Miss New York Kira Kazantsev was crowned Miss America on Sunday night. This is the third year in a row that the contestant from New York has won.
Kazantsev, who is originally from California and moved to New York for college, speaks three languages and is a passionate advocate for domestic violence survivors.
A survivor of abuse herself, Kazantsev has spoken out in support of Janay Rice, the wife of football player Ray Rice. read full story (AP/HuffPost)

Miss America 2015 Kira Kazantsev's Crowning Moment view all videos

Kira Kazantsev of Manhattan named Miss New York 2014

Vocalist and future law student Kira Kazantsev took home the title of Miss New York 2014 Saturday night. Kazantsev will continue on to compete for the Miss America 2015 title, in hopes of giving the Empire State a third consecutive win. Read more
BY ROXANNA ASGARIAN, NEW YORK DAILY NEWS, May 25, 2014. (PHOTO: SHAWN INGLIMA FOR NEW YORK DAILY NEWS)

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ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. -- Moments after winning the 2014 Miss America crown, Nina Davuluri described how delighted she is that the nearly century-old pageant sees beauty and talent of all kinds.

The 24-year-old Miss New York is the first contestant of Indian heritage to become Miss America; her talent routine was a Bollywood fusion dance.

"I'm so happy this organization has embraced diversity," she said in her first press conference after winning the crown in Atlantic City, N.J.'s Boardwalk Hall. "I'm thankful there are children watching at home who can finally relate to a new Miss America." (full story at abcnews.com)

Miss America 2014 - Talent Competition - Miss New York Indian Dance

  Miss America 2013 winner Mallory Hagan, won the beauty pageant after tap dancing to James Brown's "Get Up Off of That Thing" and answering a question about whether armed guards belong in grade schools by saying we should not fight violence with violence
   Miss America pageant is a long-standing competition which awards scholarships to young women from the 50 states plus Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. The winner of the national pageant is awarded the title of "Miss America" for one year.
   In January 2006, the pageant moved to its new home and time in Las Vegas, Nevada. The pageant presents itself as a "scholarship pageant," and the primary prizes for the winner and her runners-up are scholarships to the institution of her choice. The Miss America Scholarship program, along with its local and state affiliates, is the largest provider of scholarship money to young women in the United States and in the world. In 2006, the program made available more than $45 million in cash and scholarship assistance. Since most of the contestants are college graduates already, or on the verge of graduating, most of their prize money is devoted to graduate school or professional school, or to pay off student loans for courses already taken.
   Mallory Hagan from New York was crowned the winner on January 12, 2013 at the 92nd Miss America pageant.