Transgender model elected new Miss Netherlands (2024)

On Saturday, July 8, 22-year-old Rikkie Kollé became Miss Netherlands. There was nothing unusual about the event, held in Leusden, in the province of Utrecht – except that the winner was a transgender woman, the first to win the contest in the kingdom. The Miss Universe competition, created in 1952 and for which this election serves as a qualifier, has allowed transgender women to take part since 2012.

"The winner stole the whole show," commented the jury. "Her story is very strong and carries a clear mission, and we are convinced that the organization will gladly work with this young woman." In any case, Rikkie (Valérie), born in Breda to parents from the Netherlands and Molucca, a former Indonesian colony, will be taking part in the next Miss Universe pageant, to be held in El Salvador.

She won't be the first trans candidate to take part in this ceremony, as Angela Ponce, elected Miss Spain in 2018, paved the way. Bu Ponce had attracted less attention than that of the young Dutch model.

Kollé had already been a finalist in Holland's Next Top Model competition in 2018, which instantly won her fame on social media. In 2019, she took part in a competition run by the Elite agency. Eager to "give a voice" to all those whose sexual identity doesn't fit the dominant models, she decided to participate in the Miss Netherlands contest.

An 'important and inspiring' event

On stage at the Leusden theater, she spoke of the loneliness and "inhuman situation" she had experienced before her transition. She also spoke of the suffering of the "little Rik, aged 10" who searched for his identity. "Today, I'm better than ever, and I want to pass that on to anyone who needs it. I want to commit myself to all the little Rikkies who have to face family rejection when they make a transition to the person they really want to be."

Remke Verdegem, president of the Transgender Network, deemed the event "important and inspiring." "Rikkie showed how beautiful it is to be yourself, while many transgender people unfortunately remain the victims of rejection," she explained.

On social media, another type of message spread. "A man has been elected Miss Netherlands. I wouldn't expect anything else in our post-truth world," wrote Eva Vlaardingerbroek, a famous influencer with close ties to conspiracy circles. Other messages announced the election of the "real Miss 2023," namely Natalie Mogbelzanda, runner-up to Kollé.

But this news is already having an impact elsewhere. For the first time, neighboring Belgium decided on Sunday that a 25-year-old transgender woman would be allowed to take part in the next national beauty contest.