The Miss Italy pageant in the Netherlands has defended its decision to ban transgender women from the competition after Ricky Valerie Cole’s victory, saying it ‘will not jump on the bright bandwagon of trans activism’.
Miss Italy sponsor Patrizia Mirigliani said contestants must be ‘female from birth’ It comes after the Netherlands crowned its first male-born winner on July 8
The Miss Italy beauty pageant will not allow transgender women to compete, organizers said.
Miss Italy sponsor Patrizia Mirigliani said contestants must be a ‘woman by birth’ and the pageant will not jump on the ‘shiny bandwagon of trans activism’.
It comes after the Netherlands crowned 22-year-old Ricky Valerie Kole, the first male-born winner of a female beauty pageant, on July 8.
She added that it was a ‘slightly absurd’ beauty pageant trying to garner attention by including transgender contestants.
But Ms Mirigliani said she was happy if the Dutch competition wanted to include them.
Miss Italy sponsor Patrizia Mirigliani (left, with Miss Italy 2022 winner Lavinia Abet, right) said contestants must be a ‘woman by birth’ and the pageant will not jump on the ‘bright bandwagon of trans activism’.
It comes after 22-year-old Ricky Valerie Cole (pictured) in the Netherlands was crowned the first male-born winner of a female beauty pageant on July 8.
‘Since its birth, my competition has predicted the clarification in its regulations that one must be a woman from birth,’ she told Radio Cusano.
‘Perhaps because, even then, it was predicated that beauty could undergo change, or women could undergo change, or men could become women.’
She noted that women with tattoos, piercings and extensions were allowed to take part in Miss Italy, but added ‘extras’ were not good.
Winner Ms Koll from the Netherlands said being a woman ‘isn’t easy for everyone’ and admitted she had a hard time with it.
She was so determined to be a girl that she changed her name from Rick to Ricky when she was just 11, convinced she was ‘born in the wrong body’.
But in his youth, he faced years of daily abuse that saw him come home from school in tears.
Ricky Valerie Kolle looked a picture of confidence as she wowed the crowd as she became the first transgender woman to be crowned Miss Netherlands.
Ms Cole (pictured) was eight when she said her journey began but was 16 when she began the process of transitioning into a woman, which included taking female hormones.
‘I was born Little Rick, but I wanted to be Big Ricky. The transition from male to female became something that made me feel at home,’ she said on her Instagram.
‘I used to go home crying after being teased. I used to think, “Why me, why is this happening to me?” But I’ve always had the support of my loving family and friends.’
Ms Cole was eight when she began her journey but was 16 when she began the process of transitioning into a woman, which included taking female hormones.
She then had gender confirmation surgery in January this year – which she described as ‘the day I was meant to be’.
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