Transgender Miss USA contestant Kataluna Enriquez says people 'were just not ready' for a trans pageant winner following elimination



Transgender Miss USA contestant Kataluna Enriquez says that people simply weren't ready for a transgender Miss USA, Yahoo! Life reports.

Enriquez, the first openly transgender Miss USA contestant, was named Miss Nevada in July before going on to compete at a national level.

What are the details?

Enriquez (28) told the outlet that she believes she was cut from the competition because people "were just not ready" for her.

"It was an honor just to be able to represent my community and be an example for young queer children who now know they don't need to be limited by society's standards," she said, and admitted that she was "shocked" about not placing in the competition.

"But I was more disappointed, because I worked so hard for it," she said. "I think they were just not ready."

Enriquez said that her closed-door interview during the contest was focused solely on her transition, while other contestants were offered up a varying range of topics to discuss.

"It was disappointing to me because I had so much more to offer, I had so much I wanted to talk about," she said. "Others were asked about politics, climate change, so it was highly disappointing for me because I expected more ... It's OK because we made an impact ... and I received a lot of support and love on social media."

A representative for the pageant did not respond to the outlet's request for comment on Enriquez's interview.

Miss Kentucky, Elle Smith, went on to win the pageant and will go on to compete in the Miss Universe competition on Dec. 12.

Following her July win, Enriquez said that she was thrilled to be a "symbol of hope" for minorities.

"I'm a trans woman of color, a minority within a minority," she said at the time. "I'm everything that's not represented in our country, and [ready] to create conversations around what it means to be an American."

She also said that she was initially worried that by going to a "red state" she would encounter violent protesters due to her status.

"Going into the competition, I was receiving threats, saying I need to prepare myself, that I was going to a red state, that they were going to protest, so I was very cautious — and every time I heard a 'bang' I was on high alert, and sometimes it would freak me out," Enriquez she said.

She did not end up facing any protesters.

Miss USA's first openly transgender contestant cut before round of 16



Kataluna Enriquez, who made history as the first openly transgender Miss USA competitor, was ultimately cut before the round of 16, according to NBC News.

Elle Smith, a reporter from Kentucky, won the Miss USA title.

"Congratulations to Elle Smith on being crowned Miss USA! You make our commonwealth proud. My family, my staff, and I can't wait to cheer you on as you compete for Miss Universe!" Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky tweeted.

Earlier this year, Enriquez, who is a biological male, won Miss Nevada USA.

During a report about that victory, KVVU-TV claimed that Enriquez "is redefining what it means to be a woman and what it means to be beautiful."

The appearance of an openly transgender contestant at the Miss USA contest comes amid ongoing societal debate over transgender ideology, including over matters such as whether biological males should be allowed to use female restrooms or compete in athletic events designated for females.

Conservative commentator Matt Walsh of The Daily Wire has authored a children's book that takes aim at radical leftist gender ideology through a story about a boy who pretends to be a walrus. The book currently sits at number 3 on the Amazon Best Sellers list.

"There are dozens of children’s books brainwashing kids into the gender identity cult where they are taught that identity is malleable and biology is meaningless," Walsh noted, according to the Daily Wire. "This book is meant to be an antidote to that madness.”

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Enriquez's victory is not shocking given the cultural moment we find ourselves in, but the minute it becomes normalized by the public is when our republic gets laid to rest.

Transgender contestant, a biological male, wins Miss Nevada USA​



For the first time ever, a transgender contestant will compete to become Miss USA.

On Sunday, 27-year-old Kataluna Enriquez, a biological male, beat out 21 female contestants to be crowned Miss Nevada USA. Enriquez will now move on to the Miss USA pageant, scheduled on Nov. 29.

With a victory there, Enriquez would become only the second transgender contestant ever to compete for the Miss Universe title.

During the competition, Enriquez wore a homemade rainbow-colored gown to celebrate Pride Month and "honor all of those who don't get a chance to spread their colors," KVVU-TV reported.

The news outlet boasted that by winning the pageant crown, Enriquez "is redefining what it means to be a woman and what it means to be beautiful."

"I've learned to love myself, learned the beauty that's inside me, learned to use my voice and the power that I have," Enriquez said. "You are capable of anything as long as you believe in yourself."

Miss Nevada 2021 will be first trans woman to compete for Miss USA title www.youtube.com

Enriquez started garnering national attention in March after winning the Miss Silver State USA pageant, a local competition in the Miss Universe Organization pageant circuit.

The line of pageants, which were once owned by former President Donald Trump, are among the most revered competitions in the pageant world.

At the time, Enriquez called the experience "a celebration of womanhood and diversity and this celebration of being your true self."

"One thing that is important for me is inclusivity, diversity, and representation. It's something I did not have growing up and is still lacking in today's world," Enriquez added. "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."

Despite facing discrimination in the past — such as allegedly not being assigned a roommate and being forced to provide medical documents proving a female identity — Enriquez has become a formidable force in the pageant world.

The timely message of inclusivity for transgender individuals undoubtedly gives Enriquez a leg up in competitions.

Following Enriquez's Miss Silver State USA win, TheBlaze reported that such a message "may prove to benefit Enriquez in upcoming competitions, especially as transgenderism gains popularity in progressive circles and pressure mounts to avoid even the slightest appearance of discrimination."

Time will tell if that message will continue to carry Enriquez to broader recognition.