womenwhokickass:

Catiria Reyes “Lady Catiria”: Why she kicks ass

• She was a Puerto Rican drag performer, film actress, and transgender beauty pageant winner, who was one of the main performers at the New York City Latino nightclub La Escuelita, where she entertained crowds for almost two decades. She was the first person to win two titles at the Miss Continental pageant in Chicago, and was an advocate for AIDS awareness.
• She announced that she was HIV positive at the 1996 Miss Continental show during her last performance as reigning title holder.For this, she had a $1,800 gown made, which was plain black with an AIDS ribbon in rhinestones as the collar. She also had her crown done over in red to match. She played a prerecorded tape, explaining that she was sick and needed everyone’s support, and then did her number. Over 2,000 people attended this performance.
• In addition to winning many beauty pageants across the nation, she is the only “queen” to have embraced the Miss Continental Plus (For Plus sized Models)in 1993, a crown she took home ~ then set her sights on the original Miss Continental, lost weight and become that years Miss Continental, a feat that never repeated again by anyone.
  She was crowned Miss Continental in 1995, the most prestigious of all drag queen pageants in America.
• Numerous drag queens and transgender performers such as Candis Cayne, Angel Sheridan, and Mistress Maddie have credited Lady Catiria for her role as a mentor and friend.

(via biyuti)