Cal Gaunt
A transgender woman has won Miss Netherlands for the first time.
Rikkie Valerie Kollé has made history by becoming the first trans woman to win the Miss Netherlands competition.
The 22-year-old, who lives in Breda, was crowned at the AFAS Theater in Leusden on July 8.
Dressed in a stunning red gown with a thigh-high slit, Kollé received her crown from previous winner Ona Moody and reigning Miss Universe, R’Bonney Gabriel from the USA.
Learn more about Rikkie Valerie Kollé’s victory in the video below…
Following her victory, Kollé took to Instagram to express her excitement.
She said: “I DID IT!!!!! It’s unreal, but I can call myself @missnederland 2023.”
She described her journey in the competition as ‘educational and wonderful’ and expressed immense pride and happiness in her accomplishment.
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Kollé stressed that while she is a trans woman and wants to share her story, she is also an individual named Rikkie, and that is what truly matters to her.
She credited her own strength for achieving the crown and cherished every moment of the experience.
In response to Kollé’s win, the official Instagram page of Miss Netherlands has shared a photo of her wearing the crown and holding a bouquet of flowers, along with a caption highlighting her remarkable journey.
View this post on Instagram
The jury praised her for radiating throughout the show and making significant progress during the process.
They recognised her strong story and clear mission, expressing confidence in her potential to work effectively with the organisation.
The caption concluded with the announcement: “Miss Netherlands 2023 is… RIKKIE.”
As the winner of Miss Netherlands, Kollé will now represent her country in the Miss Universe 2023 competition scheduled to take place in El Salvador in December.
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While the exact date is yet to be confirmed, contestants from 24 countries will come together to vie for the title of Miss Universe.
It is worth noting that in 2022, trans businesswoman Anne Jakrajutatip, CEO of Thai media group JKN and founder of Life Inspired For Transsexual Foundation, acquired the Miss Universe franchise.
Jakrajutatip has been a strong advocate for gender equality and aims to celebrate the power of feminism through the Miss Universe platform.
View this post on Instagram
Trans women were banned from competing until 2012, and Ángela Ponce became the first trans woman to participate in 2018.
Rikkie Valerie Kollé’s groundbreaking achievement not only marks a significant milestone in the world of beauty pageants but also serves as an inspiration for inclusion and progress in the industry.
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