A transgender woman has been crowned Miss Netherlands for the first time and is to go on to compete in the Miss Universe beauty pageant.

Rikkie Valerie Kolle, 22, was overjoyed after her history-making win on Saturday, 8th July.

She now goes on to represent the Netherlands at the Miss Universe contest in El Salvador later this year.

The model was crowned by the 2022 Miss Netherlands, Ona Moody, at the AFAS Theatre in the city of Leusden.

Afterwards, she took to Instagram to say: “I DID IT !!!!!”

Rikkie – from Dutch and Moluccan heritage – added: “Yes I’m trans and I want to share my story but I’m also Rikkie and that’s what matters to me.”

Rikkie – from Breda – went on: “And wherever you are in the world, I want to be there for you and be the example that I missed as a little me.”

Ahead of winning the Miss Netherlands pageant, she had said that she aspires to become a role model and voice for young women and queer people.

The Miss Universe pageant first began allowing transgender contestants in 2012.

The first transgender woman to compete for the Miss Universe Crown was Angela Ponce in 2018, representing Spain.