Deshauna Barber is holding her head high and adjusting her crown after being named Miss USA 2016. The 26-year-old is a Columbus, Georgia native and the proud daughter of a retired Army Master Sergeant. Barber spoke of the military aspect of her family to the Washington Post prior to the event, “I consider it to be a family tradition. It’s something that runs through our veins — patriotism and service for this country.” Barber joined the army at 17 and after receiving her bachelors from Virginia State University, she relocated to Washington D.C. According to her bio, she now works full-time as an IT Analyst for the U.S. Department of Commerce. In 2011 she commissioned as a Quartermaster Officer and she currently serves as a logistics commander for the 988th Quartermaster Detachment Unit at Fort Meade, Maryland as an army reservist. Judge Joe Zee posed the question to Barber concerning women in the military that some are saying clinched her victory asking, “The Pentagon recently made the decision to open up all combat jobs to women. Now, some have questioned whether this has put political correctness over our military’s ability to perform at the highest level. What are your thoughts?” Without missing a beat, likely because she is a living example, Barber’s response was, “As a woman in the United States Army, I think it was an amazing job by our government to allow women to integrate to every branch of the military. We are just as tough as men. As a commander of my unit, I am powerful. I am dedicated. And it is important that we recognize that gender does not limit us in the United States Army.” Barber made history as the first military member to win the pageant. Barber intends to use her platform as Miss USA to bring attention to the mental and physical health concerns of veterans post-service.
