First transgender Miss Netherlands topped, units sights on Miss Universe

The Netherlands topped its first transgender pageant queen to symbolize the nation at Miss Universe this 12 months.

Rikkie Valerie Kolle, 22, a organic male who identifies as a transgender lady, bested 9 different girls to turn out to be the third transgender contestant in Miss Universe's 72-year historical past.

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"I made my neighborhood proud and confirmed it may be achieved. And sure I'm a trans lady and I wish to share my story, however I'm additionally Rikkie and that's what counts for me," Kolle wrote in a subsequent Instagram put up Sunday to over 27,000 followers. "I wish to thank the judges and everybody from the Miss Netherlands staff for the belief, that is just the start."

Kolle describes earlier expertise earlier than the pageant as that of a mannequin and actor. Whereas Kolle has a Dutch background, Kolle additionally claims heritage from the Maluku Islands.

The worldwide pageant is slated for El Salvador, someday after the opposite 37 collaborating nations crown their respective representatives—the final of which is able to happen in November.

Transgender contestants have been permitted to take part within the Miss Universe Pageant system since 2012. At the moment, former President Donald Trump nonetheless owned Miss Universe and welcomed the primary transgender Miss Canada. To this point, a transgender contestant has but to win the title of Miss Universe.

Miss Universe has since been purchased by Thai transgender enterprise proprietor Anne Jakrajutatip in 2018.