Transgendered beauty queen Jenna Talackova falls short at Miss Universe Canada

TORONTO — Jenna Talackova came up short Saturday in her bid to win the Miss Universe Canada and become the first transgendered title holder.

The 23-year-old blond from Vancouver was one of the final 12 contestants, but failed to make the final five at the Toronto pageant.

Another Vancouver contestant, Sahar Biniaz, 26, claimed the crown and advances to the international Miss Universe competition in December

Talackova was one of four contestants named Miss Congeniality.

Talackova’s lawyer Gloria Allred said during Saturday’s pageant that Talackova shouldn’t feel too disappointed.

“She’s still a winner as far as I’m concerned,” Allred said during an intermission. “She won an ’herstoric’ civil rights victory and that I think is frankly more important than anything, any victory she would win, even representing Miss Canada.”

Talackova was born Walter Talackova and under went a sex change operation four years ago.

She was initially barred from competing because she was born male.

Pageant owner Donald Trump allowed her to compete, over-ruling the earlier decision.

Talackova was the first transgender competitor to seek the Miss Universe Canada crown and attracted extensive media coverage during the run up to Saturday night’s final.

Jenna Talackova, transsexual Miss Universe Canada finalist, can return - Donald Trump

Transsexual contestant Jenna Talackova can compete in a preliminary Miss Universe pageant in her native Canada "if she wants to," owner Donald Trump has clarified, following her disqualification and suggested reinstatement, adding that he "couldn't care less" whether or not she decides to return.

 The 23-year-old Vancouver native was axed as a Miss Universe Canada finalist last month, a move that spurred an online backlash and accusations of discrimination. Organizers said she was "dishonest" by failing to disclose she had been born male. On Monday, they said she could compete after all if she "meets the legal gender recognition requirements of Canada and the standards established by other international competitions."

Talackova and her lawyer, famed celebrity case attorney Gloria Allred and the two spoke about the issue at a press conference on Tuesday, April 3. Talackova, who underwent gender reassignment surgery at age 19, called on Trump to eliminate a Miss Universe rule that states that a contestant must be "a naturally-born female." Allred said Talackova's Canadian birth certificate, passport and driver's license identify her as a woman.

Hours later, Trump phoned into "TMZ Live" and said: "We said she would be able to compete, based on the laws of Canada and the laws of the United States. So we go by the law and based on the laws, she's able to compete if she wants to. She can take her shot. She can maybe win and maybe she won't win."

"There will be no apology whatsoever," he added. "And frankly, if she competes, that's wonderful, and if she doesn't want to compete because maybe she thinks she can't win, that's fine also. I couldn't care less."

Brenda Mendoza, a spokeswoman for the Miss Universe Organization, told The Globe and Mail that pageant officials have been trying to reach out to Ms. Talackova and that she can take part in the competition if she is considered a female in Canada.

When asked if the natural-born female rule would be eliminated, Mendoza told the outlet: "Obviously this is a big policy issue, and something that we're evaluating and taking seriously. It's very complicated because of the fact that we have 100 franchises."

Talackova competed in the unaffiliated Miss International Queen contest, a beauty pageant for transvestite and transgender contestants, in 2010 in Thailand. She made it to the finals but lost to Mini Han from South Korea.

Talackova told the local newspaper The Pattaya Mail in a video interview that she "always knew" she was a female at age 4 and that she had started taking hormones to transform into a woman physically when she was 14, five years before she went under the knife.

Talackova said she was "thrilled" when she was selected as a Miss Universe Canada finalist and had "always dreamed of being in the Miss Universe competition and having the opportunity to represent my country." The Canada pageant takes place in Toronto on May 19.

Trump bought the Miss Universe, Miss USA and Miss Teen USA pageants in 1996. He told TMZ Live that the controversy involving Talackova has brought him a "tremendous amount of publicity."

"The Miss [Universe] Canada pageant has become very sought," he said. "I tell you, the tickets are going through the roof."

Jenna Talackova's lawyer calls on Donald Trump to fight "blatant discrimination"

 Vancouverite Jenna Talackova just wanted to compete like all the other girls. But Miss Universe Canada said no. And now, Talackova's American lawyer is calling Donald Trump to take a clear stand against discrimination.

Contestant Jenna Talackova was rejected from the Miss Universe Canada competition on March 23 after organizers identified her as a trans person. The Miss Universe Canada website stated that although she was chosen as one of 65 finalists, she was removed "because she did not meet the requirements to compete despite having stated otherwise on her entry form".

On April 2, the Miss Universe Organization stated on the Miss Universe Canada website that the organization "will allow Jenna Talackova to compete in the 2012 Miss Universe Canada pageant provided she meets the legal gender recognition requirements of Canada, and the standards established by other international competitions.”

