‘Post-Truth World’: Man Wins Miss Netherlands, Sparking Outrage On Twitter
Rikkie Kolle, a 22-year-old man, beat out nine women to attain the title of “Miss Netherlands” on Saturday, sparking outrage on social media as many users said the win showed we are experiencing a trend of erasing women. The Miss Netherlands competition is part of Miss Universe, and Kolle will compete in the 72nd Miss Universe pageant in El Salvador later this year.
“A man just won ‘Miss Netherlands’ 2023,” Dutch commentator Eva Vlaardingerbroek tweeted. “Considering the fact that we live in a post-truth world, I wasn’t even expecting anything else. It’s all so predictable and unoriginal at this point,” she added.
A man just won “Miss Netherlands” 2023.
— Eva Vlaardingerbroek (@EvaVlaar) July 9, 2023
Considering the fact that we live in a post-Truth world, I wasn’t even expecting anything else. It’s all so predictable and unoriginal at this point. pic.twitter.com/j6NKo2cCvu
Kolle, the first transgender-identifying “Miss Netherlands” winner, also participated in the “Holland’s Next Top Model” television show in 2018, according to Dutch public broadcaster NOS. He will be the second man to compete in Miss Universe, with the first hailing from Spain in 2018. Miss Universe has allowed trans-identifying contestants since 2012, People reports.
The Miss Netherlands judges said Kolle “has a strong story with a clear mission,” adding that they were “convinced that the organization (of Miss Nederland, ed.) will enjoy working” with him, according to translated comments from NOS.
“I DID IT !!!!!” Kolle posted to Instagram. “It’s unreal but I get to call myself @missnederland 2023. It was an educational and beautiful journey, my year can’t be broken anymore. Making my community proud and showing it can be done,” the translated post says.
Some on Twitter mocked Kolle’s victory, with one user pointing out that it’s really “Mr Nederland.” Others posted clown face emojis on their tweets reporting the news.
“The Netherlands is home to some of the most beautiful women on earth,” another account posted. “Of all these beautiful women, they just nominated a transgender man to be Miss Netherlands 2023. A man with a penis should be disqualified from any female beauty pageant and the fact that statement will gain me haters is just insane.”
Miss Netherlands 2023
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) July 9, 2023
Winner (male) vs the runner-up (female): pic.twitter.com/HMkg40j890
Another wrote, “The West has completely lost the plot.”
Others pointed out the difference between Kolle and the runner-up — a woman — and said it’s clear who the winner should have been.
“Nathalie Mogbelzada is the real Miss Netherlands 2023,” End Wokeness, a popular conservative account, posted in reply to pictures of Kolle and first runner-up Mogbelzada.
