The organization of Miss Nevada USA hosted the coronation for Miss Nevada USA 2021 on 27th June 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States, where Kataluna Enriquez was crowned as Miss Nevada USA 2021 at the end of the event's finale. Kataluna succeeded Miss Nevada USA 2020 Victoria Olona and will represent Nevada in the upcoming edition of Miss USA.
Hailing from Silver State, Kataluna is 27-years-old and is of Filipino-American descent. She is the first transwoman to compete in Miss Nevada USA and will now go on to become the first transwoman to compete in Miss USA 2021. She is a fashion designer and has her fashion brand, ‘Kataluna Kouture’ and she designed her outfits for the competition along with her pride-inspired evening gown which she wore during the finale.
Miss Nevada USA 2021 Kataluna Enriquez’s court includes:
First runner-up: Brittany Butler
Second runner-up: Emily Irene
Third runner-up: Luana Paul
Fourth runner-up: Lana Do
The diva shared that while growing up, she was not allowed to be herself or be in spaces where she was not welcome, but today, she is proud of who she is. Kataluna shared that she has learned that her differences do not make her less than anybody. She added, "My differences are what make me unique, and I know that my uniqueness will take me to all my destinations, and whatever I need to go through in life."
Kataluna studied fashion design at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) in Los Angeles, California, and started modeling in 2012. She represented California at Transnation Queen USA 2016, which she won at the Theatre of the Ace Hotel in Los Angeles. She also represented the United States at Miss International Queen 2018 in Pattaya City, Thailand, and was placed in the Top 12 at the end of the event's finale.
The diva started working as a health care administrator at LGBTQ Health Care and is using her platform to be a point of representation, to discuss healthcare access for the trans community, and to speak out about the barriers she has faced due to her identity. "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," she said.
After being crowned as Miss Silver States USA 2021, she shared that the beauty pageant was a great experience for her and it was a celebration of womanhood and diversity and just a celebration of being your true self and she loved every second of it. "One thing that is important to me is inclusivity, diversity, and representation. It’s something I did not have growing up and is still lacking in today’s world," said the queen.
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 win 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 in the Miss USA Pageant!" she mentioned on her social media.
Miss Teen Nevada USA 2021 was also held on the same night as Noelani Mendoza was crowned the new queen. She will represent Nevada at Miss Teen USA 2021. Alyssa Fuller, Alexandria Lash, Emily Hernandez, and Dezirae were adjudged as the first, second, third, and fourth runners-up respectively at the end of the event's finale.
Congratulations, queens!