Miss America 2015 Kira Kasantsev Is Third Straight Winner From New York; Miss America Kira Kasantsev Defends Rhythmic Red Plastic Cup Talent

Miss America 2015 Kira Kasantsev: For the third time straight, a Miss New York beauty pageant contestant has won the Miss America pageant.

Miss New York Kira Kazantsev, 22, was presented with the new Miss America crown at Boardwalk Hall. This is the third year in a row that a contestant from New York State has won the nationally televised pageant. Kazantsev received the crown at Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall from outgoing Miss America  Nina Davuluri, of Fayetteville, N.Y.

The 2013 Miss America, Mallory Hagan, also from New York, was also on hand to help pass on the Miss America tiara.

Kira Kazantsev's parents are Russian immigrants. Kazantsev said her ambition is to be a diplomat. The newest Miss America winner intends to use her pageant platform to promote awareness of domestic violence. Kazantsev wants to fight sexual assault in the military during her yearlong resign as Miss America.

Kazantsev says she intends to the $50,000 that she won in scholarship money to help pay for law school. Kazantsev is attending the University of Notre Dame.

Kazantsev had to defend her choice in the talent portion of the show. Kira sang Pharrell Williams' "Happy" a capella while she sat cross-legged on the stage and banged out a rhythm on a red plastic cup on the floor. She was criticized on social media/.

The new Miss America Kazantsev said she was inspired by the 2012 movie "Pitch Perfect" in which Anna Kendrick's character auditioned the same way.

"The reason why I chose to do that talent is I wanted every single little girl in America to be able to see that you can do that talent - you can do whatever talent you want on national television - even with a red cup - and still be Miss America and have the time of your life," Kazantsev said. "I literally in that minute and 30 seconds had the most fun I've ever had, and that's because I stayed true to myself and I did what I wanted to do for my talent, no matter what everybody else told me, and it paid off. I'm very happy about it."

The first runner-up was Miss Virginia Courtney Paige Garrett. The other top 5 finalists were Miss Arkansas Ashton Jo Campbell; Miss Florida Victoria Cowen; and Miss Massachusetts Lauren Kuhn. Miss North Dakota, Jacky Arness won Miss Congeniality.

Kazantsev will travel 20,000 miles a month in her new role.