What an honor it was to have witnessed Miss District of Columbia, 26-year old Deshauna Barber, be crowned at this year’s Miss USA pageant on June 5, 2016. Not only is the face of the United States of America now an African-American woman and the third black woman to ever do it, but she is also an HBCU alumna, hailing from Virginia State University. She is the 2nd HBCU graduate to earn the crown since Howard University’s Shauntay Hinton in 2002. It’s also fair to mention that the event was hosted by popular actor and television host, Terrence J., who is also an HBCU graduate, alumni of the North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University.
The most striking attribute to conclude about this young lady was duality and her ability to exhibit and maintain a standard of both strength and beauty. Having a background in the U.S. military as logistics commander for the 988th Quartermaster Detachment Unit in Fort Meade, Maryland and IT expert for the U.S. Department of commerce, she epitomizes what it means to have brains and beauty. With diligence, grace, strength, poise, intelligence, and an all around amazing aura, she represents black culture, her family, her alma mater, and black women extremely well.
Life is but a dream: A message from #MissUSA 2016, Deshauna Barber!https://t.co/mYMHzv7KYY
— Miss USA (@MissUSA) June 6, 2016
