Kataluna Enriquez will become the first openly transgender woman to compete in the Miss USA pageant- after winning the title of Miss Nevada USA.
Kataluna beat 21 other contestants to the title, at the event which was held at South Point Hotel Casino & Spa in Las Vegas.
Afterwards Miss Nevada USA’s Instagram account posted a message congratulating her on her historic triumph.
It said: “Congratulations to our new Miss Nevada USA @mskataluna. History made!”
And If the 27-year-old fashion designer manages to triumph in the Miss USA pageant she will become only the second openly trans woman to compete at Miss Universe, following in the footsteps of Spain’s Angela Ponce who participated in the 2018 competition.
Enriquez also took to Instagram, saying her win was for the entire “community” while also wishing her followers “Happy pride”, with Pride Month celebrated every June to honour the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan.
She said: “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.”
She also posted a photo in her dress ahead of winning the crown and revealed that she’d made the rainbow gown herself through her clothing line KatalunaKouture.
The picture was captioned: “In honor of pride month, and all of those who don’t get a chance to spread their colors.” Before putting three heart symbol emojis next to the dress.
Multitalented Enriquez is also a healthcare administrator and a biography about her on Miss Silver State USA’s Instagram, , says she’s “fought multiple challenges in her life” which she now uses for her ‘BEVISIBLE’ campaign “to combat hate through vulnerability”.
It said: “At a young age, Kataluna fought multiple challenges in her life. Now she uses her life experiences and shares it in her platform #BEVISIBLE, a campaign to combat hate through vulnerability.
“As a survivor of physical and sexual abuse and a proud Transwoman of color, she aims to break barriers and represent those who aren’t always represented and continues to support numerous non-profit organizations and LGBTQ+ youth.”