The new Miss USA, who's an Army officer, gave a passionate defense of women in the military

People are pretty excited about the newly crowned Miss USA, Deshauna Barber, who won the pageant Sunday night, when it aired on Fox.

Barber, 26, works for the Department of Commerce and is a Captain in the Army and commander of the 988th Quartermaster Detachment at Fort Meade in Maryland. She's from the DC area.

She stepped up to the mic Sunday night to answer a question from a judge about the Pentagon's recent decision to allow women in all combat roles in the military. The judge asked what she thinks of the criticism that the move "puts political correctness over our military's ability to perform."

"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 said, to huge applause.

"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."

The enthusiasm could be felt outside the room, too. People on social media were in thrall to Miss DC, soon to be Miss USA.

SEE ALSO: Everything Miss Universe gets when she wins the pageant — a luxury apartment, free clothes, and more

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Watch Christie beg to be Trump’s vice president on 'Saturday Night Live'