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