By: Kira Demund, contributing intern (@kiracarinaa) There’s no denying that #BlackGirlMagic is at an all-time high in 2016. The winner of this year’s 2016 annual Miss USA Beauty Pageant proved no different. Gracefully winning the crown was Miss District of Columbia’s Deshauna Barber—a 26-year-old Army officer and IT analyst. However, what was perhaps most praised was the racial diversity represented in the top three finalists. Twitter users rejoiced before finalists Miss Hawaii (Chelsea Hardin) and Miss Georgia (Emanii Davis). What a day for diversity and equality. The new Miss USA is a black woman who serves as a commander in the US army. 👌 pic.twitter.com/ghlLegGLmk — Noel Mahabir (@MahabirNoel) June 6, 2016 Last 3 finalist for Miss USA. Diversity. pic.twitter.com/BG4UJdTzzh — ѕтaтιcвoolean (@static_boolean) June 6, 2016 AWW SNAP!!! The new Miss USA is a Black woman. BECAUSE THIS IS THE BLACKEST YEAR EVER!!! 🙌🏾 🙌🏾 🙌🏾 #HellaOnyx — Awesomely Luvvie (@Luvvie) June 6, 2016 Triumphs like this are pivotal to women of color, especially young girls, to instill that we are capable of achieving anything. Promoting and accepting diversity, especially on a large platform such as Miss USA, is quintessential to living in a progressive society. While we may not know if Miss USA’s severing its ties with Donald Trump would have changed the outcome, we are more than happy to see a black woman take home the crown.
