Miss America Kira Kazantsev Plays with a Red Cup For Her Talent

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Splash News

It worked for Anna Kendrick in Pitch Perfect, and it worked for Kira Kazantsev at the 2014 Miss America pageant.

Kazantsev, formerly Miss New York, was crowned Miss America on Sunday night, but it was her talent that has everyone talking.

The beauty queen sat cross-legged on the stage and proceeded to sing Pharrell Williams' hit song "Happy" while banging a red cup on the ground. Kazantsev said she got the idea after watching the 2012 movie Pitch Perfect in which Anna Kendrick's character lands a spot in the all-girl a capella group by also performing with a cup.


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"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 (via the Associated Press). "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."

This wasn't even the most bizarre talent of the evening. Miss Ohio, Mackenzie Bart, showcased her ventriloquism skills with her puppet Roxy. The duo sang "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" from Mary Poppins.


Do you think playing a red cup counts as a talent?