Kataluna Enriquez will become the first transgender woman ever to compete for Miss USA, reports Rappler.
Enriquez won the title this weekend of Miss Nevada.
“In honor of Pride month, and all of those who don’t get a chance to spread their colors,” Enriquez said about her rainbow-inspired gown.
News of Enriquez’ victory spread quickly through the transgender community.
“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,” Miss Trans Global 2020 Mela Habijan proclaimed on Twitter.
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
Katalina Enriquez grew up in San Leandro, CA east of San Francisco. She studied fashion design at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Las Vegas. She won the Transnation Queen USA title in 2016, according to Sportskeeda.
However she has not always felt welcomed in the pageant world.
“I was asked to provide documents that were invasive in my opinion physically asking me to get a letter from my doctor,” Enriquez said to Fox5 back in March. The doctor had to certify that she was female.
During one pageant, she was the only one not to get a roommate.
“It brought me back to time where I felt like I was not welcome,” Enriquez said.
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