Disqualified transgender Canadian Miss Universe contestant takes case to US lawyer
LOS ANGELES, Calif. - A Canadian Miss Universe contestant who was disqualified because she was born male has taken her case to a well-known US lawyer.
Jenna Talackova plans to speak at a news conference Tuesday in Los Angeles with attorney Gloria Allred. The 23-year-old Talackova underwent a sex change four years ago.
But the Miss Universe Organization has indicated the transgender woman might be allowed to enter next month's Miss Universe Canada pageant after all.
A statement on the pageant's website says Talackova can compete provided she meets the legal gender recognition requirements of Canada, and the standards established by other international competitions.
The statement does not elaborate. Organizers did not immediately respond to messages seeking clarification.
The rule cited in the original disqualification says entrants must be "naturally born" females.
