Miss Netherlands won for first time by a transgender woman

A transgender woman has been crowned Miss Netherlands for the first time — setting up a historic shot at becoming Miss Universe.

Rikkie Valerie Kolle, 22, held her hands over her mouth in shock as she was named the winner on Sunday to a soundtrack of the Sia song “Unstoppable.”

“I DID IT !!!!! 👑❤️,” Kolle wrote on Instagram of her “educational and beautiful journey.”

“I’m so proud and happy I can’t even describe it. Making my community proud and showing it can be done,” the newly crowned beauty queen wrote.

Wearing a red gown and her hair up in a bun, Kolle had nervously held hands with the runner-up during a lengthy pause to announce the winner.

Kolle then covered her face in shock at being named the winner, getting a hug from the runner-up before getting the Miss Netherlands sash from the current Miss Universe, Texan R’Bonney Gabriel.


Rikkie Valerie Kolle being crowned Miss Netherlands.
“I DID IT !!!!!,” Rikkie Valerie Kolle, in the red gown, wrote of her historic win.
Instagram / @missnederland

Some of the other finalists standing at the back of the stage looked at each other, with some appearing to grimace awkwardly at the unprecedented decision.

The Miss Netherlands official Instagram page also celebrated the win by the “beautiful” trans contestant.

“This finalist shined throughout the show and has also made the greatest progress along the way,” the pageant wrote of the judges’ decision.


Rikkie Valerie Kolle celebrates after her historic win as Miss Netherlands.
Rikkie Valerie Kolle celebrates after her historic win as Miss Netherlands.
Instagram / @missnederland

“She has an iron-strong story with a clear mission. The jury is convinced that the organization will enjoy working with this young woman.”

The win means Kolle will compete in Miss Universe, which is now owned by Anne Jakrajutatipa, a transgender Thai woman.

“Let’s get @missuniverse ready. So excited!!!” Kolle said in her celebratory social media post — one flooded with messages of outrage that she took the spot ahead of a biological woman.


Rikkie Valerie Kolle in a a white bikini.
Rikkie Valerie Kolle (above) said she is “excited” to get “Miss Universe ready.”
Instagram / @missnederland

Kolle, however, will not be the first trans woman to make it to Miss Universe — an honor that went to then-Miss Spain Angela Ponce in 2018, who failed to make the top 20.

The pageant first allowed trans competitors in 2012, when it was still owned by now-former President Donald Trump, who reinstated a Canadian competitor who’d been booted for not being a “naturally born female.”

Trump has yet to address the Miss Netherlands entrant.

However, he has waded into another hot-button topic in LGTBQ+ rights, writing on his Truth Social Sunday: “I WILL NOT LET MEN PARTICIPATE IN WOMEN’S SPORTS!”