Deshauna Barber was crowned Miss District of Columbia USA 2016 on December 19’ 2015 following a pageant in Washington, D.C. by the outgoing queen, Lizzy Olsen. Kara McCullough was adjudged as first runner up, Colby Muhammad was announced as second runner-up, Sierra Hadley was declared as third runner-up and Alexis Becton was titled as fourth runner-up. Completing the semi-finalist spots were Porcha Taylor, Jasmine Jones, Courtney Ballenger, Kiara Imani and Courtney Williams. In the same event Dylan Murphy was crowned as Miss Teen District of Columbia USA 2016, Dylan will represent her state at Miss Teen USA 2016 pageant next year.
Among the prizes and awards, Barber by winning the crown also received a scholarship to Lindenwood University, a partial scholarship to the New York Film Academy, money to build wardrobe, gift certificates, dresses and gowns for the Miss USA competition and additional pageant training.
Deshauna Barber hails from Washington DC and is a graduate from Virginia State University with a degree in Bachelor of Science in Business Management. Deshauna is currently pursuing her Masters degree in Information Systems and services from University of Maryland. She works with Department of Commerce as an IT Business Analyst with the Acquisitions Systems department. Deshauna was a semi finalist last year at Miss District of Columbia USA pageant and she has also participated in Miss Virginia USA 2010 where she managed to place in the semi finals.
Being a former Miss Virginia International Barber is a renowned pageant veteran and has a commendable stage presence. If she wins the Miss USA Pageant, she will become the third District of Columbia contestant to wear the national crown. The first two were Miss District of Columbia 1964 Bobbie Johnson and Miss District of Columbia 2002 Shauntay Hinton. Johnson went on to be a semifinalist at the Miss Universe Pageant. District of Columbia has produced two first runner-ups, Michelle Metrinko in 1963 and Liane Angus in 2001 and has had two fourth runner-ups crown and numerous semi final spots at the Miss USA pageant.