Miss Universe Changes Rules to Include Transgender Women

First Posted: Apr 10, 2012 01:44 PM EDT

Canadian model Jenna Talackova (R) and her attorney Gloria Allred hold a news conference in Los Angeles, California April 3, 2012. Talackova, a transgender beauty queen who was dropped from the Miss Universe Canada competition by pageant representatives, has been given the green light to go by the Donald Trump-led Miss Universe Organization. The 23-year-old will, however, need to prove that she meets the "legal gender recognition requirements of Canada", according to local media. (Photo : REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni)

The Miss Universe pageant is changing its rules and will allow transgender women to take part in all of its competitions starting in 2013, the organization and gay rights group GLAAD said on Tuesday.

Tuesday's decision follows a media outcry over the disqualification of Canadian contestant Jenna Talackova from the upcoming Miss Universe Canada contest because she was not a "naturally born female."

Like Us on Facebook

Talackova 23, who underwent gender reassignment surgery when she was 19, was reinstated to the Canadian competition last week by businessman Donald Trump, who owns the Miss Universe organization. Talackova has a Canadian passport, driver's license and other documents that identify her as a woman.

READ MORE - MEXICAN PAGEANT RESPONDS "WE WILL NOT ACCEPT TRANSGENDER WOMEN"

Following consultations with the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), Miss Universe "discussed a policy change that includes transgender women in time for the start of this fall's 2013 pageant season; a time when most of the competitions around the world begin to take place," the two groups said in a joint statement.

The change brings Miss Universe into line with other groups that have taken a stand against discrimination of transgender women, including the Olympics, the Girl Scouts of America and TV show "America's Next Top Model", GLAAD said.

READ MORE - SARAH JONES INDICTED FOR HAVING SEX WITH A MINOR

"We have a long history of supporting equality for all women and this was something we took very seriously," said Paula Shugart, president of the Miss Universe Organization.

The exact language, which will abolish the long-standing rule that contestants must be "naturally born females," is still being worked out, officials said.

National beauty pageants are currently being held around the world to chose contestants to compete in the 2012 Miss Universe contest, to be held later this year.

READ MORE - KINDERGARTEN BOY BRINGS HEROIN TO SHOW AND TELL

(Source:Reuters)

READ MORE - TRAYVON MARTIN SHOOTER ARRESTED, CHARGED WITH MURDER