Miss District of Columbia USA Deshauna Barber was crowned Miss USA 2016 at the new T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on June 5, 2016. The telecast aired live on FOX and CHI Haircare was the title sponsor of the event. 

Barber is 26 years old and was born in Columbus, Georgia. The daughter of an Army Master Sergeant (now retired), she relocated multiple times growing up to states including North Carolina, Nebraska, Minnesota, Virginia and Washington, D.C. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from Virginia State University, she returned to Washington, D.C. where she is currently working as an IT Analyst for the U.S. Department of Commerce. In 2011, Barber commissioned as a Quartermaster Officer in the Army and is currently a Logistics Commander for the 988th Quartermaster Detachment Unit at Fort Meade, Maryland. Deshauna is passionate about serving the men and women in the U.S. military, specifically focusing her efforts on PTSD treatment for soldiers returning from deployments and suicide prevention in the Armed Forces. 

The newly crowned Miss USA 2016, Deshauna Barber poses with Farouk Shami, Founder of Farouk Systems, backstage at the CHI Lounge after the 2016 MISS USA® Competition, which aired live from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on FOX Sunday, June 5th. HO/The Miss Universe Organization

Photographer: Matt Petit

Emmy Award winner Julianne Hough and three-time Emmy Award nominee Terrence “J” Jenkins co-hosted the three-hour event, for which they both served as creative producers. Model, entrepreneur and body activist Ashley Graham took viewers behind-the-scenes as backstage host. Best-selling artists Backstreet Boys, Grammy-nominated country music star Chris Young, and international performers Nervo took the MISS USA stage to perform throughout the night.

Judges Nigel Barker, Laura Brown, Ali Landry, Crystle Stewart and Joe Zee selected Deshauna Barber from an incredible group of 52 women from 50 states and District of Columbia, as well as Miss 52 USA, Alexandra Miller, who was selected via #FindingMiss52, a nationwide search for a 52nd contestant to compete in this year’s event. Additionally, fans had the opportunity to help their favorite contestants secure a place in the Top 15 by casting their votes leading up to and during the telecast through the new Miss U mobile app.

Contestants competed in three categories: swimsuit, evening gown and interview, which culminated in Miss USA 2015 Olivia Jordan from Oklahoma crowning Deshauna Barber.

Final Results:

First Runner-Up: Miss Hawaii USA Chelsea Hardin

Second Runner-Up: Miss Georgia USA Emanii Davis

Top Three: Miss Georgia USA Emanii Davis; Miss Hawaii USA Chelsea Hardin; Miss District of Columbia USA Deshauna Barber.

Top Five: Miss Georgia USA Emanii Davis; Miss Hawaii USA Chelsea Hardin; Miss District of Columbia USA Deshauna Barber; Miss Alabama USA Peyton Brown; Miss California USA Nadia Mejia.