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Add beauty pageants to the list of women's spaces that are no longer, well, women's spaces.
The new Miss Netherlands, crowned on Saturday, is a transgender model named Rikkie Valerie Kollé.
Kollé's next stop: the Miss Universe pageant, now owned by transgender Thai business mogul Anne Jakrajutatip.
And we biological women are expected to cheer, to be exhilarated by this latest theft.
Take a look at the faces of the runners-up.
More than a few look as if they're in shock. Rightly so. Women in beauty pageants have every expectation of losing — to another woman. But to a biological male? Who has invaded yet another event that, in its very founding and mission statement, is specific to women?
This is not to disparage Kollé herself. She changed her name at age 11, from Rik to Rikkie, and said she suffered constant bullying, often coming home from school in tears.
Shortly before she was crowned Miss Netherlands, Kollé said no matter the outcome, she had already won.
'As a little boy I conquered all things that came through my path and look at me now,' she said. 'Standing here, as a strong, empowering and confident trans woman. Love is love. Be who you want to be and never forget – always celebrate your pride.'
Continued below.
www.dailymail.co.uk
The new Miss Netherlands, crowned on Saturday, is a transgender model named Rikkie Valerie Kollé.
Kollé's next stop: the Miss Universe pageant, now owned by transgender Thai business mogul Anne Jakrajutatip.
And we biological women are expected to cheer, to be exhilarated by this latest theft.
Take a look at the faces of the runners-up.
More than a few look as if they're in shock. Rightly so. Women in beauty pageants have every expectation of losing — to another woman. But to a biological male? Who has invaded yet another event that, in its very founding and mission statement, is specific to women?
This is not to disparage Kollé herself. She changed her name at age 11, from Rik to Rikkie, and said she suffered constant bullying, often coming home from school in tears.
Shortly before she was crowned Miss Netherlands, Kollé said no matter the outcome, she had already won.
'As a little boy I conquered all things that came through my path and look at me now,' she said. 'Standing here, as a strong, empowering and confident trans woman. Love is love. Be who you want to be and never forget – always celebrate your pride.'
Continued below.
CALLAHAN: Trans contestant wins pageant, here's what women think
CALLAHAN: Add beauty pageants to the list of women's spaces that are no longer, well, women's spaces. The new Miss Netherlands is a transgender model named Rikkie Valerie Kollé.
What a coincidence he won.
