Rikkie Valerie Kollé, through her official social media, revealed the official national costume that she will showcase at the national costume competition of Miss Universe 2023. Designed by Miss Pearl Couture, the costume represents Netherlands with the most iconic Dutch tulip. The tulip in the costume transforms to a rainbow dress telling a story of Rikkie’s journey as well. Rikkie also took to her official social media as she introduced the national costume in a post.

She wrote, “Tulip was found in the Netherlands from the 16th century. Every color of tulip has a meaning. I choose an orange tulip on the outside, the color orange also represents our country as the color of the royal family. But this orange tulip also represents enthusiasm. Where I experience enthusiasm with the orange tulip is that this tulip is on its way to merge with all the tulips into 1 flower.”

“In other words, a transformation to a rainbow tulip, where in the Netherlands a bunch of mixed colored tulips represents pure beauty. This is also reflected in my personal story. The enthusiastic orange tulip has evolved into the pure beauty that I felt inside to be a woman and to be who I want to be and have always been”, she added.

Rikki is proud to show herself as a rainbow tulip and wear the colors of her community in combination with the beauty that she experiences today. Miss Universe 2023, the 72nd edition of Miss Universe, is scheduled to be held in El Salvador on 18th November 2023 where Miss Universe 2022 R'Bonney Gabriel of USA will crown her successor at the end of the event finale.