Model, actress, speaker and television personality Rikkie Kollé (2001) made history as the first transgender woman to be crowned Miss Nederland. With her outspoken vision and distinctive perspective on fashion, identity, and representation, she was invited by CODA to curate a selection from its jewellery collection for a new edition of the exhibition series De keuze van (‘The choice of’). Her personal selection will be on display from 31 May to 15 November 2026 in the exhibition PRISMA – De keuze van Rikkie Kollé, in which she invites visitors into her a colourful and layered world of experience.
For the exhibition series De keuze van, CODA invites artists, designers, or public figures to make a selection from the jewellery collection, with over 12,000 objects the largest museum collection of artist and fashion jewellery in the world. As a model and former Miss Nederland (2023), Kollé not only has a strong affinity with Jewellery, but through this exhibition also presents a contemporary and highly personal vision of jewellery as a means of expression. Her commitment to visibility, equality, and challenging stigma and prejudice are recurring themes throughout her career and are reflected in the exhibition. The title PRISMA refers to the physical phenomenon in which white light refracts into a spectrum of colours. This metaphor forms the conceptual starting point of the exhibition: visibility and the freedom to be oneself as prerequisites for recognition. Through three themes – colour, connection, and minimalism – PRISMA offers insight into Rikkie Kollé’s personal life and her view on jewellery. Kollé:
“To feel seen and heard matters to everyone, and in a rapidly changing world, representation is more important than ever. The rainbow holds profound symbolic significance for, and serves as recognition of, the queer community.”
The exhibition will be opened on Sunday 10 May at 2.30 pm. Musical accompaniment will be provided by Apeldoorn-based The Voice of Holland 2026 participant Riley Ramos de Almeida. If you would like to attend the opening, please register via the button below.
In July of 2023, Rikkie Kollé became the first transgender woman to win the Miss Nederland title, a milestone in the pageant’s 94-year history. Her victory brought visibility and recognition but also led to a wave of online abuse and transphobic responses. These experiences, along with a childhood marked by bullying, underpin her ongoing engagement. Kollé uses her work, platform, and public reach to advocate for self-acceptance and empowerment. She also shares her personal experiences both online and offline, including through talks for diverse audiences and in her role as an ambassador for Pride Amsterdam. Kollé aspires to be a role model for future generations and to encourage young trans people. Kollé: “During my year as Miss Nederland, my goal was to give as many ‘little Rikkies’ as possible a dose of confidence and hope.”
Embellishment and ornamentation are as old as humanity itself. Jewellery forms part of ever-evolving fashion trends in which constantly changing accessoires play an important role. The clothing and jewellery we wear not only express who we are, but also invite dialogue. Wearing jewellery is intrinsically linked to freedom, awareness, and personal identity. In selecting works from the CODA collection, Kollé was guided by three themes that resonate with her personal life and development: minimalism, colour, and connection.
For Kollé, minimalism represents a return to essentials, where authenticity and self-acceptance are central: “Life is too short to compare yourself to others. If you have a healthy body and a beating heart, you have every reason to feel fortunate.” For her, this is also reflected in small gestures – being there for one another, appreciating fleeting moments and recognizing that perfection is neither necessary nor attainable. This perspective is expressed through her selection of serene and poetic yet powerful works by Nicolaas Thuys and Judith Bloedjes.
Colour functions for Kollé as a carrier of symbolism and emotion. The gown she wore during the Miss Universe pageant in El Salvador featured the colours of the transgender flag. It is therefore fitting that her selection includes Paul Derrez’s Pride brooch, as well as Ted Noten’s Fashionista necklace; a striking piece featuring bright pink stilettos, through which the pioneering jewellery designer explores stereotypes surrounding femininity and fashion. Kollé:
“Even as a child, I wanted to be a ‘girly’ girl, surrounded by pink. That was the world I wanted to live in. And to this day, I still prefer to see the world through rose-tinted glasses.”
With the theme of connection, Kollé focuses on relationships between people, memories, and emotions. In this context, jewellery serves as a tangible carrier of personal narratives. A ring she inherited from her Moluccan grandmother is a poignant example; a piece of jewellery that maintains her connection to her family, including those who are no longer with her. The exhibition features two wedding rings by Onno Boekhoudt, symbolising connection through love. Lucy Sarneel’s ring Herinnering (‘Memory’) bridges the personal and the public realm. Kollé also selected Elsa Schiaparelli’s brooch The Dove of Peace, worn by Lady Gaga during the inauguration of Joe Biden on 20 January 2021.
PRISMA is the fifth exhibition in the De keuze van (‘The choice of’) series, in which a public figure, designer or artist is invited to curate a selection from CODA’s jewellery collection; with over 12,000 objects the largest museum collection of modern jewellery worldwide. This collection traces developments in jewellery from the 1960s to the present day. Exhibitions at CODA, including De keuze van, explore the relationship between jewellery and fashion, design, innovation, technology, craftsmanship, and other visual art forms. Kollé follows in the footsteps of artist and designer Bas Kosters, jewellery artist Chequita Nahar, jewellery historian Martijn Akkerman and visual artist Sioe Jeng Tsao.
