AKIPRESS.COM - The new Miss America won her crown after singing a Pharrell Williams song while playing with a red plastic cup, a performance she says was inspired by a similar scene in a movie.

Miss America Kira Kazantsev said Sunday she was inspired by the 2012 movie "Pitch Perfect" in which Anna Kendrick's character auditions for an a capella group by performing rhythmically with a cup.

But she also says she did it to show future contestants they can win the Miss America pageant by performing whatever talent routine they like, regardless of what others think of it, reports AP.

Kazantsev came under withering criticism on social media sites for her talent performance after winning the title.

She says she had the time of her life doing the cup routine.