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Ananya Vinay, 12, of Fresno, California, gets a kiss from her mom, Anu Pama Poliyedathpp, after winning the 2017 Scripps National Spelling Bee on June 1, 2017, in Oxon Hill, Maryland.  Mark Wilson/Getty Images
Ananya Vinay, 12, of Fresno, California, gets a kiss from her mom, Anu Pama Poliyedathpp, after winning the 2017 Scripps National Spelling Bee on June 1, 2017, in Oxon Hill, Maryland.  (Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

PHOTOS: Fresno Girl Wins Scripps National Spelling Bee

PHOTOS: Fresno Girl Wins Scripps National Spelling Bee

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"Marocain."

It could just be the word for a dress fabric of ribbed crepe, made of silk or wool or both.

But it's not.

It's the word that broke an intense streak of ties -- the word that brought 12-year-old Ananya Vinay from Fresno, California, the youngest finalist at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Oxon Hill, Maryland, to victory.

"It was kind of intense," Vinay said in an interview after beating eighth-grader Rohan Rajeev from Oklahoma. Vinay and Rajeev competed in 21 rounds before Rohan stumbled on the word "marram."

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Vinay took home $40,000 in cash, a $2,500 savings bond and, of course, a collection of reference books.

Vinay's philosophy is a simple one: "If you try your best, you're a winner."

In case you were wondering what her favorite word was, try spelling this one: spizzerinctum. Definition: ambition to succeed.

“It motivates me,” she said. “I hope I get a word I know and I just keep going."

The road to the spelling championship is full of highs and lows. Here are more photos from the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Oxon Hill, Maryland.

Rohan Rajeev, 14, waits to hear if Ananya Vinay of Fresno, California, spells "marocain" correctly to win the 2017 Scripps National Spelling Bee. (Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
Ananya Vinay of Fresno, California, with her trophy. (Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
Samhita Sandhya Kumar of Gold River, California, reacts after spelling her word correctly during the final round of the 2017 Scripps National Spelling Bee. (Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
Grace Jones (L) of New Carlisle, Indiana, and Asha Chauhan (R) of Elmwood Park, New Jersey, wait on stage during round three of the 2017 Scripps National Spelling Bee. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Ben Lenger of Niwot, Colorado, yawns as he waits on stage during round two. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
A parent takes pictures of competitors on stage. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

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