Miss South Carolina’s Comment Prompts Midlands Outcry

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO)  —  Almost as soon as Miss New York, the first Indian American to be crowned Miss America receives top honors, tweeting thumbs and fiery Facebook posts take over, much to the disappointment of Ruchi Nanda, and Indian American living in Columbia, whose parents immigrated to the United States when she was a toddler.

“It resonates with me,” said Nanda.  “I don’t agree with people saying she’s not American. She was actually born in the United States. She represents were Miss America is going.”

The young professional says trying to blend in with European culture will always be a struggle, no matter how great your accomplishments may be.

“It’s hard because your parents want you to live that American dream. They gave up their Indian dream for you to live the American dream.”

Receiving just as much flack via social media is Miss South Carolina for saying this: “I’m from the state where 20% of our homes are mobile; that’s how we roll.  I’m Brooke Mosteller, Miss South Carolina!”

Whether it was pre-scripted statement by pageant officials based on the fact that 17-percent of the state’s residents do live in mobile homes, or a corny comeback concocted by Mosteller herself, it has some Midlands citizens crying foul.

“That’s pretty weird that she said that.”

“Apparently it’s 17%, so we don’t roll quite as much as she thinks.”

“That’s just ridiculous. I guess there’s a reason why she wasn’t Miss America.”

Pageant backlash even prompted the General Counsel and Director of Government Relations for the Manufactured Housing Institute of South Carolina to release a page-long statement that read:

“Dear News Director: About 20 per cent of your viewers live in manufactured homes. These are good people who are making the best use of their dollars to buy food, clothing and shelter for their families. They are the firemen, EMTs, police officers and factory workers who serve the rest of us. Blue collar workers and hourly wage-earners work hard all day to take care of their families and keep a roof over their heads. Don’t these people deserve more than for writers to imply that they and their homes are somehow an embarrassment to their state? Please don’t be sucked into the ignorant, cliché thinking that some of the articles about Miss South Carolina’s remarks. This is the same type of “analysis” offered by people who say, ‘Postal workers are all disgruntled employees an inch away from workplace violence.’ [Media outlets] will run anything if it will sell.  The idea of constructing homes in a factory is the American competitive market system’s answer to the need for reasonably priced homes.

Nine out of ten manufactured homes are placed permanently on the home site. All are built to a stringent national building code. Yes, 17% of South Carolina families live in manufactured homes. They are getting more home for the dollar due to the efficiency of factory production. That frees them to spend more of their income on food, medical bills, everything else a family needs. Does that say anything embarrassing about South Carolina? Only that there is a huge demand for affordable homes in South Carolina, and that efficient controlled factory production is one way to provide it.”

Allen Hutto, General Counsel and Director of Government Relations, Manufactured Housing Institute of South Carolina, 1801 Gadsden St.Columbia, SC 29201, may be reached at ahutto@mhisc.com or 803-771-9046, ext. 2, Mobile: 803-665-2764.