Two transgender women are set to compete in the upcoming 72nd Miss Universe pageant scheduled for November in El Salvador. Marina Machete and Rikkie Valerie Kolle have won the titles of Miss Portugal and Miss Netherlands, respectively.
Machete, 28, a flight attendant by profession, expressed her gratitude on Instagram for the outpouring of “positive and empowering” messages since her win. In her message, she urged everyone to believe in limitless possibilities.
Earlier this year, Kolle, 22, became a beacon of change after clinching the Miss Netherlands title. While proud to share her story, Kolle emphasized that her identity extends beyond being transgender. However, her win was not without challenges. Kolle faced a barrage of online hate speech, revealing a contrasting side of perceived acceptance in the Netherlands.
The participation of transgender women in beauty pageants has been a topic of discussion in recent years. Miss Universe opened its doors to trans women in 2012. Angela Ponce made history in 2018 as the first trans woman to compete, representing Spain. While the inclusion is progressive in pageants like Miss Universe, not all have been as accepting. Miss Italy drew criticism earlier this year for not allowing trans women to participate, prompting over 100 transgender men to enter in protest.
Last year, the Miss Universe Organization witnessed a significant change at the helm. Anne Jakkapong Jakrajutatip, a transgender advocate from Thailand, became the first woman to own the pageant after purchasing it for $20 million.
