Deshauna Barber (born December 6, 1989) is an American beauty pageant titleholder and officer in the United States Army. On June 5, 2016, she was crowned Miss USA 2016 by outgoing titleholderOlivia Jordan of Oklahoma. She will represent the USA at Miss Universe 2016.

Early life[edit]

Barber was born in December 6, 1989 in Columbus, Georgia. She lived in several states as a child due to her father's military career such as North Carolina, Nebraska, Minnesota, Virginia, and Washington D.C.. Barber joined the United States Army at age 17.^[1] She attended Virginia State University and graduated with a degree in business management.^[2] She went on to work as an IT analyst for the United States Department of Commerce, and later as a quartermaster officer and logistics commander in the Army.^[3][4] She earned her master's degree in management information systems and services from University of Maryland University College.^[5]

Pageantry[edit]

Miss District of Columbia USA 2016[edit]

Barber was crowned Miss District of Columbia USA 2016 on December 19, 2015 by outgoing titleholder Lizzy Olsen.^[6]

Miss USA 2016[edit]

On June 5, 2016, Barber competed in the Miss USA 2016 pageant in Las Vegas, Nevada. She went on to win the competition, beating out first runner-up Chelsea Hardin of Hawaii. She was crowned by outgoing Miss USA, Olivia Jordan of Oklahoma.^[7] She is the seventh African American woman to obtain the crown of Miss USA.

Miss Universe 2016[edit]

Barber will represent the USA at Miss Universe 2016 where she will compete to succeed the current titleholder, Pia Wurtzbach of the Philippines.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deshauna_Barber