Transgendered Pageant Contestant Makes History

Transgendered Pageant Contestant Makes History

Jenna Talackova, 23, has made history as the first-ever transgendered contestant to compete in the Miss Universe Canada pageant that began Thursday and concludes Saturday with the winner’s crowning.By the looks of it, in photographs from the event, Talackova is one confident woman having walked the pageant in a white halter bikini with a side-sashed bottom, red silk dress with a high/low hemline and white body-hugging long-sleeved evening gown with a plunging backside. Judges will decide whether to advance her into the semi-finals.

Talackova, from Vancouver, was born male but had sexual reassignment surgery four years ago. She was allowed to compete in the pageant after she legally fought to be reinstated into the pageant. She had been kicked out by officials claiming she lied about her natural-born gender on her application.

News of Talackova’s oust drew criticism that resulted in an online petition that gathered 40,000 signatures. Donald Trump, who owns the pageant franchise, changed the pageant’s policy saying rules had “been modernized to ensure this type of issue does not occur again.”
On Thursday, Talackova failed to win a couple of lesser prizes–”Best Body” or “People’s Choice”–that would have guaranteed her a spot in Saturday’s finals.