Miss America 2015 Kira Kazantsev, the third winner from New York, dropped by the USA TODAY offices inMcLean, Va., on Monday to chat about how her reign is going since being crowned on Sept. 14.She had no security. She wore beautiful over-the-knee black boots — the first purchase she "treated" herself to after winning the pageant. And she carried her crown in a small brown box inscribed with her name and title. She took the crown out of the box and fixed it on top of her head with no help. (It doesn't fit securely without numerous bobby pins.) She posed for selfies with anyone who asked. And she answered any questions we threw her way.H. Darr Beiser, USA TODAYMiss America Kira Kazantsev visits USA TODAY on Nov. 17.Here are the top five moments of her visit:
1. How her life has changed since winning:"When Chris Harrison said 'three-peat' I knew that could only mean one thing. ... As soon as that crown gets placed on your head you're whisked off to a meeting, a press conference, a party, your family is waiting for you. You don't get to bed until 4 or 5 in the morning and you have to be up at 7 a.m. the next day for media. The whirlwind begins."On Tuesday, she planned to go to Miss Maryland's house to do a load of laundry because, she says, "I don'thave a real home. I live in hotels and Itravel about 20,000 miles a month and I'm in a different city every 48 hours on average. It's crazy. That's something a lot of people don't realize. As soon that crown was put on my head, my mom had to go to New York and break my lease on my apartment, which is not an easy thingto do."
2. Her domestic violence platform:Kazantsev has said that this is a personal issue for her, but she has not detailed exactly how it was personal or when an incident occurred."So the story is not necessarily aboutme, it's about how it affects women. For me it's hard to share that aspect of it because media can be so unfriendly. Those are risks I'm not willing to take on a public forum."Of Ray Rice, Adrian Peterson and Hope Solo, all of whom have been involved with abuse incidents in recent months, she says, "It's important for people to realize if these people weren't celebrities no one would have paid attention and they would have been added to millions of cases each year that are disregarded. So if there's one positive thing that will come from this it's that people are paying attention. Domestic violence is no longer something that can't be brushed under the rug. We need to make it everyone's business. It's not just a women's issue, it's a a humanitarian issue."She offered to help the NFL. "There's always more that can be done. I'd love to work with the NFL about creating programs or furthering their efforts."
3. On Bill Cosby:"It's hard," she says of the multiple rape allegations and stories being brought up about the actor. "I grew up watching Bill Cosby. If the allegations are true, it is a disappointing thing. I would hope that he takes the opportunity to address the issue and make it another chance for advocacy. And another chance to bring to light the issues and for us to talk about it because that's how we're going to dosomething about this issue."
4. The hardest part of being Miss America:Social media. When a story emerged soon after she won that she was involved in ahazing incidentat her Hofstra University sorority, she immediately had to do damage control, explaining that it was a joke that went wrong that led to her exiting Alpha Phi. And when it came out that she was an intern at PlannedParenthood for three months, she was criticized by conservatives."It's very tough, but you kind of just have to let it roll off your back. You can't engage people on social media that way. You're giving them an in and you crumble."And has she crumbed? "I've cried a few times. You can't let that affect you. You have to continue. Of course I wanted to crawl in a hole at one point but can't. You have to be Miss America. That's what the job is."
5. To those who criticize the pageant system:"I needed a way to pay for college and that was my initial motivation. I would not have the skills I have todaywithout Miss America. I would not even be able to talk to you without being flustered. It's taught me networking skills, business skills andhas given me a cause I am fully committed to and can fully advocate for. Not many 23-year-olds have that."
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