Vancouver contestant's ban from beauty pageant stirs controversy

March 26, 2012

Miss Universe Canada has been in the hot seat lately after disqualifying a contestant. A statement released by the company that sponsors the competition, Beauties of Canada, claims that Vancouver contestant Jenna Talackova "did not meet the requirements to compete despite having stated otherwise on her entry form."

Talackova, 23, claims she was ejected from the competition when officials learned that she was born male, according to the Vancouver Province. The Canadian beauty had a sexual reassignment surgery in 2010, something which the rules of the pageant does not touch on. The news source reports that contestants must be Canadian citizens between 18 and 27, unmarried and not pregnant to compete.

The beauty pageant is set to be held in Toronto in mid May. Talackova, who has identified as female since age 4 and started hormone therapy at 14, claims she will not give up her dream of competing. She has previously taken part in an international pageant for transsexual beauties in Thailand, according to the news source.

Those who want to find out more about Talackova's struggle against discrimination can make calls to Canada with international phone cards.

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