Miss New York Chosen As Miss America 2015

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- It was a three-peat win for the Empire State as Miss New York Kira Kazantsev was named the new Miss America.

Kazantsev's win Sunday night marked the third year in a row that a contestant from New York has walked away with the crown in the nationally televised pageant.

Kazantsev, 22, received the crown at Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall from outgoing Miss America -- and Miss New York -- Nina Davuluri.

During the pageant, Kazantsev sang Pharrell Williams' "Happy" while sitting cross-legged on the stage and banging a red plastic cup on the floor.

She also named combating sexual assault in the military as the issue she would want female U.S. senators to press their male counterparts.

Kazantsev is a Manhattan resident and Hofstra University graduate, CBS 2 reported.

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