Here she is. Nina Davuluri, your Miss America 2014. For the second year running, the title goes to a Miss New York.

Davuluri, 24, who hails from Syracuse, tonight became the first Miss America to be crowned at Boardwalk Hall since 2004, following the pageant's exodus to Las Vegas and feted return to the Shore this month.

As victor, she receives not only the Miss America crown, but also a $50,000 scholarship.

"I was the first Indian Miss New York and I'm so proud to be the first Indian Miss America," said Davuluri. She's expected to visit Seaside Heights, the site of last week's devastating fire.

A graduate of the University of Michigan, Davuluri wants to be a doctor and says she's in the process of applying to medical schools.

Runners-up were Rebecca Yeh, Miss Minnesota; Crystal Lee, Miss California; Kelsey Griswold, Miss Oklahoma; and Myrrhanda Jones, Miss Florida.

Preliminary competition, stretching over three nights last Tuesday through Thursday, also at Boardwalk Hall, included performances ranging from "contemporary clogging" to Bollywood fusion dance.

Bollywood made the broadcast as Davuluri performed the dance style, which was integrated with classical Indian dance, alongside Irish step dance (Miss Connecticut), a high-flying baton routine and plenty of singing. Last week's talent winners were Jones — for her rousing baton performance that drew a standing ovation, even with her knee injury — Yeh, for her turn on violin; and Samantha Russo, Miss New Hampshire, for singing "Don't Rain On My Parade," from "Funny Girl."

Nina Davuluri, who competed as Miss New York, just like the former Miss America Mallory Hagan, had classical Bollywood fusion dance as her talent.

Jones and Yeh, making the semifinalist cut, recreated their routines during last night's broadcast. And yes, Jones was still wearing her brace, for her swimsuit strut as well as her baton routine. When she was done twirling, her father, Charles Jones, stood up from his seat, fists in the air, for a dramatic "woo!"

The preliminary winners for "Lifestyle & Fitness in Swimsuit" were Carly Mathis, Miss Georgia; Kelsey Griswold, Miss Oklahoma; and Chelsea Rick, Miss Mississippi.

Just as preliminary competition was beginning Tuesday at Boardwalk Hall, Theresa Vail, Miss Kansas, made a splash that set her apart from just about all the contestants. Walking onto the runway in a red bikini for the swimsuit portion of competition, Vail, 22, revealed a sizable tattoo on her right side — a cursive rendition of the "Serenity Prayer" that she later said represented her battle with bullying that culminated in a suicide attempt when she was 10 years old. She also walked the runway with her tattoos uncovered for the broadcast.

Early in the show, Vail was named the America's Choice winner as a result of online voting, meaning she secured a spot as one of the top 15 semifinalists, no matter what. But she didn't advance far enough to make it to the onstage question portion. Now, instead of taking even more time off to be Miss America, McCollum will have the opportunity to return to college next year.

"This has been a phenomenal opportunity for me," she said.

The pageant dispensed a total of $306,000 in scholarships to contestants this week, with those who didn't make the semifinals, like McCollum, also getting $3,000.

She'll join other contestants who, after they've crowned their state successors, will commence their pursuit of college degrees. And maybe it's for the best.

"Too much of a good thing," said McCollum. "It kind of loses its glamour."

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