Miss USA 2016 Crown Goes To D.C. Army Officer Deshauna Barber

Deshauna Barber, a 26-year-old Army officer f-rom the District of Columbia, won the Miss USA crown on Sunday night.

During the annual beauty pageant, which was held at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Barber beat out 51 other women for the title. She will go on to compete in the Miss Universe contest later this year.

Barber works as an IT analyst for the U.S. Department of Commerce and is a logistics commander for the 988th Quartermaster Detachment Unit at Fort Meade, Maryland, according to her Miss USA profile.

“As a woman in the United States Army, I think … we are just as tough as men. As a commander of my unit, I’m powerful, I am dedicated,” Barber said when asked about women in combat. “Gender does not limit us in the United States Army.” 

Miss Georgia Emanii Davis was the 1st runner-up at the pageant. Second place went to Miss Hawaii Chelsea Hardin.

A total of 52 women participated in the pageant this year. In addition to representatives f-rom each state and D.C., 26-year-old Oklahoma native Alexander Miller served as “Miss 52 USA” after she was voted in by fans.