Miss Rhode Island 2016 crowned Shruti Nagarajan, Brown University student, after she demonstrated Bollywood dance talent and expressed concern on low income and minority students with her "Upward Mobility" platform.

Nagajaran, 24-year-old grad, will compete for national title, Miss America Pageant in Atlantic City this September. Go Local Prov shared the news on the 2014 Brown University alumni. She and Kate DePetro who won "Miss West Bay's Outstanding Teen", will go to the next round of pageants.

DePetro who is the daughter of WPRO's John DePetro, is currently studying at East Greenwich High School. The 16-yer-old student sang "Wicked" music soundtrack entitled "Popular".

There were 20 students competing for the title "Miss Rhode Island 2016" and there were six female students competing for "Miss Rhoe Island's Outstanding Teen". The image shows the crowning moment of Nagajaran as she waves to the crowd after winning the title.

Miss America official Twitter congratulates Nagajaran on her title.

According to the Kaleidoscope of Pageantry, Nagajaran represented "Miss Providence County" and crowned by previous Miss Rhode Island, Alexandra Curtis, at Casino Theater, Newport. Curtis congratulates Nagajaran on her Twitter, stating that she is proud of the fellow Brunonian for her 'extraordinary heart of service'.

Nagajaran also receives special award, "MAO Community Service". And for "Miss Congeniality", the awards go to three contestants, Caitlin O'Neill, Marsha Laprade and Victoria Cuartas.

Nagajaran is preparing herself for "Miss America 2017" pageant that will be broadcasted by ABC on September 11, 2016 at Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City. As for DePetro, she will represent the state at Miss America's "Outstanding Teen Pageant" in Orlando this August.

All of the winners and runners-up from the pageants received scholarship funds with impressive amounts up to thousands of dollars. More photos of the crowning moment in Newport have been published by 630 WPRO.

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