Is this a challenge to the "outdated" standards of "special" beauty icons?
The 72nd edition of the Miss Universe pageant, in 2023, hosted by El Salvador, features the most diverse group of candidates ever thanks to recent criteria changes that break the traditional pageant mold by including married or divorced women, transgender women, and LGBT+.
Miss Transgender Netherlands Rikkie Valeri
At the age of 22, Dutch-Moluccan model and actress Rikkie Valerie Kollé made history by becoming the first transgender woman to win the title of Miss Universe Netherlands.
Miss Universe Netherlands 2023 Rikkie Valeri is transgender.
After winning, she qualified for the Miss Universe pageant held in El Salvador in December.
Kollé is only the second openly transgender contestant in the pageant's history, following Spanish model Angela Ponce in 2018.
Ahead of her win, Kollé spoke about her efforts to come out as transgender: "Through my commitment and strength, I hope to bring about change in society."
In an interview with NBC News in August 2023, Rikkie opened up about hurtful comments on social media, including threats via direct message on Instagram.
“In my daily Instagram DMs, I get those threats. It's really hard to read, but I can tune it out and just focus on the good things that are happening and the lovely reactions I get from my queer community…”
The beauty queen added: "Right now, I completely ignore it. I will focus on the good things that are coming to me."
In the face of these challenges, Rikkie remains steadfast in her mission to be a voice and role model for young women and the LGBTQIA+ community.
According to Forbes, she is the third richest transgender person in the world. She owns JKN Global Group in 2022 - the umbrella company of the Miss Universe, Miss USA and Miss Teen USA beauty pageants.
Miss Portugal Transgender Marina Machete
Following Rikkie Valerie Kollé's victory, Marina Machete was crowned Miss Universe Portugal in October 2023.
Miss Universe Portugal Marina Machete transgender.
Her beauty, poise and confidence convinced the judges, who eventually chose her to represent her country in the most important beauty pageant.
In the days leading up to the pageant, Marina shared on Instagram that she was "proud to be the first transgender woman to compete for the title of Miss Universe Portugal".
She also expressed gratitude for having had the opportunity to compete over the years.
Like Rikkie, Marina is a passionate advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and inclusion.
Miss Universe Philippines 2023 Michelle Dee reveals she is bisexual
In a special issue of Mega magazine, Michelle came out as bisexual. "I definitely identify as bisexual. I've identified for a long time," Dee said.
Miss Philippines is 28 years old this year, 1.78 m tall. She has a full, attractive figure. From the beginning of the contest, she was considered a strong candidate for the title of Miss because of her impressive experience in "conquering" beauty contests.
Miss Universe Philippines 2023 Michelle Dee revealed she is bisexual.
The beauty comes from a prestigious family, debuted as a model in 2016 and participated in acting. A multi-talented girl, Dee graduated with a degree in Psychology from De La Salle University.
In addition, she is also an entrepreneur with a great love for art. She nourishes her soul with artistic activities such as photography, editing, and media creation.
The actress and beauty queen said she grew up surrounded by "strong and powerful individuals" like her mother. Michelle Marquez Dee is the daughter of Melanie Marquez - Miss International 1979, and a famous and powerful beauty pageant trainer in the Philippines. Her cousin is Wynwyn Marquez, who won the title of Reina Hispanoamericana 2017 - Queen of Latin America 2017.
Dee personally sees the pageant as a powerful and widespread platform “to create positive change” and fuels her advocacy for autism awareness. “It’s been a lifelong mission for me because of my two autistic siblings,” she notes.
She won Miss World Philippines 2019 and represented the country at Miss World 2019, entering the top 12. The beauty then won the title of Miss Universe Philippines Tourism - Miss Universe Philippines Tourism 2022.
Beauty Michelle Cohn Guatemala has husband and children
On August 6, 29023, veteran Michelle Cohn made history when she became the first mother — she has a son and a daughter — to win the Miss Universe Guatemala crown.
According to Conan, the beautiful Michelle Cohn, 28 years old, lives in Guatemala City. She is currently pursuing her career as a businesswoman, a TV host, a radio announcer and a professional model. She is 1.78m tall and speaks English and Spanish fluently.
Miss Universe Michelle Cohn Guatemala has a husband and children.
Notably, Michelle Cohn is married to Spanish businessman Andres Matheu and has two children. Thus, Michelle Cohn is the first contestant with children to win the Miss Universe Guatemala crown.
The beauty queen has extensive experience in international beauty pageants. In 2013, she won the Miss Guatemala Latina crown and was the first representative of Guatemala at the Miss Grand International pageant. In this pageant, Michelle Cohn did not make the Top.
In 2014, she continued to represent Guatemala at the Miss América Latina del Mundo 2013 beauty pageant in the Dominican Republic and won the title of 3rd runner-up.
Michelle previously represented Guatemala in the Miss Grand International 2013 pageant.
Camila Avella - Miss Universe Colombia has a husband and children
Before winning the Miss Universe Colombia title, Camila last participated in the competition in 2018. She married young businessman Nassif Kamle in 2020 and gave birth to a daughter in 2021. The couple often shares sweet moments on their personal pages.
Camila Avella - Miss Universe Colombia 2023 has a husband and children.
Colombian news reports that Camila's happy marriage is one of the highlights of this year's contest because for the first time, Colombia decided to choose a married woman with children to be crowned Miss.
In an interview with Hola, Camila revealed that, "at one point, she believed her chances were over due to past rejections and she decided to pursue another dream: starting a family."
However, when she learned that Miss Universe had lifted the restrictions, her motivation was rekindled.
“When I decided to get married and have children, I was very surprised by the Miss Universe news. I never thought it would happen. I think what Miss Universe is doing is very important, because they are showing the inclusivity that they have been talking about for many years,” she said.
"A role doesn't define us and we finally break the stereotypes that have held us back for so long. Ultimately, that Miss Universe decision motivated me to try again."
Plus-size beauty queen surpasses all beauty standards in Nepal
Nepal's representative at Miss Universe 2023, Jane Dipika Garrett, adds a new dimension of diversity to the pageant. At 22, Jane made history as the first plus-size model to win the title in her home country.
Miss Universe Nepal 2023 Jane Dipika Garrett
Her remarkable achievements have broken stereotypes and established her as an influential figure in promoting body positivity.
Jane's participation in the Miss Universe Nepal 2023 pageant sends a compelling message: "beauty transcends different shapes and sizes, and it's time for the world to embrace and celebrate different body types."
Crowned Miss Universe Nepal 2023, Jane is determined to use her platform to raise awareness about body positivity, mental health, and hormonal issues.
“I embarked on a journey of self-care. In the past, I neglected my health, ate unhealthy foods, and even smoked. However, as the strong desire for change took hold of me, I began to incorporate self-care habits and learn more about myself into positive literary works. Over time, these healthy habits became an integral part of my life,” she shared.
Jane also emphasized the importance of acceptance and unity. “We should appreciate each other’s uniqueness and beauty. We are all human beings and it is important that we come together, accept and love each other,” she concluded, promoting the message of inclusion and love for all.
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