Next Miss Universe Could Be Transgender

Organization rules contestants who have undergone a sex change may compete in pageant

by Lesley Kennedy • MORE.com Reporter

The Miss Universe pageant may judge you based on your beauty, but it won’t discriminate against you because you’re transgender.

That’s the word this week as officials from Donald Trump’s Miss Universe Organization say the competition is now open to all women—born that way or otherwise, the Associated Press reports.

The ruling comes hot on the heels (or is that on the hot heels?) of another one by the organization, decreeing that Jenna Talackova, who had a male-to-female sex change four years ago, may compete in this year’s contest, according to the news service.

“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 [Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation],” Paula Shugart, president of the Miss Universe Organization, tells the AP. “We have a long history of supporting equality for all women, and this was something we took very seriously.”

Click here to read the full story.

Click here to read another fascinating news story from today’s headlines.

Don’t miss out on MORE great articles like this one. Click here to sign up for our weekly newsletter!

What’s your reaction?

Comments

Post new comment

Click to add a comment