Transgender Woman Crowned Miss Nevada, Will Compete For Title Of Miss USA In November
A transgender woman just won the title of Miss Nevada for the first time in the pageant’s history and will continue on to compete for the title of Miss USA. Kataluna Enriquez was crowned the winner Sunday at the pageant at the South Point hotel-casino in Las Vegas.
Enriquez was up against 21 other candidates with the winner getting the right to represent Nevada in the Miss USA pageant that will be held on Nov. 29.
Enriquez said earlier: “One thing that is important for me is inclusivity, diversity and representation. It’s something I did not have growing up and is still lacking in today’s world,” said Enriquez. “Today I am a proud transgender woman of color. Personally, I’ve learned that my differences do not make me less than, it makes me more than.”
“I did not always have money and it’s hard for women to find dresses that fit their bodies,” the newly crowned Miss Nevada USA said. “Pageantry is so expensive and I wanted to compete and be able to grow and develop skills and create gowns for myself and other people.”
“I wanted to share my story and present that I was more than just a body,” says Enriquez. “With pageantry, people think it is only about beauty. But it’s how you present yourself, what you advocate for, what you’ve done and the goals you have.”
From CNN:
She will be the first openly transgender woman to compete for the title of Miss USA. If she wins, she will be the second trans woman to join the Miss Universe pageant after Spain’s Angela Ponce in 2018.
Miss Trans Global 2020 Mela Habijan has celebrated Enriquez’s victory.
“Our trans Pinay sister, Kataluna Enriquez, made history today! She won Miss Nevada 2021. She will be the first trans woman to compete at the Miss USA Pageant!” she tweeted.
OUR TRANS PINAY SISTER, KATALUNA ENRIQUEZ, MADE HISTORY TODAY! SHE WON MISS NEVADA 2021.
— Mela Habijan (@missmelahabijan) June 28, 2021
She will be the first trans woman to compete at the Miss USA Pageant! Yaaaaassss! Mabuhay ka, Sis Kataluna Enriquez! 👸🏾🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈🇵🇭❤️ pic.twitter.com/HRt4b3w2tM
The most beautiful woman in #Nevada is a transgender.
— Sara A. Carter (@SaraCarterDC) June 29, 2021
She'll be competing for Miss USA pageant in Nov. https://t.co/rAclLnym6n
I can’t believe they allow BB guns in NY … https://t.co/Y4XHEyOKcJ
— Sara A. Carter (@SaraCarterDC) June 29, 2021