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Miss Universe May Allow Transgender Woman to Compete

Apr 3, 2012  •  Post A Comment

The Miss Universe Organization said it’s considering reversing an earlier decision and may allow a transgender woman to enter the group’s Canada pageant, reports the Associated Press.

The contest, which is owned by Donald Trump, had disqualified Jenna Talackova, 23, last month because the rules say entrants need to be "naturally born" females, the story notes. Four years ago, Talackova underwent a sex change.

The shift comes after Talackova hired high-profile attorney Gloria Allred, the piece points out. The Miss Universe Organization now says she can compete "provided she meets the legal gender recognition requirements of Canada, and the standards established by other international competitions."

Allred said she and Talackova would go ahead with a planned news conference in Los Angeles today, the piece adds. An attorney in Vancouver who serves on Talackova’s legal team said the Miss Universe statement on Canadian legal gender recognition requirements is "incomprehensible," the story notes.

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