Las Vegas: A 26-year-old Army officer is the newly crowned 2016 Miss USA.

Deshauna Barber, from the District of Columbia, was on Sunday crowned the winner at a ceremony in Las Vegas and will now go on to compete in the Miss Universe competition.

Army officer Deshauna Barber has been crowned Miss USA. Credit:Twitter

During the ceremony Barber responded strongly to a question about the role of women in combat.

"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," Barber said.