VANCOUVER, B.C, Canada - Beach shots depict her as every inch a curvaceous beauty queen. But 23-year-old Jenna Talackova was born male, and that led organisers to disqualify her last week as a finalist in the 61st Miss Universe Canada pageant taking place in May.
The rules of the contest, run by the Donald Trump organisation, say entrants must be "naturally born" females. However, the Vancouver woman underwent a sex change four years ago.
"She did not meet the requirements to compete despite having stated otherwise on her entry form," said a statement from Miss Universe Canada.
After review, organisers discovered that Jenna Talackova falsified her application and did not meet the necessary requirements to compete in the 2012 Miss Universe Canada pageant.- The disqualification has won Talackova widespread sympathy and raised the question of whether the pageant has the right to decide who is female.Talackova is obtaining legal counsHer change of gender was hardly a secret before the event because she had competed in the 2010 Tiffany Miss International Queen Competition for transgender and transsexual women in Pattaya, Thailand.
- Her change of gender was hardly a secret before the event because she had competed in the 2010 Tiffany Miss International Queen Competition for transgender and transsexual women in Pattaya, Thailand.
In a video interview for that pageant, she said she had lived her life as a female since age four, began hormone therapy at 14 and changed sex at 19. "I regard myself as a woman with a history," she said.Connie McNaughton, Miss World Canada in 1984 and first runner-up for the world crown, called the decision outdated and discriminatory.
A Vancouver transgender activist, Jamie Lee Hamilton, said Talackova could sue for violation of her human rights.
Source: Agency
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