PHOTOS FROM KATALUNA ENRIQUEZ'S INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT @mskataluna
Filipino-American model Kataluna Enriquez made history by becoming the first trans woman to qualify for Miss USA. She qualified for the pageant after being crowned Miss Nevada on June 28th, 2021 in Las Vegas.
The 27-year-old took to Instagram to share a picture from the event. She donned a sparkling rainbow-colored gown for the coronation night and wrote:
“In honor of pride month and all of those who don’t get a chance to spread their colors.”
The official account of Miss Nevada US also posted a picture of
Kataluna Enriquez alongside former Miss USA and current pageant director, Shanna Moakler.
Enriquez competed against 21 contestants in the Miss Nevada pageant and will be representing the region in the forthcoming Miss USA finals.
Kataluna Enriquez hails from San Leandro, California and is currently based in Las Vegas, Nevada. After graduating from San Leandro High School in 2011, Kataluna Enriquez enrolled in the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Las Vegas, where she studied fashion design.
Enriquez launched her own fashion brand Kataluna Kouture in 2016. In the same year, she went on to represent California in Transnation Queen USA and ended up winning the title on October 22nd, 2016 in Los Angeles.
Kataluna made it to Top 12 at Miss International Queen 2018, where she represented the US in Pattaya, Thailand. She also took part in Super Sireyna Worldwide in the same year.
She represented Hayward at Miss California USA in 2020. Last year, she began working at LGBTQ Health Care as a healthcare worker. Kataluna Enriquez came under the spotlight after being crowned Miss Silver State USA earlier this year.
She was also the first transgender woman to win the title that led her to compete in the Miss Nevada pageant. Enriquez told Fox5 at the time that the competition and victory was a “celebration of womanhood and diversity.”
Kataluna Enriquez is also a rising social media influencer. Besides representing her own brand, she often collaborates with other popular brands on Instagram. She has also amassed a remarkable following on other social media platforms.
Source: https://www.sportskeeda.com/pop-culture/who-kataluna-enriquez-everything-know-first-trans-woman-qualify-miss-usa