Tawa doh watch dey own Ass: The Indian Miss America Lesson

I don't want to keep this too long. There isn't much more I can add to what has already been said about the first Indian Miss America, however I still want to say it.

First off- I HATE pageants. I think they make no sense. I don't see how a random question about what colour you would be if you were a crayon and then a bikini competition has to do with intelligence and poise. I actually have friends who competed and say that they learnt so much. But since I don't fit the height nor weight requirements for mastering the balancing act of walking and smiling on stage in front of old pop stars, I may never know for sure. Big up to you if pageants made you a better person though.

If there was one moment in history that I even felt the slightest warmth regarding a beauty pageant, it had to be on hearing that Miss America 2014 is an educated, graceful and mold -breaking woman. She could have been of ANY race. It was just refreshing that she was so different. She happens to be Indian. Awesome! A first. Firsts don't come around often in pageants. It's always the same old crap. So for the first time in a long time, not only was history made because of her ethnicity, (by the way it's racist that we actually keep track of the winners' races... really? First black this, first Asian that? We are cavemen) but she is actually a great representation of what a female role model should be. I actually feel good about having young girls around the word looking up to her, because she is eloquent, all-rounded, has worked very hard in her life and has remained humble and sweet- Not because she is a hunter. Seriously, people are hating on her because they said the candidate who hunts is more American for hunting. HUNTING! Amuricans disgust me.

Nina Dalvaluri: Miss America/Alleged Terrorist smh

The backlash about her being Muslim and Al Qaeda and all this other fucking nonsense is (for lack of a better word) retarded. How backward and just plain DOTISH are you people???? Like- I cannot get over some of the bullshit. I don't even want to think about it because I get so pissed off at all this open and shameless racism and ignorance. What's worse is that these people don't even know they are being racist!!! And these people vote. Lord have mercy on democracy. (Oh No. I pointed out a flaw with Democracy. I'm Indian. I must be a terrorist too then!)

My beloved Trinis are most offended. We relate to the brown skin gyal. I love it! Not only is she indian but she isn't a typical "Bollywood Indian". Her complexion is much darker. Do you know how much that means to a dark skinned Indian woman?! Unless you live it you won't understand. In the Indian community, white is right. For the first Indian Miss America to have dark skin to me, means the world. Finally someone recognises that we are beautiful too. I hope this sends Ashe skin products out of business.

Anyway- I keep straying from the point I keep wanting to make. So Trinis are on this Nina Dalvaluri bandwagon and hating all the damn bigots that are tweeting and hashtagging their meaningless lives away with racist and uninformed nonsense. Yet, when a white girl goes up for miss Trinidad and Tobago we are like "She's not a Trini". According to my mother, "Tawa* doh watch they own ass"

Trini

Trini

Trini

If there is one thing that comes out of this to influence us here in our twin island country, I hope it is that anytime we look to assert our decisions about who is more of a Trini than whom, that we stop and think about this Nina Dalvaluri controversy and stop ourselves. I hope it is the catalyst that stops all this "We people in power" and "I voting for my people" bullshit too. Every one that is living here, white, black, blue, turquoise- is a Trinibagonian, and is YOUR PEOPLE.

*A tawa or baking stone is a flat disc shaped griddle usually used for making roti. It is black in both sides.