S*xy U.S. Army Commander Crowned Miss USA 2016 (Photos)

The 26-year-old army officer won after giving a strong answer about women in combat, saying gender doesn't limit women in the U.S. 

26-year-old Deshauna Barber, a Logistics Commander for the 988th Quartermaster Detachment Unit at Fort Meade, Maryland, has broken down in tears after she is crowned the winner of Sunday's 2016 Miss USA competition held at the T-Mobile Arena off the Las Vegas Strip.


Deshauna whose mother, father, brother and sister have also served in the army, claimed the title after giving a strong answer when asked about women in combat, saying that gender doesn't limit women in America.

She represented Miss District of Colombia in Miss USA 

Barber said that women are just as tough as men during the question-and-answer segment, adding: 'As a commander of my unit, I'm powerful, I am dedicated. Gender does not limit us in the United States.'

Now, Barber, who is the first-ever member of the military to win Miss USA, says she'll be taking a break from the Army Reserves to juggle her new duties. She said her current Army commitment is two days per month but that there's great flexibility with the Reserves.

Barber who entered the beauty pegeant competition represented Miss District of Columbia, and says she will use her year with the title supporting veteran's causes and hopes to tackle the issue of suicide and post-traumatic stress disorder among military members.

Barber was born in Columbus, Georgia, but has lived in multiple states due to her father's military career before settling in Washington, D.C.

Barber's father served in the Special Forces for 24 years and that's how he met her mother, who was also in the military.

Barber poses with other contestants after being crowned Miss USA 2016 during the 2016 Miss USA pageant 

'My siblings and I knew when we graduated from high school that we wanted to join,' she added. Barer said she joined at 17, while her brother and sister enlisted at 18 right straight out of high school.

'I ended up going through the ROTC program at university and commissioned to be officer in the United States Army in 2011. It's been the greatest decision I've ever made,' she said.