When Kylan Arianna Wenzel took the stage at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, she became the first transgender woman to enter the Miss USA competition. Wenzel -- a 26-year-old Century City resident -- was one of 229 Miss California USA contestants who had dreams of moving on to the Miss USA and Miss Universe competitions.
Kylan-Arianna Wenzel, 26 of Century City, the first transgendered contestant in any Miss USA pageant, just prior to the first day of the Miss California USA 2013 pageant at the Pasadena Convention Center in Pasadena on Saturday, January 12, 2013. (Raul Roa/Staaff Photographer)
Kylan-Arianna Wenzel, 26 of Century City, the first transgendered contestant in any Miss USA pageant, participates in the first day of the Miss California USA 2013 pageant at the Pasadena Convention Center in Pasadena on Saturday, January 12, 2013. (Raul Roa/Staaff Photographer)
Kylan-Arianna Wenzel, 26 of Century City, the first transgendered contestant in any Miss USA pageant, participates in the first day of the Miss California USA 2013 pageant at the Pasadena Convention Center in Pasadena on Saturday, January 12, 2013. (Raul Roa/Staaff Photographer)
Evening gowns. (Raul Roa/Staff Photographer)
Central Coast Tommy Lynn Calhoun participates in the first day of the Miss California USA 2013 pageant at the Pasadena Convention Center in Pasadena on Saturday, January 12, 2013. (Raul Roa/Staaff Photographer)
Miss South Pasadena Anavictoria Pumphrey participates in the first day of the Miss California USA 2013 pageant at the Pasadena Convention Center in Pasadena on Saturday, January 12, 2013. (Raul Roa/Staaff Photographer)
Miss Burbank Briana McPartlan participates in the first day of the Miss California USA 2013 pageant at the Pasadena Convention Center in Pasadena on Saturday, January 12, 2013. (Raul Roa/Staaff Photographer)
Miss Burbank Briana McPartlan participates in the first day of the Miss California USA 2013 pageant at the Pasadena Convention Center in Pasadena on Saturday, January 12, 2013. (Raul Roa/Staaff Photographer)
Miss Sun Valley Silvia Alcala participates in the first day of the Miss California USA 2013 pageant at the Pasadena Convention Center in Pasadena on Saturday, January 12, 2013. (Raul Roa/Staaff Photographer)
Priscilla Casper, Miss La Crescenta Teen, particiaptes in the first day of the Miss California Teen USA 2013 pageant at the Pasadena Convention Center in Pasadena on Saturday, January 12, 2013. (`Raul Roa/Staaff Photographer)
Miss Beverly Hills Olivia Jordan participates in the first day of the Miss California USA 2013 pageant at the Pasadena Convention Center in Pasadena on Saturday, January 12, 2013. (Raul Roa/Staaff Photographer)
Miss Toluca Lake Yeranui Yesayan participates in the first day of the Miss California USA 2013 pageant at the Pasadena Convention Center in Pasadena on Saturday, January 12, 2013. (Raul Roa/Staaff Photographer)
Miss Agua Dulce Katie Boggs participates in the first day of the Miss California USA 2013 pageant at the Pasadena Convention Center in Pasadena on Saturday, January 12, 2013. (Raul Roa/Staaff Photographer)
Miss Sherman Oaks Yeva Bogoroditskaya. (Raul Roa/Staff Photographer)
Participants from throughout the state came for the first day of the Miss California USA 2013 pageant at the Pasadena Convention Center in Pasadena on Saturday, January 12, 2013. (Raul Roa/Staaff Photographer)
Miss Pasadena Amanda Perez participates in the first day of the Miss California USA 2013 pageant at the Pasadena Convention Center in Pasadena on Saturday, January 12, 2013. (Raul Roa/Staaff Photographer)
Miss Pasadena Amanda Perez participates in the first day of the Miss California USA 2013 pageant at the Pasadena Convention Center in Pasadena on Saturday, January 12, 2013. (Raul Roa/Staaff Photographer)
Miss South Pasadena Anavictoria Pumphrey participates in the first day of the Miss California USA 2013 pageant at the Pasadena Convention Center in Pasadena on Saturday, January 12, 2013. (Raul Roa/Staaff Photographer)
Priscilla Casper, Miss La Crescenta Teen, particiaptes in the first day of the Miss California Teen USA 2013 pageant at the Pasadena Convention Center in Pasadena on Saturday, January 12, 2013. (Raul Roa/Staaff Photographer)
Participants (Raul Roa/Staff Photographer)
Miss Coco Eco Coco Hunter. (Raul Roa/Staff Photographer)
Miss Coco Eco Coco Hunter. (Raul Roa/Staff Photographer)
Miss Agua Dulce. (Raul Roa/Staff Photographer)
Jade Bryant, Miss Pasadena Teen, particiaptes in the first day of the Miss California Teen USA 2013 pageant at the Pasadena Convention Center in Pasadena on Saturday, January 12, 2013. (Raul Roa/Staaff Photographer)
Priscilla Casper, Miss La Crescenta Teen, particiaptes in the first day of the Miss California Teen USA 2013 pageant at the Pasadena Convention Center in Pasadena on Saturday, January 12, 2013. (Raul Roa/Staaff Photographer)
Miss Coco Eco Coco Hunter. (Raul Roa/Staff Photographer)
Priscilla Casper, Miss La Crescenta Teen, particiaptes in the first day of the Miss California Teen USA 2013 pageant at the Pasadena Convention Center in Pasadena on Saturday, January 12, 2013. (Raul Roa/Staaff Photographer)
Miss Agua Dulce Katie Boggs participates in the first day of the Miss California USA 2013 pageant at the Pasadena Convention Center in Pasadena on Saturday, January 12, 2013. (Raul Roa/Staaff Photographer)
Miss South El Monte Jocelyn Tamayo. (Raul Roa/Staff Photographer)
Miss Anaheim Viktoria Gillon participates in the first day of the Miss California USA 2013 pageant at the Pasadena Convention Center in Pasadena on Saturday, January 12, 2013. (Raul Roa/Staaff Photographer)
Miss East Highland Samantha Brooks. (Raul Roa/Staff Photographer)
Miss Coco Eco Coco Hunter in the Miss California USA 2013. (Raul Roa/Staff Photographer)
Miss Sherman Oaks Yeva Bogoroditskaya during rehearsals. (Raul Roa/Staff Photographer)
Miss Greater Hollywood Natasha Martinez participates in the first day of the Miss California USA 2013 pageant at the Pasadena Convention Center in Pasadena on Saturday, January 12, 2013. (Raul Roa/Staaff Photographer)
Miss Los Feliz Kristina Bryant participates in the first day of the Miss California USA 2013 pageant at the Pasadena Convention Center in Pasadena on Saturday, January 12, 2013. (Raul Roa/Staaff Photographer)
Kylan-Arianna Wenzel, 26 of Century City, the first transgendered contestant in any Miss USA pageant, participates in the first day of the Miss California USA 2013 pageant at the Pasadena Convention Center in Pasadena on Saturday, January 12, 2013. (Raul Roa/Staaff Photographer)
Kylan-Arianna Wenzel, 26 of Century City, the first transgendered contestant in any Miss USA pageant, during rehearsals for the first day of the Miss California USA 2013 pageant at the Pasadena Convention Center in Pasadena on Saturday, January 12, 2013. (Raul Roa/Staaff Photographer)