Former Miss Nevada Elizabeth Hunterton to Meet Biological Mother for the First Time in Over 40 Years

Former Miss Nevada, Elizabeth Hunterton, is gearing up for a long-awaited reunion with her biological mother after over four decades of separation. Hunterton, who was found abandoned at a Nevada airport just ten days after her birth in January 1980, was adopted and raised by a white family in Reno. Despite always knowing she was bi-racial, it wasn’t until 2018 that she began unraveling the mystery of her birth.

Through DNA matching, Hunterton was able to identify her late Black father in 2020, and with the help of a second cousin on her mother’s side, she finally connected with her Japanese mother. The emotional journey culminated in a heartwarming phone call on January 1 of this year, where Hunterton immediately felt a sense of familiarity with her long-lost mother.

The 44-year-old beauty queen shared with PEOPLE that her mother expressed regret for giving her up, citing emotional and financial unpreparedness at the time. Hunterton, however, reassured her mother that she was okay and encouraged her to let go of any lingering guilt and live her life to the fullest.

Hunterton, who documents her experiences on TikTok for her 130,000 followers, views the upcoming reunion as a crucial part of her healing journey. She believes that sharing her story not only helps her but also connects her with a supportive community eager to witness the emotional reunion between mother and daughter.

As Hunterton aptly puts it, “Some people’s stories begin the day they were born. Mine begins the day I was found.” The highly anticipated reunion promises to be a poignant moment for both Hunterton and her mother as they finally come face to face after decades of separation.