Jenna Talackova

Last month Jenna Talackova was disqualified from taking part in the Miss Universe beauty pageant because she is transgendered. She underwent a sex change four years ago after being born a male. The advocacy group, GLAAD called on the Miss Universe Organization to review her case, as well as open the competition to transgender women.

The decision was eventually reversed last week, and even better news has just broke: a rule change will allow any transgender women to participate in the beauty pageant from next year onwards.

Pageant officials said they are working on the language of the official rule policy change but expected final word to come soon. The rules will have to be approved by Donald Trump, who runs the Miss Universe Organization, and NBC. Trump and NBC co-own the contest. Trials for next year’s Miss Universe pageant begin in June.  Paula Shugart, president of the Miss Universe Organization:

 We want to give credit where credit is due, and the decision to include transgender women in our beauty competitions is a result of our ongoing discussions with GLAAD. We have a long history of supporting equality for all women, and this was something we took very seriously.

[Source: MSNBC]