2023-07-13 12:58:22
THE Ricky Valerie Colewho made history as the first transgender person to win the Miss Netherlands beauty pageant, saw her pageant success as a symbol of Dutch society’s “opening” to the queer community.
However, just a few days after her victory in 94th competitionlast week, 22-year-old Cole became the target of hate speech.
Kole is going to take part in beauty pageants to highlight her “Miss Universe” and may make history again, as the first trans person to win the title, if she emerges as the winner of the contest scheduled to be held in El Salvador.
Kole said in an interview that she tries to focus on the positive, ignoring the negative comments she receives on social media.
The other side of society
“I thought they’ve really accepted us…. in the Netherlands, but hateful comments show the other side of our society. I hope this will be a wake-up call,” he told Reuters.
“At the moment, I am completely unaware of it. I focus on the good things that come my way,” she said, adding that people insult her simply for being herself.
“I just want to show the world Ricky and of course my trans story and getting backlash for that is really sad,” she stressed.
With information from Reuters
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