What could have been a celebration of a historic moment turned into an opportunity for many people to express racist attitudes. Nina Davuluri became the first ever Miss America of Indian descent, and it sparked a flurry of activity online. Davuluri, who is Miss New York and an aspiring physician, became the subject of fierce racist and xenophobic comments, much of which stemmed from people thinking she is Arab.
Davuluri has brushed off the comments, saying she will rise about them, and is proud to have won.
(h/t BuzzFeed)