: In 2018, Ponce made history as the first transgender woman to compete in the Miss Universe pageant, representing Spain Marina Machete & Rikkie Kollé : In 2023, both Marina Machete (Miss Portugal) Rikkie Kollé (Miss Netherlands)
. Seeing these women navigate heartbreak or find "the one" while under the intense pressure of the spotlight makes their ultimate triumphs—or losses—feel much more personal to the viewer. transsexual beauty queens 46