Meet Rikkie Kolle, the first transgender Miss Netherlands: the LGBT icon, who’ll compete for the Miss Universe crown in El Salvador, on why her historic beauty pageant win was ‘the big dream’
- Rikkie Valerie Kolle, who grew up in Dutch southern harbour city Breda, is the second ever trans Miss Universe beauty pageant contestant after Angela Ponce of Spain in 2018
- The 22-year-old will compete for the Miss Universe crown in El Salvador in November, and opened up about her gender journey, supportive parents, social media haters and her hopes of being a role model
For the past decade, Rikkie Kolle has been on a journey that has seen her grow from a child in a Dutch harbour city into the Netherlands’ latest beauty queen.
The 22-year-old’s crowning glory came two weeks ago when she was named Miss Netherlands at a gala function, becoming the first transgender woman to win the prize.
“This is truly my year,” said the statuesque brunette, crossing her long fingers in front of a sash with her new title.
“To me it’s an acknowledgement. To win the title as the first transgender woman after 94 years was a beautiful moment,” Kolle told AFP.
The organisers of Miss Netherlands said Kolle “has a strong story with a clear mission”.
She will be the second-ever transgender woman to participate in the contest after Angela Ponce, who appeared for Spain in 2018.
Becoming the first transgender contestant to win Miss Universe was “the big dream”, Kolle said, adding: “I am just going to enjoy the experience.”