Outrage erupted when Lucille announced her idea for a beauty pageant for women with physical disabilities. Why, people asked, should there be such a competition? For Lucille, the answer was simple: she wanted to showcase the potential of women with disabilities.
By embracing vulnerability (for example, in swimwear), Lucille and the contestants aimed to show that they are not objects of care, but just as beautiful and strong as able-bodied people, with tremendous courage and authenticity. They think in terms of possibilities and create opportunities. The show aimed to break down lingering prejudices. The live show on May 31, 2006, was unforgettable, with Roos Prommenschenckel crowned as the first ‘Miss Unlimited Netherlands’, receiving her crown from Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende. Over 1.6 million people tuned in to the groundbreaking broadcast, which was aired by TROS.
A year later, Reni de Boer won the second edition.
The program format was sold to four countries.