Trans woman Kataluna Enriquez created a history as she was crowned Miss Silver State USA 2021 award for Miss Nevada USA 2021 competition. The local pageant is the biggest preliminary competition ahead of Miss Nevada USA, which she's thrilled to compete in. Director Marissa Castillo calls Kataluna Enriquez’s win a very proud moment.
After winning the chance to represent Silver State at Miss Nevada USA 2021, Kataluna mentioned that the journey to the crown was not smooth. She stated, “Miss Silver State was a great experience to me it was honestly a celebration of womanhood and diversity and this celebration of being your true self.”
Explaining about her not so smooth ride to the crown, she mentioned that a former pageant once required her to undergo a medical examination and submit a doctor’s letter certifying that she was in fact female, an invasive requirement not asked of any other competitors. That competition’s organizers also didn’t give her a roommate during the pageant, something given to every other woman who competed.
Kataluna stated that awareness of the transgender community is now something that she will work towards to because since she has experienced it first-hand, she knows on what areas she needs to work on to make the ride smooth for the aspiring trans woman in beauty pageants. She also mentioned that she understands that change doesn't come easily and some beauty pageants may not be ready for transgender title holders.
Kataluna is 27-years-old and has competed in transgender pageant in 2016 but she decided to participate in cisgender pageant last year and is now using her platform partly to discuss the challenges she has faced as a trans person and pageant competitor. She was initially scared to participate at Miss Silver State USA 2021 competition but she believed in herself and went for it.
Talking further she stated, “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.” During question-and-answer round of the competition, Enriquez was asked to describe an obstacle she has faced and is overcoming. “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 colour. Personally, I’ve learned that my differences do not make me less than, it makes me more than. And my differences are what makes me unique, and I know that my uniqueness will take me to all my destinations, and whatever I need to go through in life.”
The beauty queen stated that she will focus on mentally preparing herself, getting in shape, and designing her own gowns for the competition. She is strong, confident, and assured that she will perform her best on-stage and will surely work towards representing Nevada at Miss USA 2021 stage.