For the first time in the history of a beauty pageant, a transgendered contestant, Jenna Taleakova, has competed at the 2012 Miss Universe Canada pageant on 17 May, 2012.
The 23-year-old blonde from Vancouver was originally disqualified from the Miss Universe Canada contest because she was not a "naturally-born female".
Talackova, who underwent gender reassignment surgery when she was 19, was then reinstated for the Canadian competition by businessman Donald Trump, who owns the Miss Universe organisation.
Vying with 62 other contenders from other parts of the country, Talackova participated in all the pageant rounds including the swimwear and evening gown contest.
The final of the 61<sup>st edition of the pageant will be held on 19 May, 2012 at the Bluma Appel Theatre, St Lawrence Centre for the Arts in Toronto.
Since its inception in the year 1952, the Miss Universe Canada beauty pageant has sent a delegate every year to the Miss Universe pageant along with France, Germany, and the US.
After Talackova was disqualified earlier from participating in the event, she was reinstated on the grounds that she meets "the legal gender recognition requirements of Canada, and the standards established by other international competitions."
The transgendered model stated that she found the pageant's statement "quite confusing."
"I wish Mr Trump would just say, in plain words, whether or not I will be allowed to compete and, if I win, whether I will be allowed to represent Canada in the Miss Universe competition," the Envelope quoted Talackova saying. "I also want Mr Trump to clearly state that this rule will be eliminated because I do not want any other woman to suffer the discrimination that I have to endure."
Talackova later presented her Canadian passport showing her gender as female. Allred noted that legal teams had been formed in LA, New York and Canada aimed at ridding the contest of the rule.
Catch a glimpse of the first transgendered contestant, Jenna Taleakova competing at the 2012 Miss Universe Canada pageant:
Transgendered contestant Jenna Talackova takes part in Miss Universe Canada competition wearing her evening gown in Toronto May 17, 2012. Talackova was originally disqualified from the Miss Universe Canada contest because she was not a "naturally born female". Talackova 23, who underwent gender reassignment surgery when she was 19, was then reinstated to the Canadian competition last by businessman Donald Trump, who owns the Miss Universe organization.ReutersTransgendered contestant Jenna Talackova takes part in Miss Universe Canada competition wearing her evening gown in Toronto May 17, 2012. Talackova was originally disqualified from the Miss Universe Canada contest because she was not a "naturally born female". Talackova 23, who underwent gender reassignment surgery when she was 19, was then reinstated to the Canadian competition last by businessman Donald Trump, who owns the Miss Universe organization.ReutersTransgendered contestant Jenna Talackova (2nd R) takes part in Miss Universe Canada competition wearing her evening gown in Toronto May 17, 2012. Talackova was originally disqualified from the Miss Universe Canada contest because she was not a "naturally born female". Talackova 23, who underwent gender reassignment surgery when she was 19, was then reinstated to the Canadian competition last by businessman Donald Trump, who owns the Miss Universe organization.ReutersTransgendered contestant Jenna Talackova takes part in Miss Universe Canada competition while wearing her bikini in Toronto May 17, 2012. Talackova was originally disqualified from the Miss Universe Canada contest because she was not a "naturally born female". Talackova, 23, who underwent gender reassignment surgery when she was 19, was then reinstated to the Canadian competition last by businessman Donald Trump, who owns the Miss Universe organization.ReutersTransgendered contestant Jenna Talackova takes part in Miss Universe Canada competition in Toronto May 17, 2012. Talackova was originally disqualified from the Miss Universe Canada contest because she was not a "naturally born female". Talackova 23, who underwent gender reassignment surgery when she was 19, was then reinstated to the Canadian competition last by businessman Donald Trump, who owns the Miss Universe organization.ReutersTransgendered contestant Jenna Talackova (2nd R) takes part in Miss Universe Canada competition while wearing her bikini in Toronto May 17, 2012. Talackova was originally disqualified from the Miss Universe Canada contest because she was not a "naturally born female". Talackova 23, who underwent gender reassignment surgery when she was 19, was then reinstated to the Canadian competition last by businessman Donald Trump, who owns the Miss Universe organization.ReutersTransgendered contestant Jenna Talackova (C) takes part in Miss Universe Canada competition in Toronto May 17, 2012. Talackova was originally disqualified from the Miss Universe Canada contest because she was not a "naturally born female". Talackova 23, who underwent gender reassignment surgery when she was 19, was then reinstated to the Canadian competition last by businessman Donald Trump, who owns the Miss Universe organization.ReutersTransgendered contestant Jenna Talackova takes part in Miss Universe Canada competition while wearing her bikini in Toronto May 17, 2012. Talackova was originally disqualified from the Miss Universe Canada contest because she was not a "naturally born female". Talackova, 23, who underwent gender reassignment surgery when she was 19, was then reinstated to the Canadian competition last by businessman Donald Trump, who owns the Miss Universe organization.ReutersTransgendered contestant Jenna Talackova takes part in Miss Universe Canada competition while wearing her bikini in Toronto May 17, 2012. Talackova was originally disqualified from the Miss Universe Canada contest because she was not a "naturally born female". Talackova, 23, who underwent gender reassignment surgery when she was 19, was then reinstated to the Canadian competition last by businessman Donald Trump, who owns the Miss Universe organization.Reuters
