Rikkie Valerie Kollé has achieved a groundbreaking milestone by winning the coveted title of Miss Netherlands 2023, becoming the first transgender woman to be crowned in the competition's history.
Kollé underwent gender affirmation surgery in January 2023, a significant step toward fulfilling her long-held dream since she was 16 years old.
Sharing her emotions and thoughts on her triumph, Kollé took to Instagram to express, "It's unreal but I get to call myself @missnederland 2023. It was an educational and beautiful journey, my year can't be broken anymore. I'm so proud and happy I can't even describe it. Making my community proud and showing it can be done."
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"And yes I’m trans and I want to share my story but I’m also Rikkie and that’s what matters to me. Did this on my own and loved every moment of it," she added.
After being crowned, she expressed gratitude for now being able to utilize her platform to promote a more inclusive vision within the pageant world and inspire others.
"To talk about my experiences as Miss Netherlands so far, I'm really incredibly grateful for this. That I can get such a platform to speak as the first transwoman to win Miss Netherlands," she said in a separate Instagram post.
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"With pride, I want to be a role model and example to all my younger trans people who no longer dare to dream because of harassment," Koelle added.
Kollé competes will be the second transgender woman to participate in the Miss Universe pageant, following Spain's Angela Ponce, who reached the finals in 2018.
In October 2022, the Miss Universe Organization was acquired by Anne Jakrajutatip, a transgender Thai media tycoon, making her the first female and queer owner of the organization.
Adding to the diversity of participants, Michelle Dee, Miss Universe Philippines 2023, who openly came out as bisexual in May after her coronation, will also be representing her country in the global pageant held in El Salvador.
