Filipina-American Kataluna Enriquez makes history as the first transgender Miss Silver State USA
A Filipina-American transgender woman made history in the pageant scene in Nevada, USA. Miss Silver State USA crowned Kataluna Enriquez as the winner. She became the first-ever transgender woman to do so in the history of the beauty pageant. Prior to this, Kataluna worked as a fashion designer.
Her journey to the crown never came easy for the 27-year-old fashion designer. One pageant even required her to prove her female status before allowing her to compete. Miss Silver State USA – considered the most prestigious preliminary competition for the Miss Nevada USA competition. Her most recent win earned her a place in the statewide pageant.
“It was a great experience to me.
“It was honestly a celebration of womanhood and diversity and just a celebration of being your true self.”
According to Kataluna, things went smoothly until event organizers realized she was a transgender woman. In fact, she noticed a decidedly cold reception from that point forward. Although they eventually let her compete, they refused to assign her a roommate.
“I was asked to provide documents that were invasive, in my opinion, physically asking me to get a letter from my doctor,” Kataluna said.
“It brought me back to the time where I felt like I was not welcome,” she added.
During the interview round, Kataluna left an impressive statement that definitely made her won the crown.
“Growing up, I was often told that I was not allowed to be myself, or to be in spaces that I was not welcome,
“One of the obstacles I encounter every day is just being true to myself. Today I am a proud transgender woman of color.”
Kataluna already won various local and national titles before. She won Queen California, Queen USA 2016, and Super Sireyna WWUSA. With her latest victory, the new Miss Silver State USA becomes eligible to compete in the Miss Nevada USA in June. Her ultimate goal remains to win that event and move on to the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageant.
