The Miss Universe 2023 pageant will be held on November 18 at the José Adolfo Pineda National Gymnasium in San Salvador, El Salvador. Among the candidates vying for the crown are two transgender women who want to make history by competing to become the best winner of the competition.
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Although the competition brings new rules this year, the participation of transgender women is not new. Since 2012, Miss Universe has allowed these candidates to compete, and in 2018, Spanish model Angela Ponce marked a milestone by becoming the first transgender woman to aspire to the crown.
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The two transgender contestants who will represent their countries at the prestigious beauty pageant are Marina Machete, Miss Portugal, and Rikkie Valerie Kolle, Miss Netherlands.
Miss Portugal, Marina Machete
Marina Machete, the representative of Portugal, is a 28-year-old girl who was declared the most beautiful woman of her country in the contest held on October 5, 2023.
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Marina works as a flight attendant and this was not the first time she tried to participate in the competition. He tried to qualify earlier, but this year he managed to reach the final and win the title, reports 20 Minutes.
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“Proud to be the first trans woman to compete for the Miss Universe Portugal title. For years it was not possible for me to participate, and today I am proud to be part of this incredible group of finalists”, wrote Marina in a post published on her Instagram profile.
Miss Netherlands, Rikkie Valerie Kolle
Rikkie Valerie Kolle, on the other hand, is the first transgender person selected for this year’s competition; The 22-year-old Dutch won the competition last July in her country.
The model and actress has faced difficulties in the past, including humiliation and ridicule because she does not feel comfortable with the gender she was born with, but she has always had the support of her family and friends, ABC explains.
Check out this post on InstagramA post shared by Rikkie Valerie Kollé (@rikkievaleriekolle)
“It’s unreal, but I can call myself Miss Netherlands 2023. It’s been a wonderful educational process, my age can’t go wrong anymore. I am so proud and happy that I cannot describe it. I made my community proud and showed that it can be done. And yes, I’m a trans woman and I’d like to share my story, but I’m also Rikkie and that’s what’s important to me. “I did this with my strength and I enjoyed every moment,” he wrote on his Instagram profile on the day he won the competition in his country.
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Rikkie stated that her dream is to become the first transgender woman to win Miss Universe and to be an example to other people who feel differently.
These two transgender women are breaking barriers and making history by participating in the Miss Universe 2023 pageant. (AND)
Source: Eluniverso
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