The 72nd Miss Universe pageant will go down in history as one of the most diverse pageants to date. For the first time in its longstanding history, the pageant put diversity and inclusion in the spotlight on a global scale and with a worldwide audience. Last year’s contestants included two transgender women, a plus-size model, and two mothers.
The preliminary phase of the pageant debuted in 2023 in El Salvador, starting with the swimsuit and evening gown rounds. During these rounds, two contestants — Miss Portugal Marina Machete and Miss Netherlands Rikkie Kolle’ — both made history while representing their countries as the first time two trans women have been included in this historic, global competition.
The road that led to Miss Universe was a rocky one for Miss Universe Rikkie Kolle’. She is a model and proud activist for LGBTQ+ rights, and has had to weather a lot of criticism since she was crowned Miss Netherlands in July 2023. The 22-year-old vowed to rise above the hate, and is now using her platform to spread awareness and encouragement to her network. “I see you all, I love you all. And I hope we can stay strong together,” she said on Instagram after making her debut in Miss Universe.
