Tri-Service
Army Officer Named Miss USA
An army officer who battled her way to become the new Miss USA has spoken about women in combat.
Deshauna Barber, 26, is the first military member to win the beauty contest, held in Las Vegas, and will now compete in the Miss Universe event. Sporting a glittering gold gown, she said:
"As a woman in the United States Army, I think we are just as tough as men. As a commander of my unit, I'm powerful, I am dedicated. Gender does not limit us in the United States."
After her triumph the reservist lieutenant from north-east District of Columbia said she planned to take a break from the Army and had already discussed with superiors the possibility of going inactive for a couple of years should she win the title.
Attention: First Lieutenant Deshauna Barber is reporting for duty as #MissUSA 2016.https://t.co/AB0UAHCHhg
— MISS USA (@MissUSA) June 6, 2016
Ms Barber currently serves two days a month.
"My commander should be watching right now," she said. "Two days a month is definitely not active duty.
"It is an obligation that I signed up for but they are very flexible in the United States Army Reserves."
Ms Barber said she plans to use the pageant's spotlight and her title to support veterans' causes and tackle the issue of suicide and post-traumatic stress disorder among military members.
When asked what message she had for the presidential candidates - including former pageant owner and presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump - Barber said they should focus more on forces issues including the backlog at veterans' hospitals.
"I think that a lot of the topics that they discuss isn't [sic] as important," she said.
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