By Mheryll L. Alforte
Filipino-American Kataluna Enriquez made pageant history when she became the first-ever transgender woman to win Miss Nevada USA. The title earned her the right to represent the state in the Miss USA 2021 in November.
On Monday, Enriquez edged out 21 other candidates in the beauty tilt staged at the South Point Hotel Casino & Spa in Las Vegas.
“Huge thank you to everyone who supported me from day one. My community, you are always in my heart. My win is our win. We just made history. Happy Pride,” Enriquez said in her Instagram post.
During the pageant finals, the 27-year-old beauty dazzled in a rainbow-colored gown that she personally made as a fashion designer.
“In honor of pride month and to all of those who don’t get a chance to spread their colors,” she added in her caption.
Fellow Filipino transgender woman Mela Franco Habijan, who was crowned Miss Trans Global 2020, also celebrated Enriquez’s historic victory by sharing a photo of the new beauty queen.
“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 will be the first trans woman to compete at the Miss USA Pageant,” “ Habijan wrote in a tweet.
A pageant veteran, Enriquez competed at Transnation Queen USA representing California in 2016. In March 2018, she competed in Thailand where she was the United States’ delegate to Miss International Queen.
Unbeknownst to many, she was also a candidate in the popular local variety show Eat Bulaga!s Super Sireyna Worldwide 2018 where she also represented the U.S.
Should Enriquez win the Miss USA competition, she will be the second transgender woman to compete in the global pageantry stage after Spain’s Angela Ponce from Miss Universe 2018.
