A transgender woman was crowned Miss Universe Netherlands 2023 on July 8, 2023 for the first time … making history in the Dutch country.
Rikkie Valerie Kolle, 22, won the pageant on Saturday, effectively becoming Miss Netherlands. Rikkie Valerie Kolle will represent the Netherlands at the 72nd Miss Universe pageant, which will be held in El Salvador later this year. where women from all over the world will fight for the crown. Ona Moody’s successor is Dutch-Moluccan model and actress Kollé, who lives in Breda.
Kollé will be the second transgender representative at the Miss Universe pageant after Spain’s Angela Ponce who participated in 2018.
According to NPR, the 71-year-old competition allowed transgender contestants for the first time in 2012.
In recent years, there have been more trans women competing in preliminary pageants. Kataluna Enriquez, a former Miss Nevada, became the first transgender contestant in a Miss USA pageant in 2021. Daniela Arroyo González, an activist and transgender woman, will compete for the title of Miss Universe Puerto Rico this year next month.
The first runner-up was 26-year-old Nathalie Mogbelzada, who is from Amsterdam. In the meantime, Habiba Mostafa and Lou Dirchs were crowned Miss Congeniality and Miss Social Media, respectively. In addition, the well-known Miss Universe, R’Bonnet Gabriel, attended the event in Leusden at the AFAS Theater.
However, Rikkie Valerie Kollé was also the target of criticism on social media, with some users referring to her as a man. Others were dissatisfied with the practice of biologically transitioned men competing alongside women in beauty pageants.
Rikkie Valerie Kollé is said to be 22 years old, but her birth date and educational background are unknown. She is now the first transgender woman to win the title of Miss Netherlands 2023 and the second representative at the Miss Universe pageant after Angela Ponce from Spain.
With approximately 25,000 followers and 135 posts, Kollé is active on Instagram. The majority of her posts feature her posing in various outfits. She updated her Instagram story during her reign as Miss Netherlands 2023, beginning with her stage appearances and ending with her announcement as the winner.
Two days ago, the model posted a picture of herself in a red satin dress. It was stated in the caption that it was an official Miss Netherlands photo shoot. Rikkie Valerie Kollé will next represent the Netherlands in El Salvador at the 72nd Miss Universe 2023 pageant.
The 2023 release of Miss Netherlands began in May 2023, the projecting of which occurred on April 29, 2023, at Anantara Fantastic Inn Krasnapolsky Amsterdam. The competition included the participation of ten finalists.
The rest of the participants included Habiba Mostafa, Ruby-Ann Chwatchko, Nazeli Kouki, Chanille Hupsel, Lidewei van der Staaij, Beate van der Weide, Nathalie Mogbelzada, Christina Cairo, and Lou Dirchs. Moreover, the jury panel members were Zoey Ivory, Nicky Opheij, Monica van Ee, Ona Moody, Julia Sinning, Denise Speelman, and Rahima Dirkse.
There have been a number of instances in which transgender models have won beauty pageants. In March 2023, R’Bonney Gabriel became Miss Universe 2022. She has previously been crowned Miss USA 2022.
Brian Nguyen, a 19-year-old, was crowned Miss Greater Derry 2023 in November 2022, receiving a crown, title, and scholarship.