Kataluna Enriquez

Last updated

Kataluna Enriquez
Kataluna.jpg
Born1994or1995(age 28–29) [1]
Angeles City, Pampanga, Philippines
NationalityAmerican
Years active2015–present
Known forFirst openly transgender woman to compete in Miss USA
Beauty pageant titleholder
Major
competition(s)		 Miss International Queen 2018
(Top 12)
Miss Nevada USA 2021
(Winner)
Miss USA 2021
(Unplaced)

Kataluna Patricia Enriquez is an American beauty pageant titleholder. In March 2021, she won the Miss Silver State USA pageant. On June 27, 2021, she was crowned Miss Nevada USA. [2] With her wins, she became the first openly transgender woman to earn the titles and to become qualified to compete in the Miss USA pageant. [3] [4] She is also the owner of a clothing line, Kataluna Kouture. [5] [6]

Contents

Early life and education

Kataluna Enriquez was born in the Philippines and emigrated to the United States with her family when she was 10, settling in San Leandro, California and becoming a member of the San Leandro Academy for Multimedia (SLAM), in the San Francisco Bay Area. [7] [8] [9] She is Filipina American [10] [3] [5] and is the eldest of seven siblings. [11]

She has spoken publicly about her high school experiences surviving bullying, abuse, and discrimination due to her gender identity, as well as her positive experiences with mental health therapy during childhood. [12]

Enriquez later attended school for fashion design at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising. [5] [9]

Career

Enriquez began competing in transgender pageants in 2015, [2] [9] while working as a model. [12] She has previously won Queen California, Queen USA 2016, [13] and Super Sireyna WWUSA. [14] When she first began competing, she was unable to afford custom designer gowns, so she designed her own and later started her own fashion line, Kataluna Kouture. [15] [16] She began competing in cisgender pageants in 2020. [3]

She has used the platform of pageants to advocate for inclusivity and diversity, and to promote transgender rights and support for LGBTQ+ youth. [11] [1] [12] [17] She also uses her social media to promote the hashtag #BEVISIBLE, in a campaign against hate that includes sharing her life experiences. [5] [16]

In March 2021, Enriquez won Miss Silver State USA, [12] [11] which qualified her to compete at Miss Nevada USA 2021, and she was the first openly transgender woman to win the Miss Silver State USA title. [14] [16] In June 2021, she won the title of Miss Nevada USA, which qualified her to participate in the Miss USA 2021 pageant and made her the first openly transgender woman to compete for the Miss USA title. [10] [18] [19] [20] At Miss USA 2021, Enriquez did not advance to the final stage. [21] [22] Afterwards, Miss USA Elle Smith said it was "an honor" to participate with Enriquez and "she had every right to be on that stage". [23] As Miss Nevada USA, Enriquez plans to engage in public speaking and advocacy on behalf of the LGBTQIA Center of Southern Nevada and Las Vegas TransPride. [9]

In addition to her work as a model and fashion designer, she also works as a healthcare administrator [16] with a focus on healthcare needs for LGBTQ+ patients. [5] [11]

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References

  1. 1 2 Goldstein, Joelle (June 30, 2021). "What to Know About Kataluna Enriquez, the First Transgender Woman to Be Crowned Miss Nevada USA". People . Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  2. 1 2 Mark, Julian (June 30, 2021). "Kataluna Enriquez dreamed of seeing a transgender Miss USA contestant. 'I never thought that it would be me.'". The Washington Post . Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 Betancourt, Sarah (June 30, 2021). "Miss Nevada to be first openly transgender Miss USA contestant". The Guardian . Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  4. ↑ Lawrence, Christopher (June 29, 2021). "Miss Nevada USA 'a breath of fresh air,' say transgender advocates". Las Vegas Review-Journal . Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Brantley-Jones, Kiara (July 19, 2021). "Kataluna Enriquez, 1st transgender woman to win Miss Nevada USA, speaks out on overcoming challenges to claim title". Good Morning America . Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  6. ↑ Ritschel, Chelsea (June 30, 2021). "Miss Nevada USA winner to become first openly transgender woman to compete in Miss USA". The Independent . Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  7. ↑ "Kataluna Enriquez bio: First transgender woman win Miss Nevada USA".
  8. ↑ Corona, Marcella (July 2, 2021). "Transgender woman crowned Miss Nevada makes history: 'I am beyond honored'". Reno Gazette-Journal . Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  9. 1 2 3 4 MacNeil, Sara (June 30, 2021). "Nevada winner will be first transgender woman to compete in Miss USA pageant". Las Vegas Sun . Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  10. 1 2 Avery, Dan (June 30, 2021). "Nevada pageant winner to become 1st transgender Miss USA contestant". NBC News . Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  11. 1 2 3 4 "Champions of Pride 2021 From the Rugged West". The Advocate . June 15, 2021. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  12. 1 2 3 4 Karel, Janna (March 19, 2021). "1st Nevada transgender pageant winner reflects on obstacles". Las Vegas Review-Journal . Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  13. ↑ Nelson, Steffie (October 27, 2016). "Inside Queen USA, the Transgender Beauty Pageant at the First TransNation Festival". W . Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  14. 1 2 Padgett, Donald (March 23, 2021). "Kataluna Enriquez Makes History as Out Trans Pageant Winner in Nevada". Out . Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  15. ↑ Fischels, Josie; McCammon, Sarah (July 3, 2021). "2021 Miss Nevada Will Be The First Openly Transgender Miss USA Contestant". All Things Considered . NPR . Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  16. 1 2 3 4 Jennings-Brown, Taylor (June 29, 2021). "Kataluna Enriquez Became the First Trans Woman to Win Miss Nevada". Shape . Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  17. ↑ "First transgender Miss Nevada speaks out about the danger of hate". NBC News . June 30, 2021. Retrieved August 8, 2021. Kataluna Enriquez, 27, spoke out about the damage that hate can cause after becoming the first transgender woman to be crowned Miss Nevada.
  18. ↑ "'Remarkable': Transgender woman creates history after being crowned Miss Nevada". News.com.au . June 29, 2021. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  19. ↑ Capatides, Christina (July 21, 2021). "Transgender celebs you need to know". CBS News . Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  20. ↑ "IN PICS: Kataluna Enriquez Creates History Becoming First Transgender Woman To Compete In Miss USA Pageant". ABP News . ABP News Bureau. July 2, 2021. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  21. ↑ Greenfield, Beth (December 1, 2021). "Miss USA's first transgender contestant, Kataluna Enriquez, on being eliminated early: 'I think they were just not ready'". Yahoo Life. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  22. ↑ Carras, Christi (December 2, 2021). "First trans Miss USA contestant reflects on elimination: 'They were just not ready'". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  23. ↑ Konstantinides, Anneta (November 30, 2021). "Miss USA Elle Smith says first transgender contestant Kataluna Enriquez 'had every right to be on that stage'". Insider. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Victoria Olona
 Miss Nevada USA
2021		Succeeded by
Summer Keffeler
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