Dubai, United Arab Emirates (CNN) — Ricky Cooley became the first transgender contestant to win the Miss Holland contest on Saturday, and will represent her country at the Miss Universe pageant later this year.
Cooley expressed her joy through a post she wrote on her Instagram page, saying: “I succeeded!” And that after winning at the AFAS Theater in Lusden. “I’ve made my community proud, and I’ve shown that we can make it happen,” she added in Dutch with a blue, pink and white transgender flag emoji.
During the contest, which drew hundreds of participants, narrowing the number to 10 finalists in April, Cooley used her platform to promote a more inclusive vision of the beauty pageant and encourage others to dare to do the same.
And in a video clip she posted on her Instagram page last month, she indicated, “The beauty pageant asked us to describe ourselves in one word.” “The word I chose is ‘victory’, because as a young child I overcame all the obstacles that faced me and now look at me, I stand here as a strong, empowered, and confident trans woman,” she continued.
In the accompanying caption, she wrote: “Never forget that we can do this together, you are not alone on this planet. Never stop dreaming of being the best version of you, and believing in yourself.” And she continued, “Never let anyone tell you what is good for you, because the only thing that matters is becoming the best version of yourself.”
Miss Universe 2022, Arboni Gabriel, joined Ricky Cooley on stage to celebrate her victory.Credit: Shutterstock
Last year’s Miss Netherlands, Unna Moody, crowned 22-year-old Kohli. Miss Universe, Arbony Gabrielle, also dressed her in a sash.
If Kelly wins the Miss Universe title, she will be the first transgender woman to be crowned. The competition has opened the door to transgender women since 2012, and in 2018, Angela Ponce from Spain became the first participant in the competition, but she did not reach the finals.
Over the next month, activist Daniela Arroyo Gonzalez is also looking to make history as the first transgender woman to win the title of Miss Universe Puerto Rico and, if crowned, to participate in Miss Universe as well. This year, 90 women from around the world will compete in the Miss Universe 2023 pageant, according to the pageant’s website.
