Kára McCullough made Miss USA history last night with a back-to-back win for the District of Columbia.
The 2016 queen, Deshauna Barber, tearfully passed down the crown to her District of Columbia sister as the two embraced over the emotional victory last night.
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Though the moment was beautiful, there’s SO much more to this year’s Miss USA story than frilly dresses, diamond-encrusted crowns and sappy wishes for “world peace.”
Just before the winner was announced, Deshauna opened up about her sweet mama who couldn’t be there for the Mother’s Day event. In a taped segment, the reigning queen shared that her mom, Cordelia Barber, passed away briefly after she won the Miss USA pageant last year.
In her honor, the American beauty said that she’d be sporting an afro on stage, a style reminiscent of her mother’s own hair.
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She took her shimmery sleek mane back to her roots in tribute to her mom, and was it ever STUNNING.
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Deshauna honors her mothers as she takes her final walk as #MissUSA. pic.twitter.com/KBqnUk2qIy
— Miss USA (@MissUSA) May 15, 2017
Deshauna also got honest about her own “dramatically emotional” crowning last year, admitting that the reason behind her tears went so much deeper than vying for a coveted title.