Sunday,  May 20, 2012 • Vol. 12--No. 311 • 28 of 32 •  Other Editions

(Continued from page 27)

First transgender contestant competing in Miss Universe Canada loses bid for title

• TORONTO (AP) -- The first-ever transgender contestant to compete in the Miss Universe Canada pageant strutted the runway Saturday night, making it to the penultimate round before losing her bid to win the title.
• Jenna Talackova, 23, competed with 61 contestants and was among the final 12 contestants before failing to make the final five in the glitzy pageant.
• Sahar Biniaz, 26, claimed the crown and advances to the international Miss Universe competition in December.
• Talackova, who was one of four contestants named Miss Congeniality, was born a male and underwent a sex change four years ago. The Vancouver, British Colum

bia, native was initially denied entry to Canada's pageant because she was not born female. Donald Trump, who runs the Miss Universe Organization, subsequently overruled that decision last month.
• The 6-foot-1 (1.8-meter-1 centimeter) blond beauty, who towered over her fellow contenders while competing in the bikini and formal wear contests, garnered most of the attention Saturday night, soliciting loud cheering and howls each time she appeared on stage.
• ___

(Continued on page 29)

© 2012 Groton Daily Independent • To send correspondence, click here.