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Miss America Takes on Racist Critics; Four Decades-Old Mystery; Kate: The Future Queen; Bullying and a Brothers Love

Aired September 19, 2013 - 08:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

NINA DAVULURI, MISS AMERICA 2014: She's not who she was 10 years ago and she's not going to be the same person come 10 years down the road. And so to be that new symbol and hope for a younger demographic and let children know that, you know, you can be anything that you want to be, not only Miss America, regardless of your race, your socioeconomic status, your religion, because that's what the American dream is and that's what I'm living right now.

MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: Well, I've got to say, from one brown girl to another, I applaud you and say hooray.

DAVULURI: Thank you.

PEREIRA: You had a chance to meet with somebody else who went - who was a first in her own right, Vanessa Williams.

DAVULURI: I did. I did.

PEREIRA: Was she able to share with you some tips on how to -- there's been backlash from a small minority on the ugly place that can be Twitter.

DAVULURI: I was definitely - totally. Absolutely.

PEREIRA: Did she help you sort of figure out how to navigate some of that?

DAVULURI: Oh, definitely. And I just have to say, so it's so uncanny that this happened because both Vanessa and I were Miss Syracuse, went on to win the Miss New York and then Miss America 30 years ago on the same date, September 15th.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: Wow, talk about (INAUDIBLE).

DAVULURI: It really - right. And when I -

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: I mean it's almost not fair. I mean New York is known for having the most beautiful people.

PEREIRA: It's also said they have some of their own tooth (ph) (INAUDIBLE).

CUOMO: I'm just saying. Miss America doesn't disagree. That's all I'm saying. There's only one at the table.

BOLDUAN: She is the authority on it, so I guess she'd know.

PEREIRA: She kind of is. She kind of is. She kind of is.

BOLDUAN: OK.

DAVULURI: But she had the same similar response initially. And she said, you know what, I -- you can talk to my mother and have your parents call her and she just offered herself on a very personal level and we were able to connect.

BOLDUAN: Very cool.

DAVULURI: And it was just such an incredible opportunity.

PEREIRA: But it's got to hurt a little. I mean that has got to be hard when you hear some of those things people say, it's got to be enraging (ph) too. Is that even a word? I don't know. I think I made that up.

DAVULURI: Oh, -- oh, definitely. Yes, definitely. And that was something I experienced to an extent as Miss New York and I knew that, should I win Miss America, it was going to be on a much larger scale. But for one negative tweet remark, comment, I've received dozens of positive support and encouragement.

BOLDUAN: Of course. And that's the perspective not a lot of people have.

CUOMO: And it allows something that the haters don't anticipate, because they don't think before they speak, which is, you are going to have an opportunity by example to show the difference between them and you. What you want to celebrate and they want to denigrate. And through your example, you say everything you need to say, it doesn't matter where the hate comes from.

DAVULURI: Thank you. Yes, absolutely.

PEREIRA: Here, here.

CUOMO: And you're from New York and we really -

BOLDUAN: And you are making headlines for all the right reasons.

DAVULURI: Thank you.

BOLDUAN: Great to meet you. Thank you so much.

DAVULURI: Thank you for having me.

BOLDUAN: Have a fun year. It's going to be a whirlwind.

PEREIRA: I can't wait to see what happens (INAUDIBLE) for you. It's going to be great.

CUOMO: I was going to do the whole Burt Parks (ph) thing. (INAUDIBLE).

BOLDUAN: Do it. Do it right now. Do it. You want to. You brought it - you know he brought it up for a reason.

CUOMO: No -

(CROSS TALK)

BOLDUAN: Three, two -

CUOMO (singing): Here she comes, Miss America.

I've been singing that to my daughters for years.

BOLDUAN: I love you (ph) for that. There you go.

CUOMO: I've got Miss America here.

PEREIRA: (INAUDIBLE) applause.

BOLDUAN: Perfect, perfect, perfect.

CUOMO: It felt good. It felt real good. It may be my next gig. You never know.

BOLDUAN: No, he's leaving us already.

DAVULURI: Yes.

CUOMO: I'd be a terrible interviewer of the Miss America contests. What do you mean? What do you mean?

BOLDUAN: It actually would be horrible to watch, actually.

All right, thank you, Nina.

We also want to make sure you know that you can find out more about the beauty pageant ban in France that we were talking about and Kelly Walsh (ph) brought us the story on CNN Living on cnn.com. You don't want to miss it.

