Transgender woman is crowned Miss Netherlands for the first time

A transgender woman has been crowned Miss Netherlands for the first time in the history of the beauty pageant and will now compete for the Miss Universe crown.

Rikkie Valerie Kolle, 22, made history after winning the competition in the Dutch country on Sunday.

The new Miss Netherlands wore a red dress as she was overcome with emotion as she accepted her crown from her predecessor Ona Moody and reigning Miss Universe R’Bonney Gabriel from the US.

The model triumphed with a bunch of flowers while her competitors applauded. She later took to Twitter to exclaim “I DID IT!”

Miss Universe 2023 will be held in El Salvador in December, though an exact date has not yet been confirmed, and contestants from 24 countries will compete to claim the title.

The star becomes the second transgender woman ever to compete in Miss Universe.

In 2018, Angela Ponce from Spain became the first trans woman to compete for the acclaimed Miss Universe title.

She told NBC at the time that she “never imagined” she would make it to the final stage.

Transgender contestants have been able to compete for the crown since 2012.

Thai businesswoman and advocate Anne Jakrajutatip, who bought the Miss Universe organization in October 2022, also identifies as transgender.

The pageant system was formerly owned by former US President Donald Trump.

Ms Jakrajutatip has pledged to carry on the pageant’s legacy of women’s empowerment and “develop the brand for the next generation.”

And earlier this year Daniela Arroyo González, who is openly transgender, was selected to compete in the Puerto Rico competition.