In a move that has been described as a triumph for the gay community, the Netherlands had its first transgender Miss Netherlands crowned recently.
The town of Leusden was alive last Saturday as Miss Universe R’Bonney Gabriel participated in the historic crowning of model Rikkie Kollé as the new Miss Netherlands. It is particularly symbolic because Rikkie Kollé is the pageant’s first-ever transgender winner – a testament to the increasing acceptance of gender fluidity in the country.
While Rikkie Kollé luxuriates in their win, there is some discontent in some social media circles, as some people believe that the idea of the contest has been debased with a transgender person winning it. Some people argue that there should specifically be another contest for transgender and not the “confusion” happening all over the place.
But, of course, this changes nothing at the moment as Rikkie Kollé is actually set to represent the Netherlands at the Miss Universe later this year.
It will be a defining moment if she should be accepted on that stage and eventually emerge a winner. Stay tuned. Never again will the world of Miss Universe contests be the same again. Time will tell, so stay tuned if you please.
