Transgender woman enters Top 10 of Miss Nederland 2022


A transgender woman, Solange Dekker, made history after entering the Top 10 of Miss Nederland 2022 (Miss Universe Netherlands 2022) in a casting held in Amsterdam on Saturday, April 16.

The casting event took place at the Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky. Former Miss Nederland winners Zoey Ivory, Rahima Dirkse, and Denise Speelman were part of the judging panel.

"I really can't describe in words how proud I am of myself, how incredibly grateful I am for the organization for this opportunity as the first trans woman in NL, and how happy I am with all the girls I've met," Solange shared on social media.

"Beauty contests are all about connection and change, not about competition and being better than the rest. You are committed to a better world, a more inclusive world. And that is exactly what I am committed to. Inclusivity, power, acceptance," she added.

The 26-year-old presenter and the rest of the Top 10 finalists will now continue to battle it out to win the national title and the opportunity to represent the Netherlands at the Miss Universe 2022 pageant later this year.

Details of the final competition are yet to be announced.

Photos: Miss Nederland, Solange Dekker / Instagram

Popular posts from this blog

Miss World Thailand 2026 is Kanteera Techaphattanakul of Chiang Mai

Image
Kanteera "Namphueng" Techaphattanakul was proclaimed Miss World Thailand 2026 on Sunday, May 10 at MCC Hall of The Mall Lifestore Ngamwongwan in Bangkok. The 25-year-old medical technologist representing Chiang Mai beat 20 other contestants to win the national title. She was crowned by her predecessor Opal Suchata Chuangsri who became Thailand's first Miss World last year. Malaika Khan and Jirapat Dathumma were respectively announced the first and second runners-up while Atina Khontarosaphan Vasnaarchasakul and Pannika Boonsiritakorn rounded out the Top 5 finalists. The newly crowned Miss World Thailand will now prepare to represent her country at the Miss World 2026 competition this August in Vietnam. Road to the 73rd Miss World: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Miss World Thailand Official (@missworldthailand.official) Photos: Miss World Thailand / Instagram
Read more

The Miss Philippines 2026 titleholders officially crowned

Image
The coronation ball for The Miss Philippines 2026 took place on Sunday, May 10, at the Grand Ballroom in City of Dreams Manila. Hosted by former titleholder and Miss Supranational runner-up Pauline Amelinckx, the glittering event was graced by reigning international queens Miss Cosmo 2025 Yolina Lindquist and Miss Charm 2025 Anna Blanco. Following their participation in the recently concluded Miss Universe Philippines 2026 competition, eight new queens have been crowned to represent the Philippines in various international pageants overseas. Meet the new queens: Miss Supranational Philippines 2027 - Allyson Hetland for Miss Supranational 2027 Miss Cosmo Philippines 2026 - Bella Ysmael for Miss Cosmo 2026 Miss Charm Philippines 2026 - Apriel Smith for Miss Charm 2026 Miss Eco International Philippines 2027 - Jenrose Javier for Miss Eco International 2027 Miss Eco Teen Philippines 2026 - Trexy Paris Roxas for Miss Eco Teen International 2026 Miss Tourism World Philippines 2026 - Ma...
Read more

Olivia Yac茅 of C么te d'Ivoire steps down as Miss Universe Africa and Oceania

Image
Miss Universe C么te d'Ivoire 2025 Olivia Yac茅 has officially announced on Monday, November 24 her resignation as Miss Universe Africa and Oceania. "As the representative of C么te d'Ivoire at the Miss Universe 2025 competition in Bangkok, i witnessed firsthand that i was capable of accomplishing great things despite adversity," Olivia wrote on social media. "But to continue on this path, i must remain true to my values: respect, dignity, excellence, and equal opportunity the strongest pillars that guide me," she continued. "With a heart full of gratitude and profound respect, i hereby announce my resignation from the title of Miss Universe Africa and Oceania, as well as from any future affiliation with the Miss Universe Committee," she added. She also wrote: "I call upon Black, Africa, Caribbean, American, and Afro-descendant communities: continue entering spaces where you are not expected. Let us open the way for the brothers and sisters who wil...
Read more

Nadia Mejia-Webb crowned Miss Universe Ecuador 2025

Image
Nadia Mejia-Webb, representing Comunidad USA, was crowned Miss Universe Ecuador 2025 in a national competition held on Saturday, July 26 at Palacio de Cristal in Guayaquil. The 29-year-old model and singer will now prepare to represent Ecuador at Miss Universe 2025 in Thailand this November. Daphne Currat of Tungurahua and Christie Termidor of Regi贸n Sierra were named the first and second runners-up, respectively. Christiane Marques of Guayaquil and Mariola Vejarano of Guayas rounded out the Top 5 finalists. Reigning Miss Universe Victoria Kj忙r Theilvig of Denmark was a special guest at the pageant. The new Miss Universe Ecuador succeeds last year's winner Mara Topi膰 who made the Top 30 at Miss Universe 2024 in Mexico. Nadia is the daughter of Ecuadorian musician Gerardo Mejia and former Miss West Virginia USA Kathy Eicher. She is married to Australian Survivor star and actor Sam Webb since 2023. She is no stranger to pageantry, having won Miss California USA and made the...
Read more