At a press conference in Los Angeles today, Talackova's American lawyer, Gloria Allred, who has been involved in high-profile cases including O.J. Simpson and Michael Jackson, pulled no punches.

"The pageant's rule is simply blatant discrimination, and has nothing to do with who would be the best choice for Miss Universe," she said. "She [Talackova] has not asked for any special consideration…. What has stood in her way is an antiquated rule, grounded in prejudice, fear, and stereotypes. The pageant's rule has nothing to do with beauty, or personality, and has absolutely nothing to do with who Jenna is today…. She should never have been judged by what she was, or was not like, at her birth. She should only have been judged on the basis of who she is now."

She explained that the 23-year-old Talackova was told by pageant representatives that she was rejected from the Canadian pageant because she wasn't a "naturally born" woman.

Allred insisted that Jenna is a woman, "as evidenced by her Canadian birth certificate, passport, and driver's license". Allred even displayed Talackova's Canadian passport, which identifies her as a woman.

Allred said the statement from the Miss Universe organization, co-owned by Trump and NBC Universal, "confuses the issue", was a "wimpy, wish-washy" answer.

"Mr. Trump qualifies it by adding conditions that are ambiguous," she said. "What other competitions is he referring to? Why would Mr. Trump defer to other competitions? Does he want to be a leader, or a follower? We are asking Mr. Trump to step up and be a leader in the fight against discrimination. Or would he prefer to hide behind other organizations and say that if they discriminate, so can he."

She noted that he failed to state anything about eliminating the rule that excluded her, and that they want a clear answer.

"He has to go the rest of the way and say it loudly and say it clearly that not only will Jenna be allowed to compete, but that the rule is gone. No ifs, ands, buts, or ors. No conditions, and no excuses. Otherwise, we are considering all of Jenna's legal options."

Talackova has formed legal teams in Canada, New York, and California. In Canada, she is represented by one of Canada's leading human rights lawyers Joseph Arvay.

Talackova echoed statements by Allred, and said that she is standing up not only for herself but others as well.

"I also want Mr. Trump to clearly state that this rule be eliminated because I do not want any other woman to suffer the discrimination that I have endured," Talackova said.

Talackova's plight garnered international media attention and generated debate across the internet. A petition, requesting Talackova's reinstatement, was launched shortly after she was rejected and has gathered more than 40,000 signatures.

The 61st annual Miss Universe Canada Pageant will be held in Toronto from May 11 to 20.

Transgender beauty Jenna Talackova to be back at Miss Universe

All woman: Jenna Talackova, 23, (pictured right in 2010 with Miss Korea, left) will now be allowed to enter Miss Universe Canada   

 

The beauty queen who was born a boy won't be kicked out of the Miss Universe Canada competition after all.

Jenna Talackova, 23, was thrown out of the pageant, founded by Donald Trump, when organisers found out she had undergone surgery to become a woman.

Officials denied charges of discrimination and said the reason why a male-to-female transgender contestant could not compete was because Miss Talackova lied on her application form.

However Miss Universe authorities have appeared to have a change of heart after claiming the young woman had been 'dishonest'.

Michael D Cohen, executive vice president and special counsel to Donald Trump, wrote in an email to ABC: 'The Miss Universe Organization will allow Jenna Talackova to compete in the 2012 Miss Universe Canada pageant provided she meets the legal gender recognition requirements of Canada, and the standards established by other international competitions.'

The transgendered contestant had already successfully reached the finals in the Miss Vancouver pageant before she was banned from continuing in the competition.

 

Suspicious: Ms Talackova was kicked out of the competition after organisers became suspicious she was not 'naturally born female'   

 

After becoming suspicious, director Denis Davila questioned Ms Talackova, 23, who said that, even though she written on her application that she had been born a female, that was not the case.

'We have to have the facts straight. There is no discrimination here at all,' Mr Davila said.

'You can look at it the way she wants to look at it, but we all have to follow the same rules.'

Following her expulsion from the competition, organizers faced much criticism with many fans saying that they were blatantly discriminatory.

Over 20,000 people signed a virtual petition on Change.org calling for organizers to reverse their decision.

The original decision from the Miss Universe Canada pageant sparked outrage with people calling for Jenna to be reinstated into the contest.

People took to social media pages to express their disgust with one Facebook user writing on the pageant's page: 'Tell us what "requirements" did she not make? This reeks of discrimination...'

Miss Talackova and her lawyer had been due to hold a press conference tomorrow to discuss the issue.

In a YouTube interview, Miss Talackova has said she knew she was a female at the age of four and began hormone therapy ten years later.

 

 

No longer fired: Miss Universe Canada, a competition owned by Donald Trump (left), has allowed Jenna Talackova (right) to take part   

 

A veteran beauty pageant competitor, who has participated in Miss Universe pageants before, Miss Talackova surgically changed her gender aged 19.

'I regard myself as a woman with a history,’ she said, winking to the camera.

