Thursday, October 23, 2014

We Shouldn't Blame Society

I keep reading or hearing "Society tells us this" or "It's because of our society" there are the issues in the world we have today. Some people use society as scapegoat for anything controversial. 

We will only continue to complain if we continue to put responsibility on a general concept and do not take action. 

Every single individual has a contribution to society, as pageant girls love to say "to make the world a better place." 

Some people will then blame the media, because it portrays how are society is as a whole. I believe the media can improve a lot, especially after watching Miss Representation (highly recommend this documentary, on Netflix!) BUT social media is also a contribution to society, and that means the opinions of regular people, not a news stand or reporter. Your reactions to issues, photos you post, and Facebook likes also reflect how the world is today. 

We are the media, and we are society. We can't wait for someone else to issues outside of our own. Open and clear discussions on potential solutions would be more efficient than playing the blame game. 

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Miss America 2014 Nina Davuluri Interview

Asia Trend article: http://issuu.com/asiatrend/docs/atm_aug2014/8?e=1143408%2F7862153 


Before I share the interview, I must say I'm a huge fan of our current Miss America. She is extremely articulate and I would love watching her interviews on Youtube because it was the things that she said that broke the concept and idea of a superficial pageant queen. My friend and fellow scholar Rungrote was sweet enough to get me a signed autograph of her and I was in tears. I also joined a Google Hangout with her on behalf of Children's Miracle Network Hospitals so I could promote my Model 4 Miracles Fashion Show and Miss Miracle Charity Pageant. She was at the Miss America's Outstanding Teen pageant, the little sister program of the Miss America Organization, where I was able to finally meet her in person and tell her how much I adore her!

I was also able to interview her for Asia Trend Magazine, a Florida based magazine focused on Asian-American lifestyle and more. I figured since she is the first Indian Miss America, this would be a perfect fit. However, I had to condense that interview into 599 words, which I thought was impossible after a 30 minute interview. 

So without further ado, here is the entire interview with Miss America!


Last year’s Miss America pageant set history in the Asian-American community. Three Asian-Americans made the top five, and the last two standing were Miss California Crystal Lee of Chinese descent and Miss New York Nina Davuluri of Indian descent. Nina Davuluri brought New York the national crown and became the first Indian Miss America. She’s had a busy year advocating the Miss America Organization, Children’s Miracle Network, STEM education, and her platform, Circles of Unity. Asia Trend was able to take part in her Joseph Ribkoff Miss America media tour and learn a little more about her.  

AT: Many Asian-Americans look up to you. What advice would you give them if they were picked on at school for their race?
ND: Well I always say no matter what, whatever your race, ethnicity, socio-economic status is, is to always stay true to yourself. I know that it’s easier said than done, and it’s very easy to lose yourself in today’s society. But know who you are, love who you are, and stand up for who you are.

AT: In many Asian-American families, the parents expect a lot from their children academically and limit them from other extra-curriculars. How did your parents feel when you got involved in pageants?
ND: Well, I have to say I’m very lucky to have parents who really promoted being well rounded, so as much as there was a very significant emphasis on academics, there was also an equal emphasis on having those extra-curricular activities that were important. I was a cheerleader, I was a tennis player, I was on varsity for all four years, I was in the marching band, colorguard, I was in Science Olympiad, I was in Student Senate. I was just one of those students that tried to excel in as many fields as I could. That being said, I think there is a certain stigma surrounding the pageant world unfortunately, and with so many Toddlers and Tiaras and the way reality TV makes it out to be which is really not it. But I started competing for scholarship money. My parents were always supportive, not necessarily encouraging. But I think when they realized what the Miss America Organization is all about, the values that it was founded upon, what it really stood for, the scholarship, the education, when I competed in the teen program, I walked away with $25,000 in scholarship money which they were very appreciative of. I took a five year hiatus from the Miss America Organization. Graduated from the University of Michigan debt free with support of my parents and the scholarship money and found myself competing again. I wanted to go to graduate school, and get scholarship money. So through this organization, I’ve earned a little over $90,000, and I have 60 of that left to put in my graduate degree. So it’s absolutely something that any parent, any student, any person can really appreciate in the scholarship aspect especially since student loans and the cost of education is astronomically expensive. This is definitely one way for women to further their education, promote a cause that their passionate about, and be really well rounded and balanced.

How do you feel about people that do not support the organization?
Well I can only speak for the Miss America Organization, and I will say it’s not for everyone. But there is a place if that’s the route that you choose. What I really like about this organization is the emphasis on the interview portion of the competition. My job by no means is walking around in a gown and wearing a swimsuit, it’s not a glamorous lifestyle. It’s first and foremost, a spokesperson, and the goal is to promote not only myself but America, my platform, Children’s Miracle Network, STEM education. Because there’s such an emphasis on education it aligns with my values, my morals.  