CUOMO: All right, coming up on NEW DAY, an accidental find. New sonar equipment leads police to a treasure trove of evidence they weren't even looking for. The discoveries may solve mysteries some four decades old. We'll give you all the details ahead.

BOLDUAN: And also, a new book traces Duchess Catherine's journey from childhood to the lavish wedding to becoming, of course, the royal mom. We're going to talk to author and CNN royal commentator Katie Nicholl coming up.

CUOMO: Now this song I like. This kid's 16 years old and she's from Iceland.

BOLDUAN: This is a great song.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANNOUNCER: You're watching NEW DAY with Chris Cuomo, Kate Bolduan and Michaela Pereira.

CUOMO: Welcome back to NEW DAY. It's Thursday, September 19th. We want to get straight to Michaela for the five things you need to know for your new day.

PEREIRA: That's right. And we start with a somber note. Back to work for most Washington Navy Yard employees, just days after 12 of their colleagues were gunned down in cold blood. Defense Secretary Hagel ordering three separate reviews to determine how that shooter got security clearance.

Record highs for the Dow and S&P 500. Investors celebrating the Federal Reserve's decision to keep pumping money into the U.S. economy. Stocks now up 20 percent over last year.

House Speaker John Boehner scheduled a vote for tomorrow on a bill to avoid a government shutdown but defund the president's health care law. That bill would be dead on arrival in the Democratic-controlled Senate.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee holds a confirmation hearing this morning on Caroline Kennedy's nomination as U.S. ambassador to Japan. She would be the first woman to serve in that post.

And at number five, somebody's rich. Somebody is $400 million richer in South Carolina. Only one winning ticket was sold. The mystery winner or winners can actually stay a mystery. State rules allow them to remain anonymous if they so choose.

We always update those five things to know, so be sure to go to newdaycnn.com for the very latest.

Guys.

CUOMO: It is a mystery more than four decades old. Oklahoma police find two cars at the bottom of a lake. Inside, the remains of six people. Now police think they could be on the verge of solving two decades-old cold cases. Here's CNN's Ed Lavandera.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Investigators can peel apart the metal of these cars with their bare hands as they look for clues. Two corroded rifles, a muddied wallet and purse and the remains and bones of six people, three in each car. A fluke discovery found in western Oklahoma that might have solved two long forgotten mysteries.

In 1970, three teenagers in a 1969 Camaro disappeared. The mystery of what happened to Jimmy Williams, Michael Rios and Leah Johnson made headlines in the local newspapers. And the year before, in April of 1969, John Alva Porter and two friends were driving around in a 1950s Chevy and never seen again. More than 40 years later, two cars matching those descriptions were found at the bottom of Foss Lake, sitting right next to each other.

DEBBIE MCMANAMAN, MISSING MAN'S GRANDDAUGHTER: It's been so long. It's been 44 years. You know it's -- there's a lot of things in between there that we can't answer because we don't know. We -- it's like through the years, what happened, what happened, just a mystery, we don't know.

LAVANDERA: Debbie McManaman was 13 years old when her Grandpa Porter vanished.

MCMANAMAN: He was here one day and the next day he was gone. I mean no trace. No, you know, clue at all. I mean his bank account was there, his house was locked up, utilities were on. You know, he just walked away.

LAVANDERA (on camera): Debbie McManaman says she used to bring her young kids out to this lake to play. They would stand right there on the water's edge and skip rocks, right over where the cars were found. She can't believe that this whole time her grandfather's body might have been just feet away.

LAVANDERA (voice-over): Alvie Porter, as he was called, performed in wild, wild west shows riding bulls around Oklahoma. After investigators stopped looking for Porter, his oldest son, Ervie Porter, acted as his own detective, for years hunting down every clue he could. He's now 85.

LAVANDERA (on camera): You spent a lot of time looking for him?

ERVIE PORTER, MISSING MAN'S SON: You betcha. Still looking for him. But this is going to help me a whole lot.

LAVANDERA (voice-over): It could take days, maybe even years to identify all six bodies. Investigators haven't ruled out foul play yet, but they suspect the cars accidentally rolled into the water and the people were trapped inside.

Ed Lavandera, CNN, Foss Lake, Oklahoma.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CUOMO: What a story.

BOLDUAN: I know. It's just -- you can't stop talking about it.

CUOMO: Couldn't find the cars. The families had been there all the time. They don't know if it was homicidal or if it's an accident. I mean what a story.

BOLDUAN: Yes.