The only requirements stated on the Miss Universe Canada website is that to enter, women must be a Canadian citizen and between the ages of 18 and 27.

The application made no mention of rules regarding sexual reassignment surgery.

Jenna Talackova Makes History as First Transgender Miss Universe Canada Contestant

First Nation transgender beauty Jenna Talackova is set to compete in Miss Universe Canada on Saturday May 19, having won reinstatement to the pageant after her disqualification in April for being born male.

Of Lake Babine Nation heritage, Talackova is making history as the first-ever transgender contestant in the pageant, whose winner will head to Miss Universe, to take place June 3 in Las Vegas.

The Vancouver resident has extended family on the Lake Babine Nation reserve, where she spends ample time during the year, attending festivals and ceremonies, according to reports. Since being disqualified she has become arguably the most famous of the 62 contestants who will compete this weekend. The 23-year-old lithe blonde appeared with Barbara Walters on 20/20, as well as on The View, in her battle to be allowed back into the pageant. Miss Universe owner Donald Trump eventually reversed the decision to allow Talackova to compete.

Pageant events start tonight with swimsuit and evening gown competitions before 15 judges in Toronto, with a live audience.

Winning a crown would give her “the power of inspiring others to fulfill their dreams,” Talackova said in her contestant interview, below. “The Miss Universe Canada organization has been amazing. For them to have accepted the fact that I’m competing and paving the way for equality is so honorable to me and makes me very grateful.”

Talackova’s ambitions don’t stop with Miss Universe. She also wants to model for Victoria’s Secret and adorn the cover of Sports Illustrated’s swimsuit issue, as she says in the interview below with Xtra! Canada’s LGBT news network. Below that, see her official contestant interview released by Miss Universe Canada.

Beauty queen Jenna Talackova takes giant leap for trans kind

Jenna Talackova, Miss Canada Universe’s first transgendered contestant. Photo by Media Commons.

Jenna Talackova, 23, is an undeniably beautiful woman with long blond hair and a slender figure. Born as a male named “Walter,” she will be Miss Canada Universe’s first transgendered contestant.

As one would regrettably assume, Talackova’s role in the pageant was met with some controversy. She was originally disqualified on the grounds that contestants had to be naturally born females.

Eventually she was reinstated thanks in part to the help of her lawyer, Gloria Allred, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), and several petitions being signed.

Upon being reinstated, the Miss Universe Organization released this statement:

“The Miss Universe Organization will allow Jenna Talackova to compete in the 2012 Miss Universe Canada pageant provided she meets the legal gender recognition requirements of Canada, and the standards established by other international competitions.”

Even at the young age of four, Talackova knew she was in the wrong body.

She started hormone therapy at the age of 14 and, at 19, underwent gender reassignment surgery. The transformation was complete when Canada legally recognized her as a female, her driver’s license, birth certificate and passport indicating her reassignment.

Her story has sparked a lot of discussion and received a great deal of attention. And rightfully so, transgendered people are still one of the most discriminated against minorities, mainly due to the fact that prejudices against them receive little attention.

Because transphobia and homophobia are so closely related, I feel they stem from the same place. Here in America, society is dominated by the gender binary (not unlike heteronormativity, which I discussed in my last column), the classification of both sex and gender into two distinctly masculine and feminine categories. This establishes gender roles and identities that gay and transgender people both defy.

It is sadly and painfully understandable that transphobia, as an issue, receives less attention than homophobia (even though it shouldn’t). Sure, homosexuality is far more common. But the struggles of transgendered people are no different than the struggles of homosexuals. It is simply that, for whatever reason, the steps taken to end homophobia have not translated to transphobia.

But with Jenna Talackova’s story, transgendered issues are finally getting their own voice. On April 6, a news story came out of Sacramento’s local CBS station about a male-to-female (MTF) deacon at an Episcopalian church in Jamestown.

There is also a bill waiting to be passed by the New York State legislature called the “Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act” (GENDA). The bill would grant trans people protections that other New Yorkers already have.

With more transgendered attention in the media, one hopes that this will become a trend.

Whether or not Jenna Talackova wins the Miss Universe Canada pageant on May 19, she has already taken brave steps for the trans community. And if she does win, those steps will be that much larger.

Jenna Talackova who is she?

 

Jenna Talackova is from Vancouver a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia; Canada.
Jenna Talackova underwent gender-reassignment surgery at age 19. She began a hormone therapy to become a female at age 14.
23 year old Jenna Talackova before surgery by the age of four knew that she was supposed to be a female. She thus kept on the desire to undergo surgery.
She now holds legal documents affirming her identity as a woman.Talackova has never hidden her status of changing from a male to female. She took part in the 2010 Miss International Queen competition in Thailand.
She had been kicked out of the Miss Universe Canada competition after being selected as one of 65 finalists but was called back after intense criticism.