and fantasy fiction. I am a huge Harry Potter fan. And I love Star Wars and Star Trek. I was a nerd growing up. I was not the most popular girl in school, so yeah, these were my outlets.

Well, you are definitely the most popular woman now! What do you do when you are not doing work for Miss America? What would a day in the life of you be outside of the limelight of this title?

Definitely just hanging out with my friends. I have a wonderful circle of friends that are very close. One of our favourite things to do is to watch football, and we cheer for the University of Michigan Wolverines, as that’s where we all went.

I don’t think there is anything more American than that my dear. In your opinion, what is your strongest personality trait?

I would really like to say being genuine, as I strongly believe it is just so important to be in order to be real and grounded. I hope that’s what I come across as to everyone.

What is your most valued possession today?

You know it is so funny because I don’t have anything material that I take everywhere with me. My most valuable “possession” is my sister. She is my best friend. We are only 18 months apart, and we were always really close growing up. We fought a lot when we were younger but now she is my number one supporter. She tells me when I am being crazy, or when I look fat in something [Laughs]. Definitely my sister!

What a lovely thing to say. What do you define as your biggest accomplishment to date?

For me, it was graduating from the University of Michigan. I have dreamt of going to Michigan my entire life, so when I got my acceptance letter and also hearing my name called during commencement were the greatest moments for me.

THE NEXT CHAPTER. . .

Once your time is done with the Miss America organization, in terms of your responsibilities, what do you aspire for the rest of your life?

I am applying to medical school so hopefully I will be able to start that once I am finished doing Miss America. I would also love to continue speaking about and advocating all the things I believe in. The connections I have made so far are incredible and I know it is only going to grow from here out. So I have one year to make the most of it!

Is there anything that I have not asked you that you would like people to know?

I just really want to express my gratitude for all the love and support that I have gotten from so many of you. Thank you for allowing me to represent you all, and I am looking forward to sharing this year with every one of you!

The future is?

Relevant!

The motto you live by?

Love all, serve all.