Sunday night Nina Davuluri, Miss New York, was crowned the winner the 2014 Miss America Pageant. She is the first contestant of Indian descent to be crowned Miss America.
When her win was announced, Twitter immediately exploded with hateful tweets, with people calling her Arab.
Read the whole story at BuzzFeed
You're dressed to the nines. You're vying to become an icon of beauty and poise. The cameras are rolling and millions of people are waiting to hear your answer to this question about income inequality:
"A recent report shows that in 40 percent of American families with children, women are the primary earners yet they continue to earn less than men. What does this say about society?"
Alas, when her big moment came during the 2013 Miss USA beauty pageant on Sunday night, Miss Utah USA Marissa Powell choked and gave a truly incoherent answer (see video above).
You can tell from Powell's face that she knew she blew it. But the denizens of the Internet were not about to let such a fantastic flub pass without comment.
Deadspin's Timothy Burke was particularly appalled by Powell's answer, and quoted the 1995 film "Billy Madison" to show his disdain:
"What you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul."
Other pageant viewers were also taken aback by her response.
Miss Utah does make a good case for education reform in America.
— Chris Forewit (@forewit) June 17, 2013
Miss Utah: "We need to figure out how to create education better". We've found the poster child for this. #MissUSA
— CaptainTouchback (@CaptTouchback) June 17, 2013
Hey, Miss South "Maps" Carolina! You're finally off the hook. Send the thank you card to Miss Utah! #missusa
— Ryan (@RyanWoodDFW) June 17, 2013
I agree with Miss Utah that we should create education better. Haters. http://t.co/LHXCKvSX2c
— Bruce Arthur (@bruce_arthur) June 17, 2013
Powell is an actress, model and singer who has performed the national anthem in front of thousands of people. Alas, answering one question proved to be too much for her.
'The 2013 Miss USA Pageant': Miss Utah Says We 'Need To Create Education Better' It would make sense for beauty pageant contestants to look up to contestants from past pageants. They can look to them for inspiration on poise, presentation and even how they handle the question-and-answer portion. That said, they probably shouldn't be looking to Miss Teen South Carolina 2007, Caitlin Upton -- she of the infamous "the Iraq everywhere like such as..." And yet, Miss Utah seemed to be channeling Upton when she answered a question on "The 2013 Miss USA Pageant."
Marissa Powell, 21-years old, was powering her way through the competition when she hit a major roadblock. She was asked about how women are continuing to earn less than men in America, and what she thinks that means for our society.
"How to create jobs right now, that is the biggest problem right now, and I think especially the men are seen as leaders of this and so we need to figure out how to create education better so we can solve this problem," Powell answered.
Huh?
The Kansas City Star defended Marissa, seeming to take issue with the question. "They were not cream puff questions," they wrote. "What happened to those questions about world peace?” But Deadspin was less forgiving, calling this the worst answer since Miss Upton bombed in 2007.
Let's compare. Miss Teen South Carolina said, “I personally believe, that U.S. Americans are unable to do so because some people out there, in our nation don’t have maps. And I believe that our education, like such as in South Africa and the Iraq, everywhere, like such as… And, I believe they should -- our education over here, in the U.S. -- should help the U.S., or should help South Africa, and should help the Iraq and Asian countries so we will be able to build up our future, for us.”
That answer will never be beaten. Sorry Miss Utah. At least it didn't hurt her too much. Powell still managed to secure 3rd Runner-Up status at the pageant.
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