Kataluna Enriquez is a name you'll want to remember. On June 27, 2021, she was crowned Miss Nevada, beating 21 other competitors for the coveted title.

Enriquez, a designer and visionary, is also Transgender. After winning Nevada's preliminary pageant in March, she became the first Trans woman to compete for the title of Miss Nevada. With a shiny new crown on her head, Enriquez is now on her way to being the first Trans competitor in the Miss USA pageant, and if she were to win that as well, she would become just the second Trans woman to compete for the Miss Universe title.

Enriquez has faced a difficult journey to the top, dealing with discrimination, hatred, and bigotry while pursuing her dream. She began competing in pageants in 2015, but at the time she could not afford custom gowns that would fit her body. That was when she began creating her own looks. She eventually launched her own line, Kataluna Kouture, which has helped fund her competitions.

It was creating her own iconic looks that led Enriquez to design a sequined rainbow gown to wear in the Miss Nevada pageant. The gown stunned judges and audience members alike, shimmering as the sequins caught the spotlight, launching it back out toward the audience. While judges look for many different things, it was surely that shimmer that caught their eye, one that represents Enriquez and all that she stands for.

With a humble heart, Enriquez has caught the spotlight and launched it back out to her fans and supporters. "My win is our win," Enriquez posted on Instagram. "We just made history."

At a time when conservative attacks on Trans women are mounting, it is refreshing to watch a Trans woman win so big. For Trans girls at home, Enriquez has become a beacon of hope, a symbol of what can be achieved.

"When I was young, I always wanted to see someone on the Miss USA stage — someone like me," Enriquez told NPR, "and it just so happened to be that I was that person that I needed to make history."

The spotlight will be on Enriquez as she competes for the title of Miss USA on November 29, but regardless of the outcome, being crowned Miss Nevada is a major step in celebrating Trans women.