LONG BEACH (CBS) — Tattooed with her hair dyed blue, Janelle Hutcherson is not your typical beauty pageant contestant. She's hoping to erase stereotypes with her look and her sexuality.

The 25-year-old hairdresser is the first openly lesbian contestant to enter the Miss Long Beach pageant.

"Maybe I'm the first that's out in the open, or openly gay, but that's only because I'm going to talk about it first because of what I'm going to be wearing," Hutcherson said.

This 25-year-old artist says she's going to ditch the heels and the gown in an effort to stay true to herself.

"I'm not going to wear your standard black and white tuxedo with the bow tie. I'm going to wear a royal purple, and, as far as the tie, I'm going to wear a longer tie."

The hairdresser of course has plans to play with her hair for the occasion.

Hutcherson was styling one of her clients, who happened to be the pageant director, when he asked if she'd consider competing. She initially balked at the thought.

"I said, 'Well, Justin, I don't look like the girl that's going to put on a gown and heels now, do I? What would I have to do with that pageant?'"

But the thought of making a big stride for the gay and lesbian community convinced her to compete.

"I do want to win, I definitely do. I think it would be just a huge step in the right direction," Hutcherson said.

The pageant is scheduled for Nov. 13 and judges will score based on swimwear, evening wear and, of course, the interview process.