PETERSBURG, Virginia -- Virginia State University is proud to congratulate graduate Deshauna Barber. On Sunday night, Miss Barber was crowned MISS USA 2016. The NC native graduated from the Reginald F. Lewis College of Business at Virginia State University in 2011 with a degree in Business Management and is an IT Business Analyst at the Department of Commerce in Washington D.C. In addition, Deshauna is a Company Commander in the United States Army Reserve. She represented the District of Columbia in the Miss USA Pageant.
“We are exceedingly proud to have a Trojan represent the USA in this capacity,” says VSU President Dr. Makola Abdullah. “Deshauna exemplifies scholarship, leadership, and inner strength. She is a role model for all students.”
Miss Barber beat out 50 other women to claim the title of MISS USA 2016. She secured her position as a top three finalist when she answered a question about the Pentagon's recent decision to open up all combat jobs to women. "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," said Barber. "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 Army.”
In the final question, to secure the title, Miss Barber was asked to describe what it means to be Confidently Beautiful. "To me confidently beautiful means understanding that it's not always about your appearance. It's not always about who you're around and how they feel you look, where they feel you come from or your economic background," Deshauna explained. "Serving in the military has taught me that being confidently beautiful is about being able to earn respect from people regardless of what you look like. As a woman in the military, people associate beauty with weakness and they learn very quickly that I'm extremely strong, and although I'm small, I'm powerful and confidently beautiful is being myself and being very happy with who I've become."
CONGRATULATIONS Fellow Trojan DESHAUNA BARBER, MISS USA 2016.
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