Nina Davuluri - the first Miss America winner from Indian background - dismisses barrage of racist abuse

This is Miss America... Not Miss Foreign Country.

Miss New York Nina Davuluri has become Miss America 2014 

One commenter wrote the message '9/11 was 4 days ago and she gets miss America?' and another added: 'I am literarily soo mad right now a ARAB won'.

"WHEN WILL A WHITE WOMAN WIN #MISSAMERICA? Ever??!!" asked another.

Miss Davuluri brushed aside the comments today saying: "I have to rise above that," she said. "I always viewed myself as first and foremost American."

Her grandmother told The Associated Press that she cried when she saw the news on television.

"I am very, very, happy for the girl. It was her dream and it was fulfilled," 89-year-old V. Koteshwaramma said by phone from her home in the city of Vijaywada, in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.

She said there are numerous doctors in the family, both in the US and India, and that if her granddaughter wants to become one "I am sure she will do it."