Miss Universe Great Britain 2025 is Danielle Latimer

Image
Danielle Latimer beat over 30 other contestants to win Miss Universe Great Britain 2025 on Saturday, July 26 at Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff, Wales. The 36-year-old entrepreneur, stylist and photographer will represent Great Britain at Miss Universe 2025 in Thailand this November. Luissa Burton and Leigh Hutchinson were named the first and second runners-up, respectively. Last year's winner Christina Chalk crowned her successor at the end of the event. "Last night, I had the honour of crowning one of the most selfless, talented woman I know," Christina shared online after the pageant. "For years, she's been the quiet powerhouse behind the scenes, uplifting the UK pageant community with everything she has. This time, she stepped into the spotlight and gave her dream one final shot and she did it at 36," she added. The new Miss Universe Great Britain was raised in a humble household in the East End of London. She is a former Miss Grand Wal...
Read more

Sylvie Tellier officially leaves Miss France organization

Image
After 17 years, former Miss France Sylvie Tellier has officially announced her departure from the Miss France organization. The 44-year-old took to social media on Wednesday, August 31 to make a public statement on her decision to leave, which was made "with a lot of emotion because you don't leave a company after 17 years without memories in your head." Sylvie then went to the show "Touche Pas 脿 Mon Poste" (TPMP) to talk more about it. She said, " I felt that I had nothing more to contribute, I lived the best years" then admitted having wanted shares of the company she worked for nearly 20 years, and if it had become her company, she might have stayed. Before becoming a known TV personality and businesswoman, Sylvie was crowned Miss France 2002 and went on to represent her country at Miss Universe 2002 in Puerto Rico. She joined Miss France Committee in 2005 as the head of external relations then she was appointed as its national director in 2007 repl...
Read more

La Union's Bea Millan-Windorski is the new Miss Universe Philippines

Image
Bea Millan-Windorski of La Union was crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2026 during the final of the national pageant on Saturday, May 2 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. The 24-year-old Filipino-American beauty succeeded Maria Ahtisa Manalo from Quezon Province. She will represent the Philippines at the Miss Universe 2026 pageant, which is set to take place in Puerto Rico later this year. Nicole Borromeo of Cebu Province, Apriel Smith of Cebu City, Allyson Hetland of Pampanga, Jenrose Javier of Sultan Kudarat, Bella Ysmael of Taguig, and Marian Arellano of Tarlac made the Top 7. Completing the Top 15 were from Baguio, Roxie Baeyens, Camiguin, Erica Cadayday, Iloilo City, Zestah Espinosa, Negros Occidental, Alex Colmenares, Manila, Justine Felizarta, Muntinlupa, Adela-Mae Marshall, Quezon Province, Ella Evangelista, and Tacloban, Jacqueline Gulrajani. The new Miss Universe Philippines is an alumna of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is no stranger to pageantry, having ...
Read more

Miss Universe Philippines 2026 Top 6 national costumes announced

Image
The spectacular Miss Universe Philippines 2026 national costume competition took place on Thursday, April 16 at the Urdaneta City Cultural and Sports Center in Pangasinan. This year's show, themed Water, was hosted by the reigning Miss Eco Philippines, Gabbi Carballo. The contestants took to the stage, displaying Filipino artistry through their colorful costumes. Following the competition the costumes from Baguio City , Roxie Baeyens, Iloilo Province , Nicklyn Jutay, Negros Occidental , Alexandria Colmenares, Pampanga , Allyson Hetland, Pangasinan , Donna Nuguid, and Tacloban City , Jacqueline Gulrajani were announced the Top 6. The grand final and coronation night for the Miss Universe Philippines 2026 pageant is scheduled for May 2 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. The new Miss Universe Philippines, who will be crowned by the current queen Ahtisa Manalo from Quezon Province, will go on to represent the Philippines at Miss Universe 2026 in Puerto Rico later this year. Ph...
Read more

Miss Universe Paraguay 2026 is Gretha Matiauda

Image
Former Miss Earth Paraguay Gretha Matiauda has recently been appointed as her country's official representative in the Miss Universe 2026 pageant. The 24-year-old beauty from Asunci贸n is an economist, international model and entrepreneur. She succeeds last year's titleholder Yanina G贸mez who made the Top 30 at Miss Universe 2025. No stranger to pageantry, Gretha has previously placed fourth runner-up at Miss United Continents 2022 in Ecuador and competed in Miss Earth 2023 in Vietnam. In a recent post on social media, she wrote, "Today I begin writing a new story, a new chapter where dreams cease to be promises, and become responsibilities." "Being Miss Universe Paraguay is not just about wearing a crown; it's about carrying the voice of a country, the soul of its people, and the strength of every woman who never stopped believing," she added. The 75th Miss Universe pageant will be held in San Juan, Puerto Rico later this year. Meet the new Miss Universe...
Read more

Miss Grand Thailand 2026 is Patthama Jitsawat of Chonburi

Image
Patthama Jitsawat, representing the Thai province of Chonburi, was crowned Miss Grand Thailand 2026 on Saturday, March 28 at MGI Hall in Bangkok. The 32-year-old beauty edged out 76 other contestants to win the national competition. She succeeds last year's winner Sarunrat Puagpipat of Phuket. Panasaya Angelica Damaagd of Buriram was names first runner-up while Ilin Nabsuk of Phuket, Natthakitta Kerdkanchiroj of Saraburi, and Naruemol Chaloemroek of Sukhothai were the second, third, and fourth runners-up, respectively. This year's competition marked the 13th edition of the annual Miss Grand Thailand pageant. Reigning Miss Grand International Emma Mary Tiglao from the Philippines was present at the glittering event. The new Miss Grand Thailand will represent the "Land of Smiles" at the Miss Grand International 2026 pageant in India this October. View this post on Instagram A post shared by 饾棤饾椂饾榾饾榾 饾棜饾椏饾棶饾椈饾棻 饾棫饾椀饾棶饾椂饾椆饾棶饾椈饾棻 (@missgrandthailand) P...
Read more