Contestants vying for the title of Miss Italy must actually be women from birth. Patrizia Mirigliani, the Miss Italy pageant’s official patron, felt the need to clarify the competition’s rules after a biological male won the crown of Miss Netherlands earlier this month.
Mirigliani shared the contest’s commonsense rule during an interview with Il Primato Nazionale. She accused some, such as those who ran the Miss Netherlands event, of trying to gain notoriety through their inclusion of biological males in contests specifically designated for females.
“Beauty contests have been trying to make the news by also using strategies that I think are a bit absurd,” Mirigliani said. “Miss Italia, on the other hand, will not jump on the glittery bandwagon of trans activism.”
It’s not a recent development, as the rules for the Miss Italy contest have barred so-called transgender participation and any plastic surgery for more than a decade.
“Since it was born, my competition has foreseen in its regulation the clarification according to which one must be a woman from birth,” said Mirigliani. “Probably because, even then, it was foreseen that beauty could undergo modifications, or that women could undergo modifications, or that men could become women.”
Mirigliani made the remarks after Rikkie Valerie Kolle, a biological male who has recently undergone gender reassignment surgery, was named the winner of the Miss Netherlands pageant earlier in July. Kolle will represent The Netherlands in the Miss Universe competition in December.
Kolle will be the second biological male to compete in the Miss Universe event. Angela Ponce, another biological male, won the title of Miss Spain in 2018.
Kolle won the title over more-deserving actual female contenders based largely on his sad recollections of being a male trapped in the wrong body, which the judges found an “iron strong story” and “clear mission.”
“When I was little Rik and came out as transgender, it wasn’t easy for everyone and I also suffered from it,” Kolle said in the midst of the pageant.
“I am only too happy to commit myself to all little Rikkies who face rejection from their family, their transition to the person they desire to be. Help make their self-image and acceptance stronger, untouchable,” he added. “Through my commitment and strength, I hope to bring about change in society.”
“This is so sad,” Kolle said in a reaction to Mirigliani’s comments on Instagram. “Instead of moving forward. It seems that we are only moving further back.”
In October of last year, the Miss Universe Pageant was purchased by another biological male who claims to be a woman, Anne Jakkapong Jakrajutatip, a businessman and reality-television personality from Thailand. Jakrajutatip would appear to hope that the pageant sees more competitors like Kolle in the future.
“We seek not only to continue its legacy of providing a platform to passionate individuals from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and traditions, but also to evolve the brand for the next generation,” Jakrajutatip said after the sale.
In January at the New Orleans Morial Convention Center, Jakrajutatip laid out his vision for Miss Universe going forward.
“From now on it’s gonna be run by women, owned by a trans woman, for all women around the world to celebrate the power of feminism,” Jakrajutatip said. “Diverse cultures, social inclusion, gender equality, creativity, a force for good, and, of course, the beauty of humanity.”
Apparently the Italians in charge of Miss Italy didn’t receive Jakrajutatip’s message, instead opting for the notion that an event honoring beautiful women should be limited to actual females — not pretend females.
