Miss Universe Canada beauty pageant – owned by Donald Trump – has banned transsexual finalist Jenna Talackova from continuing on in the pageant after discovering she was born a boy, as she did”not meet the requirements to compete despite having states otherwise on her entry form.”
“Jenna Talackova from Vancouver, British Columbia will not compete in the 2012 Miss Universe Canada competition,” organisers officially confirmed in a statement issued on Friday. “We do, however, respect her goals, determination and wish her the best,” the statement reads without an explanation.
The pageant rules state that every contestant must be a “naturally born female only.” Talackova underwent hormone therapy at age 14, and gender reassignment surgery at 19, and has apparently been very vocal about her transsexual past. The 23-year-old believes she is “disqualified for being born,” and took to her Twitter account to speak out. “I’m disqualified, however I’m not giving up,” she wrote. “I’m not going to just let them disqualify me over discrimination.”
According to the Vancouversun, the basic requirements for eligibility to participate in the beauty pageant do not mention any rule regarding sex-change or cosmetic surgery.