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A 26-year-old Army officer is the new Miss USA — here's her incredible life story

By Anjelica Oswald
deshauna barber
Yass queen: Deshauna Barber, Miss District of Columbia, is the new Miss USA. Ethan Miller/Getty Images
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Meet the new Miss USA.

Deshauna Barber, Miss District of Columbia, was crowned the winner during the Miss USA Pageant Sunday night.

The 26-year-old joined the Army when she was 17, and currently serves as a logistics commander.

She's also an IT analyst for the United States Department of Commerce.

Get to know Miss USA below:

Deshauna Barber became the third woman from DC to be crowned Miss USA on Sunday. The beauty pageant has been held annually since 1952.

deshauna barber
Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Source: Washington Post

She was born December 6, 1989, in Columbus, Georgia, but moved often due to her father's military career. Her mother was also in the Army.

 Source: Miss USA

The 26-year-old joined the Army when she was 17, and has been an Army Reserve officer since 2011. She currently serves as a logistics commander for the 988th Quartermaster Detachment Unit in Fort Meade, Maryland.

Today was a slightly hard day for me. My best friend deployed to Afghanistan last week and I will be honest, I am scared and I miss her dearly. Coming from an army family I recognize the dangerous sacrifices soldiers make everyday and the anxiety that comes with knowing your loved one is overseas. I thought to myself what does her deployment mean to the country? What does her sacrifices mean to this nation I call home? I thought to myself, What does it mean to wear this uniform and stand in front of our flag? I realize it means much more than just patriotism or love for a single nation. This uniform to me means standing up for LOVE and FREEDOM in a world that lacks it. Considering all the events happening nationally and internationally, I feel most inclined to say God Bless America. I feel most inclined to say "I Am A Proud American". Every Time I put on my uniform I thank God for allowing me another opportunity to represent the greatest nation in the world. We have come along way and have a long way to go. Regardless of our hurdles as a nation and as a people of the United States Of America let us not forget the ones who have made the ultimate sacrifice so we can live each and everyday as a free people in a world that lacks freedom. Let us not forget the families that have suffered. Let us not forget that no country is or ever will be perfect. So in a nation filled with flaws it is our responsibility to perfect it, to fight for it, to sacrifice for it and with our very hands craft it into the best nation in the world with highest level of ethical standards and values. In a world filled with hate we must learn to love and to embrace each and every person to our left and right..... No matter their gender, race or religious beliefs. We must do this not only because it is the right thing to do but because of the soldiers that have died and risked their lives so we can all live as a diverse and equal nation. God Bless America🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

A photo posted by Deshauna Barber (@missdcusa) on Mar 2, 2016 at 3:56pm PST

 Source: Miss USA

She holds a business management degree from Virginia State University.

deshauna barber miss usa
Ethan Miller/Getty Images

 Source: Miss USA

She is also an IT analyst for the US Department of Commerce.

Source: Miss USA

She stood up for women's roles in the military after being asked if opening all combat roles to women had "put political correctness over our military's ability to perform at the highest level."

 Source: USA Today

She responded, "As a woman in the United States Army, I think it was an amazing job by our government to allow women to integrate into every branch of the military. We are just as tough as men. As a commander of my unit, I'm powerful, I am dedicated and it is important that we recognize that gender does not limit us in the United States."

More Than Pretty Soldier + Nurse = 👑 #MissDCUSA #MissCTUSA #MissUSA #RoadToMissUSA

A photo posted by Deshauna Barber (@missdcusa) on May 28, 2016 at 1:15pm PDT

Source: CNN

She also focuses on PTSD treatment for returning soldiers.

I am at MISS USA, how can you not smile? 😉 #MissUSA #MissDCUSA #RoadToMissUSA

A photo posted by Deshauna Barber (@missdcusa) on May 27, 2016 at 4:33pm PDT

Source: Miss USA

In a pre-show interview, she explained how she wants to break stereotypes. "I’m being able to say that no one pageant girl does the same thing or has the same background, and I’m also saying that no one soldier has the same background and does the same thing. We can be feminine, we can be in beauty contests, we can be models."

Source: Miss USA

According to her Miss USA bio, she likes to dance and hike.

Hula Hooping With 2 Hula Hoops Requires Talent People 😉 #MissDCUSA #MissUSA #RoadToMissUSA

A photo posted by Deshauna Barber (@missdcusa) on May 29, 2016 at 12:16pm PDT

Source: Miss USA

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anjelica
Anjelica Oswald
Anjelica was a pop-culture reporter at INSIDER. Before that she was an entertainment intern at Business Insider. She graduated from Ohio University's Scripps College of Communication in May 2015 and watches far too much TV. 
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