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Miss Universe 2023: Meet the trans candidates, the plus-size beauty queen, and the first-ever Miss Universe Pakistan
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The Miss Universe Organization has long been a powerful platform, celebrating women of different cultures, backgrounds, and religions.
This year, Miss Universe broke another glass ceiling as it features two trans candidates, a plus-size beauty queen, and married mothers. It also welcomed Pakistan into the sisterhood, as the South Asian country joins for the very first time.
1. Rikkie Valerie Kollé (Netherlands)
In 2012, The Miss Universe Organization finally changed its rules that only allowed “naturally born females” in the competition, welcoming trans candidates to participate.
Spain made history in 2018, with Angela Ponce becoming the first transgender candidate to compete.
Five years later, the beauty pageant welcomes two more trans beauty queens, including Rikkie Valerie Kollé of the Netherlands.
She is writing her history too as she becomes the first transwoman to represent the Netherlands in the pageant.
2. Marina Machete (Portugal)
From one trans queen to another! Portuguese beauty queen Marina Machete makes trans representation in the pageant stronger this year.
She was named Miss Universe Portugal, making her the first transgender woman to win the crown.
Along with Netherlands' Rikkie, Marina is sure to raise trans visibility in the world of beauty pageants.
3. Jane Dipika Garrett (Nepal)
Jane Dipika Garrett of Nepal is ready to break beauty pageant conventions with her gorgeous, voluptuous figure.
The 22-year-old plus-sized model is the first plus-size candidate in the Miss Universe pageant, and based on the cheers she received during the preliminaries, the world is more than ready to welcome curvaceous and full-figured women.
According to Jane, she is representing “all women.”
“I think there’s not one way to be beautiful, every woman is beautiful just as they are,” she said in an interview with HOLA! Spain.
4. Erica Robin (Pakistan)
Miss Universe is welcoming Pakistan in the fold this year with Erica Robin, the first-ever winner of the Miss Universe Pakistan 2023.
The 24-year-old Pakistani model will be the firs representative of Pakistan in the Miss Universe Pageant that will happen in El Salvador on November 19, and boy did she make a statement during the preliminaries.
For the swimsuit competition, Erica was a vision in her blush colored burkini.
5. Maria Camila Avella Montañez (Colombia)
Beginning this year, The Miss Universe Organization is allowing married women and mothers to join the pageant, and Colombia's Maria Camila Avella Montañez became one of the first two women to break through the barrier.
The 28-year-old beauty queen is happily married with a daughter to boot! On Instagram, she would proudly post about her family life, writing open letters to her daughter Amelia, who has been serving as her inspiration through the pageant.
For sure, Amelia will be looking to her mom too for inspiration one day.
6. Michelle Cohn (Guatemala)
Miss Universe Guatemala is a proud mom of two. Michelle also has a super supportive husband, whom she considers her life partner through and through. On Instagram, the Guatemalan beauty would constantly post about her family, calling them her joy and strength.
And when she was crowned Miss Universe Guatemala, she shared a photo of her husband and her eldest child, on stage with flowers to congratulate her.
The Miss Universe pageant just finished its preliminary competition on Thursday morning (Manila time) where Michelle Dee brought her A-game. She used Filipinas in her introduction, was a vision in green in the evening gown competition, and heated up the stage in her red swimsuit.
The coronation event will be on Sunday morning (Manila time). — LA, GMA Integrated News