PEREIRA: Well and it's still -- they have to do the DNA testing to find out for sure if it's the people they hope it is.

CUOMO: That's right.

BOLDUAN: It could be a long time.

CUOMO: And hopefully some families get some closure. Not knowing where your loved ones are in situations like that, it's terrible.

BOLDUAN: And after all these years. Amazing.

All right, coming up next on NEW DAY, married into royalty, now a new mom and a new book looks at Duchess Kate Middleton's - well, we call her Duchess of Cambridge now. We're going to talk with the author and CNN royal commentator Katie Nicholl about her amazing rise.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BOLDUAN: Welcome back to NEW DAY, everyone.

A perfect song for this next story. The future Queen and what's -- that's the name of the new book all about Duchess Catherine, Kate: The Future Queen, from her birth to the birth of her son.

Joining us not to talk about that is author, Katie Nicholl, CNN Royal commentator. We've gotten to know -- we've gotten to hang out a lot over this whole very exciting period for the royal family. When we were together, Katie, in London as Prince George was just being born, you were finishing up this book.

KATIE NICHOLL, CNN ROYAL COMMENTATOR: Yes.

BOLDUAN: And we talked a lot about the fascination not just with the royal family, but in particular Duchess Catherine. So why did you want to write this book?

NICHOLL: I wanted to really get into the heart of Kate. I wanted to just uncover a lot of things I thought were coincidences, unanswered questions. I felt there was so much more to discover about this woman and her past and it was really important to me to get into the background. You know, her school years, those early years in Georgia and her time at school.

Of course, wed all read the rumors about bullying at Downe House. I wanted to know how bad it was. I wanted to know how popular she was Marlborough. I wanted to know who her first boyfriend was. I wanted to really uncover her past. And hopefully I've done that in the new book.

BOLDUAN: Well and people love talking about it and love learning all the little things about Duchess Catherine because there's a lot about her past not many people knew about.

NICHOLL: Yes.

BOLDUAN: Until you uncovered quite a few things in here, including that everyone thought that Kate and William met at university and you say that they met a couple of times before then.

NICHOLL: That's right. So I went and interviewed quite a few of her friends from Marlborough and this was interesting because a lot of them didn't want to go on the record. They were happy to talk, but it was under anonymity because I think there was this wall of silence that was very hard to penetrate, but I did. And I found out that one of the things was that she actually met William when she was at Marlborough. She was in the Sixth Form, William of course was in Eton and they had some mutual friends in common and through these mutual friends they got to meet once or twice, according to Kate.

And I just thought well that was fascinating because to me that shed a new light on the love story. Because like you and everyone else I thought they met at St. Andrews and they didn't, it was before.

BOLDUAN: And also fascinating is this period that everyone deemed kind of the Waity Katie period. This is the time after university when they were kind of -- she was waiting to find out where were they going to go? And of course they did break up and then they ended up getting back together and we all know the story.

NICHOLL: Yes.

BOLDUAN: But everyone thought she that was just waiting around. And she --

NICHOLL: Yes.

BOLDUAN: -- there was a lot of criticism about that. And you found out that it was something very different.

NICHOLL: She was -- she was called Waity Katie. That was how the British press referred to her; Waity because she was waiting for an engagement but also Waity Katie because she didn't really seem to be doing much. Well actually I discovered that she was. She was carrying out secret charity visits to a local hospice near her family home, visiting sick children, taking time with them, taking presents to them. And it was absolutely imperative to her that no one ever found out that she did this.

BOLDUAN: Why is that? Because you'd think that they would want and she was doing a very good thing.

NICHOLL: I know. I think she wanted it under the radar. I don't think she wanted it to be public at that point because I think she wanted to just keep below the surface. She didn't want to draw attention to herself but she wanted to do some good work. And the Queen had quietly suggested to William that maybe she get involved with a charity and Kate took that advice on board. Then I had a really newfound respect for her. I thought That's amazing to be doing that.

BOLDUAN: Very interesting. So of course, the question is what's next? What do you think is next for the future queen and what that means also, what's next? What's the next book?

NICHOLL: Well, the next book? I just got this one out. So the next book who knows. Maybe Prince Harry.

BOLDUAN: Yes.

NICHOLL: But in terms of the next chapter for William and Kate, this is for me where it gets really interesting. They're about to move into Kensington Palace, of course William's former childhood home. That's going to be a fascinating move. They're leaving Anglesey the island in Wales where they lived the last three years and they've had a lot of protection, they've not been exposed.

