Transgender Trailblazers at Miss Universe

The 72nd Miss Universe pageant, hosted in El Salvador, embraces diversity with the groundbreaking participation of transwomen Miss Portugal, Marina Machete, and Miss Netherlands, Rikkie Kolle. These pioneers could make history as the first transwoman to wear the coveted Miss Universe crown.

Rikkie Kolle, a 22-year-old LGBTQIA+ rights activist and model, secured the Miss Netherlands title in July, triumphing over nine finalists. Kolle, the second transgender contestant in Miss Universe after Spain’s Angela Ponce in 2018, advocates for equality and has experienced bullying due to her gender identity. In a powerful video for the Voices for Change campaign, Kolle highlighted her journey, emphasizing resilience and empowerment.

Marina Machete, a flight attendant, made history in October by winning the Miss Portugal competition, becoming the country’s first transgender contestant to achieve this feat. Her inspiring bio reflects on overcoming challenges with courage and strength, fostering humanity and kindness in her life. In a video on the Portuguese pageant’s YouTube channel, Machete expressed gratitude for the strength of love in overcoming obstacles as a trans woman.

Both Kolle and Machete use their social media platforms to encourage and uplift the transgender community worldwide. The Miss Universe 2023 pageant, featuring 84 contestants, can be streamed on The Roku Channel (English) and Telemundo (Spanish) at 8 pm ET, with the Indian audience catching it on the Miss Universe YouTube channel and its X account at 6:30 AM IST on November 19. The event marks a milestone with an all-female hosting team led by former Miss Universe 2012 Olivia Culpo and TV personality Jeannie Mai, amplifying the celebration of diversity on the global stage.

Re-reported from the article originally published in The Hindustan Times