This Saturday, July 8, a transgender model won the 20023 edition of Miss Netherlands. A first in the country. The new beauty queen will represent her nation in the Miss Universe elections.
At the age of 22, Rikkie Kolle, a transgender model , was elected Miss Netherlands on Saturday July 8 in Leusden, in the province of Utrecht. A first since the creation of the competition.
“ I did it!!! It’s unreal, but I can call myself Miss Netherlands 2023. I’m so proud (…) I don’t have the words to describe my happiness. I am so proud to make my community proud and to show that it is possible , ”wrote the young woman on Instagram page .
Before adding: “ Yes, I am trans and I want to share my story. But I’m also Rikkie and that’s what matters to me .
Throughout the competition, the finalist used her various social networks to promote a more inclusive vision of the competition and encourage all young women and homosexuals.
For its part, the jury underlined “the strong story” and the “clear mission” of the winner: “ Her story is solid as a rock and her mission is clear (…) Rikkie radiated throughout the competition and also achieved the greatest progression along the way ,” reads Miss Netherlands’ website.
The new beauty queen will keep her crown for a year. But that’s not all ! She will also represent her country in the Miss Universe elections, which will take place next December in El Salvador.
She will thus become the second transgender woman to participate, after the Spaniard Angela Ponce in 2018.
Rikkie Kolle is not an unknown face in the Netherlands . Indeed, the latter participated in the show Holland’s next top model in 2018. At the time, she was the second transgender woman to participate in this television competition.