Sex change may not bar wannabe beauty queen

In this image by Miss International Queen via YouTube, Jenna Talackova of Vancouver, British Columbia speaks in a video interview at the 2010 Miss International Queen Competition in Thailand where she urged her supporters to sign an online petition seeking her reinstatement. AP

VANCOUVER, British Columbia –The Miss Universe Organization may reverse an earlier decision and allow a transgender woman to enter the Miss Universe Canada pageant.

Jenna Talackova, 23, was born male, leading organizers to disqualify her last month as a finalist in the 61st Miss Universe Canada pageant in May.

The rules of the contest run by Donald Trump’s New York City-based organization say entrants must be “naturally born” females. The woman underwent a sex change four years ago.

But shortly after Talackova announced a news conference in Los Angeles for Tuesday the Miss Universe Organization said in a statement on Monday that Talackova can compete “provided she meets the legal gender recognition requirements of Canada, and the standards established by other international competitions.”