On Saturday, Rikkie Valerie Kollé became the first transgender woman to win the Miss Netherlands competition—but her victory is being overshadowed by online backlash. After officially being crowned Miss Nederlands, Kollé has now qualified for the international contest Miss Universe, where she will be the second transgender woman ever to compete.
The 22-year-old shared her delight with her followers on social media hours after she received her crown, but people disagreeing with her participation flooded the comment section on her Instagram post. The reaction reflects a global cultural debate about LGBTQ+ acceptance in public life, at a time when transgender inclusion is proving to be a deeply polarizing issue. In the U.S., the political battle largely pits progressives against conservatives, although polling shows that transgender rights have less support among Americans than broader LGBTQ+ rights such as gay marriage.
After speaking about making her community proud, including a trans flag emoji, Kollé wrote, "yes I'm trans and I want to share my story but I'm also Rikkie and that's what matters to me. Did this on my own and loved every moment of it."
Rikkie Valerie Kolle winning Miss Netherlands
Transgender model Rikkie Valerie Kolle won the Miss Netherlands competition in July 2023, but her victory is being overshadowed by negative online comments.
INSTAGRAM @RIKKIEVALERIEKOLLE
The comments that received the highest number of likes were from people criticizing Kollé's victory.
"yes you did it, you just steal a victory from a real woman," wrote @fenda_rosa.
"Comments are passing the vibe check. We've had enough of this bulls***. You stole this title from REAL women. You have absolutely nothing to be proud of," @sensiblyshy wrote.
An account named @stan_entrepreneur said, "This is simply evil..."
"A man just stole the first place of a woman and gets applause for it. Full circle, we just killed 200 years of work of women who fought for equality," wrote @dancecareers.world.
The comments continued as the people criticizing Kollé online seemed to outweigh those who congratulated her.
Advocacy group Independent Women's Voice opposed the victory in a statement posted to its social media channels. "This is nothing to celebrate," it wrote. "This is a slap in the face to every single woman who competed against this biological male in a competition designed SPECIFICALLY for women." The American-based organization also has an ongoing campaign to keep transgender athletes out of female sports.
https://www.newsweek.com/[WORD TOO LONG].
@rajk999 saidlibs see more value in the mentally deranged than they do women...all about votes
On Saturday, Rikkie Valerie Kollé became the first transgender woman to win the Miss Netherlands competition—but her victory is being overshadowed by online backlash. After officially being crowned Miss Nederlands, Kollé has now qualified for the international contest Miss Universe, where she will be the second transgender woman ever to compete.
The 22-year-old shared ...[text shortened]... text=On%20Saturday%2C%20Rikkie%20Valerie%20Koll%C3%A9,being%20overshadowed%20by%20online%20backlash.
@rajk999 saidPageantry is for libs.
On Saturday, Rikkie Valerie Kollé became the first transgender woman to win the Miss Netherlands competition—but her victory is being overshadowed by online backlash. After officially being crowned Miss Nederlands, Kollé has now qualified for the international contest Miss Universe, where she will be the second transgender woman ever to compete.
The 22-year-old shared ...[text shortened]... text=On%20Saturday%2C%20Rikkie%20Valerie%20Koll%C3%A9,being%20overshadowed%20by%20online%20backlash.
@mott-the-hoople saidOnly libs are allowed to vote
libs see more value in the mentally deranged than they do women...all about votes
@mott-the-hoople saidTell that to women who lost their right to abortion.
libs see more value in the mentally deranged than they do women
@rajk999 saidYou conservative a-holes need to abandon this stupid idea that "transgender women are men".
On Saturday, Rikkie Valerie Kollé became the first transgender woman to win the Miss Netherlands competition—but her victory is being overshadowed by online backlash. After officially being crowned Miss Nederlands, Kollé has now qualified for the international contest Miss Universe, where she will be the second transgender woman ever to compete.
The 22-year-old shared ...[text shortened]... text=On%20Saturday%2C%20Rikkie%20Valerie%20Koll%C3%A9,being%20overshadowed%20by%20online%20backlash.
Almost every single post you people make substituting "men" for "transgender women" is wrong.
Anything to denigrate an entire class of people.
Fear and dread. Phobos and Deimos. You guys live this every day.
Keep spinning the narrative that you give the least tiny damn about women. The misogyny is rampant in these parts. Claiming you have the tiniest interest in women's issues is insulting.
Vivify is right. Thread 197255
@suzianne saidIs it just me, or are y'all actually avoiding what qualifies her as a woman? By that, I mean, what physical change has he had to make him a girl? I think that trans does not necessarily mean removing male parts. Were his removed,or not. More to the point, do these people have to 'tell'? :Like Bruce Jenner, was he cut, or do we know. Sorry to be crass, but it would help with posting on such matters.
You conservative a-holes need to abandon this stupid idea that "transgender women are men".
Almost every single post you people make substituting "men" for "transgender women" is wrong.
Anything to denigrate an entire class of people.
Fear and dread. Phobos and Deimos. You guys live this every day.
Keep spinning the narrative that you give the least tiny damn a ...[text shortened]... he tiniest interest in women's issues is insulting.
Vivify is right. Thread 197255
In this case, an old timer like me does not know how to 'regard' this individual
@averagejoe1 saidIts a disgrace when women who are supposed to be supporting women in this matter of men entering their private sports, their washrooms, their events and making a mockery out of them, choose instead to side with the men. These are men dressed as women, fooling the gullible women and turning the whole event into a joke. Women who do that are shameless.
Is it just me, or are y'all actually avoiding what qualifies her as a woman? By that, I mean, what physical change has he had to make him a girl? I think that trans does not necessarily mean removing male parts. Were his removed,or not. More to the point, do these people have to 'tell'? :Like Bruce Jenner, was he cut, or do we know. Sorry to be crass, but it would ...[text shortened]... such matters.
In this case, an old timer like me does not know how to 'regard' this individual
@earl-of-trumps said... and some women supporting this mockery.... lol
@Rajk999
Oh my god!
A man learns to put on a dress, and is so endeared for his mockery that he is allowed to enter a women's contest.
And naturally, [wink], he wins the contest! I am just so overcome with joy!! (Have we seen this before?)
@athousandyoung saidwell dummy...there aint nothing to hit
Would NOT hit it
https://sterrenoptv.nl/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Rikkie-Kolle-Hollands-Next-Top-Model-HNTM.jpg
@athousandyoung saidIt does look like a gal, but not a very pretty/cute one.
Would NOT hit it
https://sterrenoptv.nl/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Rikkie-Kolle-Hollands-Next-Top-Model-HNTM.jpg