The Crown of ‘Miss Netherlands 2023’ has been won by model Rikkie Valerie Kolle, making her the first transgender woman to achieve this milestone. Her victory has solidified her position as a competitor for the esteemed title of Miss Universe 2023, the 72nd edition. Rikkie shared pictures of herself wearing the crown on Instagram, captioning them with “I did it!” She can be seen striking a winning pose while donning the crown. Clad in a deep red silk gown, Rikkie shines brightly on the stage. This victory is considered a milestone for the trans and queer community.
On social media, there have been mixed reactions to Rikkie’s win. While some have shown their support, others have resorted to trolling. Some Twitter users have raised questions about her gender and posted hateful messages against her.
Who is Rikkie Kolle?
Rikkie Valerie Kolle, originally from Breda, Netherlands, is a model and LGBTQ+ activist. Reports suggest that she is 22 years old. She maintains an active presence on Instagram, with around 25,000 followers.
In an interview with World360News, Rikkie expressed her desire to be a voice and a role model for the queer community. If Rikkie wins the Miss Universe title, she will become the first transgender woman to wear the crown.
Since 2012, transgender contestants have been allowed to participate in the Miss Universe competition. In 2018, Angela Ponce from Spain became the first transgender contestant to compete, although she did not reach the final stage.
