Miss Universe Netherlands 2023 title has been for the first time conferred upon a transgender model Rikkie Valerie Kollé on Saturday, July 8 at the AFAS Theater in Leusden.
The 22-year-old Dutch-Moluccan model and actress living in Breda succeeds Ona Moody and will now prepare to represent the Netherlands at the 72nd Miss Universe (Miss Universe 2023) in El Salvador.
Nathalie Mogbelzada, 26, from Amsterdam, was named first runner-up while Habiba Mostafa and Lou Dirchs were awarded Miss Congeniality and Miss Social Media, respectively.
The new Miss Universe Netherlands made history as she became the first-ever transgender woman to win the national title.
She will be the second transgender representative at the Miss Universe pageant next to Spain’s Angela Ponce who participated in 2018.
