Taekwondo kicker new Miss USA

Nia Sanchez – Miss USA

The new Miss USA is a fourth-degree black belt in taekwondo who says women should be able to defend themselves to battle the problem of campus rape.

Nia Sanchez, a 24-year-old from Nevada, was crowned Miss USA on Sunday during the 63rd telecast of the annual beauty pageant.

She addressed the issue of self-defence when judge Rumer Willis, the daughter of actors Bruce Willis and Demi Moore, asked a question about sexual assaults on college campuses.

Miss Sanchez said she felt some colleges, fearing a bad reputation, might sweep the problem under the rug.

But, she said: “More awareness is very important so that women can learn to protect themselves.”

She added she has learned “you need to be confident and be able to defend yourself”.

“That’s something we need to start to implement for a lot of women.”

Miss Sanchez will go on to represent the US at the Miss Universe competition later this year.

Source: Sky News