AT: How do you advise second generation, children with immigrant parents, the
proper balance between their traditional values and American culture?
ND: It is hard, and for me, one of the ways I was able to express myself is through dance. I grew up classically trained in Indian dance called Bharatanatyam and for Miss America I performed a Bollywood dance for, I compare it to being trained in classical ballet pointe and performing something like hip hop. That was the route to go because Bollywood is more mainstream now in American culture and it made sense to tie that in but in terms of growing up in my journey, I realized that assimilation really has to happen on both sides. And for me, being able to share my talent, my culture, with my peers is something that I love to do. They were always curious and wanted to know what it meant. And I felt my community was very accepting of that. I was able to teach and vice versa. Once my sister and I performed it in our high school talent show we saw other groups performing cultural dances and we had Asian performances, Hispanic performances, and seeing that coming together, I think it takes one person to start something. This is what I believe in, this is where I come from. Seeing everyone’s backgrounds come together a lot of people are really receptive.

AT: With you saying both cultures have to assimilate, how can we tell people not as accepting to look into it?
ND: It is hard, the reality of the situation is my parents emigrated here thirty years ago to provide a life for my sister and I that they had never had. To chase the American dream that so many immigrant parents and pioneers come to this country for in search. And I am truly a living testament to that, becoming the first Indian Miss America is something that could only happen here. That being said it is difficult. Your parents want what’s best for you, and they want you to be happy, so I think starting a conversation, opening that door of honesty, is one of the best things I could’ve done. If you approach them saying this is what I want to do and this is why it’s important to me and this is how I’m going to achieve it  and how it aligns with our family values is how I presented it to my parents. It’s hard to have that conversation because we respect our parents so much and we don’t know how they’re going to react, you’ll be surprised, as surprised as I was and they are willing to listen

AT: Do you think American cultures and traditional values should intertwine or be respectfully separated?
ND: Absolutely intertwined, and that’s why I gravitated to the Miss America Organization. Miss America has always been a role model, and iconic image of the nation, of the girl-next-door. I think in today’s society, with so many Miley Cyrus’s and Lindsay Lohans and the Kardashians-don’t get me wrong it’s my guilty pleasure too- but I think our country has fallen so far on one side of the pendulum, people are ready, people are hungry, to see it swing back and for that good wholesome role models, and that’s exactly who Miss America is and why we’re so relevant. Whatever you’re putting out there, young girls and young people are looking at, and sometimes my generation tends to forget that.

AT: With the issues occurring recently with Miss Delaware being too old and Miss Florida crowning the wrong queen, how do you feel?
ND: You’re actually the first person who has asked me about it. No one has said anything to me, but I truly believe the Miss America Organization has handled it in the most appropriate manner and we have addressed the issues and that shows a testament to our organization and the integrity of our organization because we did the right thing.

AT: How were you able to overcome the obstacle of xenophobic tweets and social media backlash after you were crowned Miss America?
ND: Unfortunately it was something I experienced on a much smaller scale when I was Miss New York, and I knew if I were to win Miss America it would probably happen again, I actually remember talking about it in my Miss America interview and telling the judges those remarks might happen again and I now know how to handle that, especially since it was my platform. I’ve promoted it my entire life, officially for three years. Being able to promote it on an international scale and spark a global conversation really launched my year on the right path in a weird kind of way. For every negative post, I received thousands of positive notes.

AT: What is something you want those xenophobic people to know?
ND: I hope they learn from it. I’ve always viewed myself as first and foremost, American, to address those remarks, I hope they learn from it and understand that is really the beauty of our country. Diversity really is a strength not only as an educational standpoint, but from a business standpoint, global standpoint, it really is important and I hope they get out there and start talking to more people.

AT: Do you believe you encourage women’s empowerment?
ND: Absolutely! That’s what this organization has been doing for years and years and years! So you know, I think there is a question of that, which will always exist, I suppose, but it really depends on how you take it.

AT: Explain to me your platform, Circles of Unity
ND: I started that two years ago as a local titleholder, I’ve launched it nationally, so I’ve asked people to post or tweet me their thoughts, pictures, about what they think it means to be culturally aware and #circlesofunity, and hoping to create a positive and enlightening discussion via social media. Keep them coming, I do see them and retweet, I really appreciate it.

AT: How do Miss America sponsors like Joseph Ribkoff support you in your reign?
ND: Joseph Ribkoff has been absolutely amazing this year. As Miss America, we have a wonderful wardrobe provider, so every appearance I’m in I’m wearing their clothes and it’s really wonderful because they will ship me clothes since I’m always on the road. They ship me shipments monthly, you never know what’s in the box. What’s so great is since I’m traveling so much, I put them in a suitcase, pull them out, put them on, not have to worry about ironing them, they’re just good to go the whole day clean and pressed. They’re really good from day to night, especially because a typical day starts at 7 a.m. all the way to midnight sometimes. So with a quick change in accessories you can turn a day business outfit to more of a cocktail look, so that makes my life easy. They’ve also supported Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals this year. I can visit sometimes on behalf of them. There’s always an appropriate article of clothing to wear.

AT: What do you plan to do after Miss America?

ND: This year, I will actually be continuing my speaking engagements and traveling, I’ve been booking through April of 2015, so my life is shaping up to be very similar to my life now. I will be applying to graduate schools this year. I will be going back to school to get my MBA in the fall of 2015. I have another year to continue all the momentum of this year and do more things that Nina wants to do and focus more on my platform and I will go back to school and start my career, and being a real person I suppose. 

http://asiatrendmagazine.com/
http://www.missamerica.org/

Photos by Vincent Tejada. vmtphoto.com