Jenelle Hutcherson will make history
this Sunday as the first openly lesbian contestant at the Miss Long
Beach and Miss Southern California Cities pageant.
The 25-year-old
Hutcherson, a master hair artist, will also be the first to be
sporting a Mohawk, several tattoos and a pierced nose.
“I am running for Miss Long Beach and
Miss California USA,” Hutcherson told the Gay
& Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD). “I will be
the first to wear a tux on stage. Also, this will be the first time
someone who is openly lesbian will [be] represented in this pageant.”
She added that she's participating in
the pageant to help spread a message of equal rights for the LGBT
community.
“I hope to bring a message of
equality. As an artist in the beauty industry, I can appreciate
every texture and color on my pallet. I believe true beauty is
something we see every day and comes from within, and I will
represent a variety of beauty on stage.”