New Miss RI crowned in Newport
By: Kirsten Glavin
Providence, RI – Shruti Nagarajan was crowned the new Miss Rhode Island Sunday night in Newport. The new Miss RI is a graduate of Brown University.
Twenty four hours into her reign and Nagarajan already has big plans. She’s eager to get started.
Nagarajan, 24, a native of Guam, is the first Indian to take the Miss RI title. This was her first time competing in a pageant. “Rarely do you see women of color competing in the competition and I really wanted to represent women of color on that stage." said Nagarajan.
Her platform is upward mobility and college access for low income and minority students. "I want low income students to feel like they can apply to college, and have the means and opportunities and resources because there are so many resources out there. "I went through the public school system for the majority of my time back home and what I found to be very difficult was going through the college application process."
The new Miss RI’s goal is to partner with the organizations "college visions", and set Rhode Island students up for a higher education "I want to help those students get the resources that they need."
Nagarajan will compete for the Miss America title, representing Rhode Island, in Atlantic City in September.
© WLNE-TV / ABC6 2016
