Miss MN Chosen In Top 5 At Miss America Pageant

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — The field of contestants in the Miss America pageant is down to five.

States whose contestants advanced to the top 5 on Sunday night are: Oklahoma, Minnesota, California, New York and Florida.

Miss Kansas, the tattooed Army sergeant who won a nationwide popular vote to become a semifinalist, did not make the final 5 cut.

The pageant started in Atlantic City as a way to extend the summer tourism season for an extra weekend.

The move from Las Vegas cut short the reign of Mallory Hagan, who was crowned in January and expected to have a full year as the title holder. The pageant is compensating her for the shortened term.

Miss New York was crowned Miss America at Boardwalk Hall around 10 p.m.

The new Miss America says she's delighted the pageant embraces diversity.

Nina Davuluri became the first contestant of Indian heritage and the second consecutive contestant from New York to win the Miss America pageant Sunday night.

The 24-year-old Davuluri won the title as the nationally televised pageant returned home to Atlantic City.

In a press conference after winning the title, the Syracuse native who wants to become a doctor said she's glad children watching the pageant "can finally relate to a new Miss America."

Davuluri performed a classical Bollywood fusion dance for her talent competition.

After the traditional frolic in the Atlantic City surf Monday morning, she will head to the scene of a devastating boardwalk fire in the New Jersey communities of Seaside park and Seaside Heights Monday afternoon.

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