The Dutch Rikkie Kollé saw the crown pass her by during the Miss Universe pageant in El Salvador on Saturday evening. Miss Nicaragua Sheynnis Palacios won the title.
Kollé was the first transgender woman to be elected Miss Netherlands in July. The 22-year-old from Amsterdam participated in 2018 Holland’s Next Top Model. Although she didn’t win, she did make it to the final.
In El Salvador, Kollé’s adventure soon ended. Not long after the attendance of the almost ninety participants, the names of the twenty countries that advanced to the final were called. The Netherlands was not among them.
Still, Kollé had a good feeling about the election. “It was magical and an honor to be on this stage. I am very grateful to the organization of Miss Netherlands for the support I received to spread my message internationally and feel the recognition.”
Kollé’s journey from participating in Miss Netherlands to the Miss Universe pageant is captured in a documentary that will be broadcast on NPO3 on Thursday, December 21.
