Rikkie Valerie Kollé has been named Miss Netherlands 2023, making history as the first transgender woman to win the title. Kollé, who won the competition on Saturday, will go on to represent her native Netherlands at the Miss Universe pageant, which will be held in El Salvador later this year.
On stage at the AFAS Theatre in Leusden, the 22-year-old was given a tiara by her predecessor, Ona Moody.
The model declared success in an Instagram post with the caption “I DID IT!!!!!”. Kollé stated, “Yes, I identify as trans, and I want to tell my narrative, but what counts to me is that I am also Rikkie. And wherever you are in the world, I want to be there for you and be the role model that I missed when I was a young person.”
Kollé, who is of Dutch and indigenous Moluccan heritage, is from Breda, which is located between Rotterdam and Antwerp. According to her finalist website, she stated that she wants to be a voice and a role model for young women and gay people. She said she wanted to put those tales of pain in the past because she didn’t have support after coming out as transgender at a young age. Kollé won’t be the first transgender lady to compete for the Miss Universe title.
When Angela Ponce competed for Spain in the pageant in 2018, she was the first openly transgender participant. 2012 marked the year that transgender competitors were first accepted into the 71-year-old sport. The preliminary pageants have seen an increase in the number of trans women participating. Kataluna Enriquez, a former Miss Nevada, entered the Miss USA competition in 2021 and became the first trans competitor.
In the upcoming month, Daniela Arroyo González, an activist and transgender woman, will participate in the Miss Universe Puerto Rico competition in the current year. Last year, transgender activist and business magnate Anne Jakrajutatip of Thailand acquired the Miss Universe Organization. She has stated that she is dedicated to expanding the company as an inclusive platform and wants to revamp the brand for the next generation.
The CEO of JKN Global stated in January that she no longer refers to Miss Universe as a beauty event. I refer to it as a competition for women’s emancipation. Kollé can also set a record if she wins Miss Universe in December. If she does, she will be the first openly transgender woman to hold the title.
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