Transgender Miss Universe Contestant Can Participate, Maybe Amaris Castillo - Univision News
go to original April 7, 2012

Initially barred from competing in Canada’s Miss Universe pageant, transgender beauty queen Jenna Talackova is now allowed to participate, but she’s not letting the contest’s sponsor slide.

Donald Trump’s organization, which owns the Miss Universe and Miss USA pageants, announced Monday it would allow Talackova, 23, to compete. But the contestant’s high-profile lawyer Gloria Allred took to press this week to push the envelope.

Trump’s company issued a statement allowing 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.”

Allred and Talackova called the statement issued by one of Trump’s representatives “confusing,” according to ABC News. The contestant wants the eligibility rules dropped and Allred has called it a “Trumped-up rule.”

During an appearance on Good Morning America Wednesday, 65-year-old Trump spoke about the simmering debate.

“I think Jenna should focus on running up in Canada and seeing how she does in Canada and then, if she does well, she has a chance to become what many, many young women all over the world want to be and that’s Miss Universe,” the business magnate said. “That should be her focus.”

On Tuesday, Talackova expressed her sentiments after having been booted off the pageant last week.

“I am a woman,” she said. “I was devastated, and I felt that excluding me for the reason that they gave was unjust. I have never asked for any special consideration. I only wanted to compete.”

The Miss Universe Canada pageant will take place on May 19th in Toronto.

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