Transgender Miss Universe Canada contestant ousted from pageant

From left, South Korea's Mini and Canada's Jenna Talackova pose for pictures backstage ahead of the Miss International Queen 2010 beauty pageant.

/ AFP PHOTO/Getty Images

(CBS News) A transgender beauty contestant has been banned from Miss Universe Canada, sparking dialogue over whether women who were born as men should be allowed to compete in the pageant.

According to CTV News, Jenna Talackova, 23, was born male but has identified as a female since age 4. She started hormone therapy at 14 and had gender surgery five years later.

The 6' 1" blonde model made the finals in the Miss Vancouver pageant but was disqualified after organizers learned she wasn't a naturally born female.

"Jenna Talackova from Vancouver, British Columbia, will not compete in the 2012 Miss Universe Canada competition because she did not meet the requirements to compete despite having stated otherwise on her entry form," Miss Universe Canada organizers explained in a statement. "We do, however, respect her goals, determination and wish her the best."

But Talackova argues she's been discriminated against.

According to The Province newspaper, Talackova took to Twitter, writing, "I'm disqualified, however I'm not giving up. I'm not going to just let them disqualify me over discrimination."

Responding to criticism over the move, Miss Universe Canada national director Denis Davila told CTV News, "We have to have the facts straight. There is no discrimination here at all. You can look at it the way she wants to look at it ... but we all have to follow the same rules."

Tell us: Do you think Talackova should be allowed to compete for the title?

[Imzacutie]

If the pageant is not discriminating real gender, or body enhancements well why don't they allow women of all ages compete. Hell, there are a lot of mid aged women who are just as fit and beautiful and who are real women, that can't compete because of their age. Hello!!! What's the problem here.....????

[whiskeyblue]

Jenna is male. You have the Y-chromosome, you're male. Just because he thinks he's a girl doesn't make him a girl. Just as a white guy doesn't make him a black guy just because he thinks he's a black guy.

[DreeninApril]

The only reasons I would say no would be 1. contest rules required contestants to be BORN female, 2. She lied on her application, stating that she was born female. I would assume that she signed a contract stating that she read and agreed to the terms and conditions; Therefore, disqualifying her as 1. she did not meet the requirements and b. She lied. Not a case of discrimination, just misinformation.

[bobnjersey]

[Jenna Talackova, 23, was born male but has identified as a female since age 4. She started hormone therapy at 14 and had gender surgery five years later]
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I guess it's really true that 'behind every great man there's a great woman'.

[mossmaven]

OK... IF I STICK A BRANCH UP MY ASS ... AM I A TREE? NO
AND WHOSE VERSION OF BEAUTY IS IT... THAT PERSON LOOKS LIKE A CARTOON..

[Rien68]

This is 2012 and we are still living in the days of Ward and June Cleaver? The only reason she is not able to compete is because she would probably win. I mean look at her, she is a knock out. The definition of discrimination is: 1.The unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people or things, esp. on the grounds of race, age, or sex. Therefore YOUR DISCRIMINATING. If the girl wants to compete then let her compete. Or are we afraid she just might win?

[Bojax39]

Discrimination my eye. Why should the judges be forced deal with counterfeit when there is plenty of true gelt competing? Just because this ersatz female wants to feel pretty? Send this person home.

[mossmaven]

I AGREE... SEND THIS CARTOON/PERSON TO DISNEY....

[italianombbsam]

Real hormones, real female breasts, real vaginal lining (the skin changes after it adapts to its new environment) and real female brain. Jenna is a real female. Chromosomes are not relevant because there are born girls who are XY as well as XX.

[MIO42]

A Fish in the Tropics is born a Male , morphs into a female to produce eggs and morphs back to a male after fertilization
Why should we be surprised?

Oh yes , I remember now

We are the most Important species on the Planet

[kmj26]

This Woman should be allowed to compete, and yes, this is discrimination. She is clearly a woman. She knew she was a woman from a very early age. There are now processes that can help bring that knowledge into actuality. Through-out time men (and women) have changed their identities and lived and been accepted as the opposite gender from their births. For pete's sake, does the current movie with Glenn Close not demonstrate the heartache and fear that people who identified differently feel? I echo the above comment: change the rules. There is no place in life now for such small thinking.

[tosurua]

yeah and Michael Jackson is clearly a Caucasian guy!

[askagain]

Really, a natural woman. That is why she needed hormones and a sex change operation. Just feeling like a man or a woman doesn't make you one if you aren't born with the right body parts. Is that too much logic for you?

[zarnon61]

Good lord, they both so plastic and fake it could they could be direct descendents from German Shepherds and it'd be hard to tell.