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The annual Miss USA pageant took place in Las Vegas last night — the first since Donald Trump sold it to New York Fashion Week organizers WME/IMG. Your newly crowned winner? Deshauna Barber, a 26-year-old IT analyst and Army Reserve officer from the District of Columbia, the first member of the military to win the title.
She used her experience to shine a light on women in the military during the question-and-answer portion of the pageant, after judge Joe Zee asked her whether opening combat roles to women "put political correctness over our military's ability to perform." She responded, "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. 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."
As for her choice of outfits, she first went for a festive matching set:
Then changed into a chevron print bikini:
And for her evening gown, a long-sleeved gold and silver dress that was dripping with diamonds:
In the preliminary contest on June 1st, she wore yet another gold, long-sleeve gown by evening gown designer Juan Carlos Pinera:
Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images
When she inevitably goes on to win the Miss Universe pageant come December, let's just hope the host reads the correct name.