But now central London, William has given up his career with the military. I think were going to see a lot more of this couple, so I think its a very exciting juncture. And I think Kate is going to come into her own so Im going to watch her great interest.

BOLDUAN: A key part of that -- we both will. And the book is called Kate: The Future Queen and the author is Katie Nicholl a good friend its great to see you.

NICHOLL: Thank you.

BOLDUAN: Of course. Chris.

CUOMO: All right Kate it is time for The Good Stuff and today's edition Bullying and a Brothers love. A mom asked her eight-year-olds Ryan and Amber, to write their letters to Santa early this year. You know to get ahead of any exorbitant request. What her son Ryan asked for really shocked her. His letter starts out Dear Santa, I wanted a remote control car and helicopter but I don't want that anymore. Kids at school are still picking on Amber and its not fair. He adds, I prayed that they will stop but God is busy and needs your help.

Mom Karen, was heartbroken by the letter, of course. She knew that Amber might get teased a little bit but never knew the full extent of it until Ryan's letter. Karen shared the letter with friends for advice and one of them shared it with us at CNN.

Ryan had just one more request of Santa. He writes, Can you ask Big Time Rush to come to Amber's birthday party? It will make her so happy. Big Time Rush is a boy band for kids made popular by the Nickelodeon TV series. Well were not Santa but we got to one of the stars of the show and this is what they say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STEPHEN KRAMER GLICKMAN, ACTOR, BIG TIME RUSH: Hey, Ryan, hey, Amber, its me, Steven Kramer Glickman a.k.a. Gustavo Rock from Big Time Rush. And I spoke to my boys, I spoke to my Dawgs and the band Big Time Rush they know all about what's going on with you.

I cant give you too much information but I can say this. I think Christmas might come early this year. You keep your chin up, ok? We all love you. Ill talk to you soon.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CUOMO: Words couldn't be more true. Amber, we've got your back, from Big Rush here to CNN NEW DAY. Were going to figure out something for you. You've got a heck of a brother there and a family that loves you and we do too. Not just because of the bullying, but because your brother did the right thing. And remember that when you fight with him the next time.

Thank you for reaching out to us. This is how we get the good stuff, so keep it coming and were going to keep you updated on this one.

BOLDUAN: Of course and if you want to do some good stuff and you want to help out the victims of the Colorado floods, we thought it would be appropriate to tell you now that you can visit our Impact Your World page at the CNN.com/impact. You can make a difference yourself.

Coming up next on NEW DAY, give the Rock some credit. He's climbed to the A-list after conquering the wrestling ring and now he's getting John Berman's award of the day. Why, oh why? Find out.

CUOMO: He's one of the few guys who can curl more than Berman.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CUOMO: With a morning for J to the B or man he is here with his new day award of the day award.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Lets talk about Dwayne Johnson. You may know him by another name. He goes by The Rock. He is a tremendous actor with tremendous range and tremendous muscles. How does he get them? He goes to the gym a lot and lifts very, very heavy weights. Sometimes people watch him lifting these heavy weights and they gawk at him. This is what he says to those gawkers, watch.

(DWAYNE JOHNSON AT THE GYM)

BERMAN: A menacing look. Here it is again in case you missed it that time.

It seems that focus is very important to Mr. Rock and for that he wins our award today. He wins the, ok, well focus but you were in Tooth Fairy award because it is in fact true. He was in Tooth Fairy the film. Focus on that for a second, folks.

PEREIRA: You're calling out Mr. Rock.

BOLDUAN: Dangerous, Berman.

BERMAN: But Mr. Rock has a fantastic sense of humor. He does that focusing in the gym. He laughs about it. He posts this video. A very fine guy.

CUOMO: Its funny Mr. Johnson.

BERMAN: He's starring in Hercules right now, by the way.

PEREIRA: He's alone in this one.

BERMAN: They have Cuomo for the role.

CUOMO: Its all him. Were going right to break. Its not me, Dwayne.

PEREIRA: Well be right back to save ourselves. CUOMO: I love you.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Happening now in the NEWSROOM --

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. PETER KING (R), NEW YORK: we cant let the government shut down.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We've seen the movie before.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Washington at war. House Republicans demanding Obamacare be defunded.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. JOHN BOEHNER (R-OHIO), SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE: were going to continue to do everything we can to repeal the Presidents failed health care law.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: a threat intensifying and America getting tired of the same thing happening again.