Army Reserve officer Deshauna Barber crowned Miss USA 2016

An Army Reserve officer and IT analyst from the District of Columbia has been crowned Miss USA 2016 after mounting a strong defense of women in combat roles in the military.

Deshauna Barber, a 26-year-old from the nation's capital, gave the answer during the interview section of the pageant in Las Vegas on Sunday.

When asked by judge Joe Zee whether the Pentagon's decision to open up all combat roles to women had "put political correctness over our military's ability to perform," 1st Lt. Barber 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."

She continued: "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."

Barber hopes to use her profile as Miss USA to highlight the health issues veterans face when they return from combat, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, her bio said.

-CNN