Transgender winner of Miss Netherlands bombarded with hate online

2023-07-14

Transgender winner of Miss Netherlands Rikkie Valeria Kolle reveals she has been bombarded with hate online since her victory and says the ‘backlash is really sad’

Ms Kolle, 22, is the first transgender woman to be crowned Miss Netherlands
She will be second transgender contestant in the Miss Universe pageant history

The transgender winner of Miss Netherlands has revealed that she has been bombarded with hate online since her victory at the competition.

Rikkie Valerie Kolle, 22, who is the first transgender woman to be crowed Miss Netherlands, once saw her success in the pageant as a symbol of her nation’s openness, but the hateful backlash was ‘really sad’, she has now revealed.

She said she is trying to concentrate on the good, rather than hurtful comments on social media and added: ‘I thought we were really accepting…. in the Netherlands, but the hate comments show the other side of our society.

‘I hope that’s a wake up call. For now, I fully ignore it. I focus on the good things coming my way.’

The negative comments were unprovoked, she continued, adding people were insulting her for being herself.

Rikkie Valerie Kolle, 22, once saw her success in the pageant as a symbol of her nation’s openness, but the hateful backlash was ‘really sad’, she has now revealed

Ms Kolle has become the first transgender woman to win the title of Miss Netherlands

‘I just want to show the world Rikkie and of course my trans story, and being backlashed for that is really sad,’ Ms Kolle said.

The model from Breda in the south of the Netherlands said she became a target of hate speech after winning the 94-year-old competition in the AFAS Theater in Leusden last Sunday.

Now, she will go on to participate in the Miss Universe pageant. If she wins she will be the first transgender woman to claim that title.

Ms Kolle says becoming a woman was ‘not easy for everyone’ and she admits that she suffered greatly from it.

She was so determined to become a girl she changed her name from Rik to Rikkie at the age of just 11, convinced she was ‘born in the wrong body’. But in her youth, she faced years of bullying which saw her come home from school and cry, day after day.

Ms Kolle (pictured) was eight when she says her journey started but she was 16 when she started the process of transitioning into a woman, which included taking female hormones

Ms Kolle (pictured after gender affirmation surgery), who changed her name from Rik to Rikke at 11 and was teased for years, believes she was ‘born in the wrong body’

The negative comments were unprovoked, she continued, adding people were insulting her for being herself

The model from Breda in the south of the Netherlands said she became a target of hate speech after winning the 94-year-old competition in the AFAS Theater in Leusden last Sunday

‘I was born little Rik, but I wanted to be a big Rikkie. Transitioning from male to female became something that made me feel at home,’ she said on her Instagram.

‘I endured teasing and would go home crying. I would think, “Why me, why is this happening to me?” But I always had the support of my loving family and friends.’

READ MORE: Who is the trans trailblazer who owns Miss Universe?

Ms Kolle was eight when she says her journey started but she was 16 when she started the process of transitioning into a woman, which included taking female hormones.

She then had gender affirmation surgery in January this year – something she described as ‘the day I became who I want to be’.

Ms Kolle says ‘transitioning made me feel at home’ and in her entry profile for the pageant, she revealed that she aspired to be a ‘voice and role model’.

She added: ‘I know better than anyone what it’s like to feel alone and not be surrounded by only positive thoughts.

‘When I was little Rik and came out as transgender, it wasn’t easy for everyone and I also suffered from it.’

‘Now years later I am stronger today than ever before, that is something I want to pass on to whoever needs it.

‘Because as long as you always remain who you are, there is no one who can stand above you.

‘I am only too happy to commit myself to all little Rikkies who face rejection from their family, their transition to the person they desire to be.

‘Help make their self-image and acceptance stronger, untouchable.

‘Through my commitment and strength, I hope to bring about change in society.’

When asked to describe herself in one word ahead of the final, Ms Kolle said in a video: ‘Victory’, adding: ‘Because as a little boy I conquered all things that came through my path and look at me now.

Having been crowned Miss Netherlands, Ms Kolle will go on to become only the second trans woman to compete at Miss Universe

In the final the new Miss Netherlands wore a red gown as she was overcome by emotion while receiving her crown from her predecessor Ona Moody and reigning Miss Universe R’Bonney Gabriel (left) from the USA

Ms Kolle says ‘transitioning made me feel at home’. Her journey started from the age of eight

The Dutch-Moluccan contestant (pictured) impressed the jury with her ‘iron strong story’ and ‘clear mission’

‘Standing here, as a strong, empowering and confident trans woman. Love is love. Be who you want to be and never forget always celebrate your pride.

The Dutch-Moluccan contestant impressed the jury with her ‘iron strong story’ and ‘clear mission’.

The model stood victorious with a bouquet 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, although an exact date has not yet been confirmed, and will see contestants from 24 countries battle it out to claim the title.

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

This is the moment that Rikkie Kolle was crowned Miss Netherlands 2023 at the finals in Leusden on Saturday

Sharing the moment of winning to her now 30,000 followers on Instagram, Ms Kolle (pictured) wrote: ‘I DID IT!!!!!

Ms Kolle beamed as she was crowned Miss Netherlands in Leusden. She was the first trans woman to win in the contest’s 94-year history

Rikkie Kolle has been crowned Miss Netherlands 2023

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 could have imagined’ that 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 organisation in October 2022, also identifies as transgender.

The pageant system was previously owned by former US president Donald Trump.

Ms Jakrajutatip has promised to continue the pageant’s legacy of women empowerment and ‘evolve 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.

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