Miss New York, Nina Davuluri made history Sunday night when she was crowned the 2014 Miss America crown, becoming the first of Indian heritage to win the pageant.

Moments after winning the 2014 Miss America crown, the 24-year-old described how happy she is that the pagent was able to recognize beauty and talent of all kinds.

"I'm so happy this organization has embraced diversity," she said in her first press conference after winning the crown in Atlantic City, N.J.'s Boardwalk Hall. "I'm thankful there are children watching at home who can finally relate to a new Miss America."

Her pageant platform was "celebrating diversity through cultural competency," in which she demonstrated a Bollywood fusion set for her dance routine.

She is the second consecutive Miss New York to win the Miss America crown, succeeding Mallory Hagan, who was selected in January when the pageant was still held in Las Vegas.

Davulri knocked out Miss California, Crystal Lee, who came in second place.

Besides Lee, other top 5 finalists included Miss Minnesota, Rebecca Yeh; Miss Florida, Myrrhanda Jones, and Miss Oklahoma, Kelsey Griswold.

The pageant consited of 53 contestants - one from each state, plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands - in swimsuit, evening gown, talent and interview competitions.

"This is where we belong," Sam Haskell, CEO of the Miss America Organization, told The Associated Press. "This is the home of Miss America, and this is where we're going to stay."

Tags: Miss America 2014 Miss New York Nina Davuluri