A transgender woman has made history for being crowned Miss Nevada USA for the first time in the pageant’s history!
Kataluna Enriquez, 27, a healthcare administrator, fashion designer, and model. She is from San Leandro, California, USA, and a Filipino-American transgender woman.
Her real name was Durte Dom before she transitioned. She is the owner of Kataluna Kouture, which specializes in gowns and costumes.
On June 27, Kataluna was chosen by judges to win the crown out of 21 other competitors at the Miss Nevada USA competition held in Las Vegas’s South Point Hotel Casino, making her the first transgender woman to win in the pageant’s history.
Shimmering in a rainbow-inspired gown with a thigh slit, she defeated other candidates to represent the state in the upcoming Miss USA pageant.
On one of the last days of Pride Month, Kataluna posted a photo before winning the crown and revealed that she had made the rainbow gown herself through her clothing line: “In honor of pride month, and all of those who don’t get a chance to spread their colors. ❤️🧡💛💚💙 ”
Kataluna spoke about the impact of the moment on her Instagram, where she also expressed her gratitude to those who have supported her along the way.
“Huge thank you to everyone who supported me from day one. My community, you are always in my heart,” she captioned. “My win is our win. We just made history. Happy Pride!”
“It’s a huge honor to win, especially during Pride Month,” the 27-year-old told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “I wasn’t nervous. I knew that I had worked really hard and I had my one shot at making history.”
Kataluna told local news channel KVVU-TV that her journey was not easy as she struggled with physical and sexual abuse. However, despite facing so many difficulties, she did not stop and became a pioneer for many.
“Don’t let your differences determine what you’re capable of,” she said. “Your differences are anything that makes you unique”.
Earlier this year, the model won the Miss Silver State USA title, a preliminary for the Miss Nevada USA pageant. At that event, she opened about the challenges she’s faced along the way.
“Growing up, I was often told that I was not allowed to be myself, or to be in spaces that I was not welcome,” she said in a quote published in the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “One of the obstacles I encounter every day is just being true to myself. Today I am a proud transgender woman of color.”
“Personally, I’ve learned that my differences do not make me less than, it makes me more than,” Kataluna continued. “And my differences is 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.”
As a trans rights advocate, Kataluna intends to use her new profile as a Miss USA contestant to support those who are so often understated.
Her bio on the Miss Silver State pageant Instagram account reads:
“Kataluna Enriquez is a healthcare admin, a fashion designer, and owner for Katalunakouture. 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.”
If Miss Nevada wins the Miss USA contest that will be held in Tulsa, Oklahoma in November, she will go on to be the second trans woman to compete in the Miss Universe pageant, following Spain’s Angela Ponce in 2018.