Rikkie Valerie Koll, 22, has been crowned Miss Netherlands, making her the first transgender woman to obtain the prize.  

<div class="block">Rikkie Valerie Koll, 22, has been crowned Miss Netherlands, making her the first transgender woman to obtain the prize. </div>
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First Transgender Woman Crowned Miss Netherlands

Big news from the pageant world with the first openly transgender pageant contestant winning the title of Miss Netherlands and now set to represent her country in Miss Universe. Later this year, Ricky Cole who is 22 has used her platform to promote inclusion. She shared a video on Instagram saying Miss Universe asked us to describe ourselves in one word. The word I'm choosing is victory because as a little boy, I, I conquered all the things that came through my path and look at me now standing here as a strong empowering and confident trans woman and quote, amazing. Now, if she wins, Miss Universe, she will be the first trans woman to do so. The pageant has allowed trans participants since 2012. Yeah. Very exciting, by the way, um um Miss Puerto Rico is having their contest next month. There's a trans contestant there as well. So if Puerto Rico has one, there'd be two trans and gorgeous, gorgeous as well.