Jenna Talackova: I Always Knew I Was In The Wrong Body [Video]


Jenna Talackova, the transgender beauty queen who was disqualified, then reinstated, into the Miss Universe pageant, told Barbara Walters on “20/20” that even as a kid, she knew that she was in the wrong body.

Talackova, who was born a boy, said that she was called names like “it” and “tranny” at school. She began hormone treatment at age 14 and underwent a sex-change operation at 19-years-old.

“It was terribly painful… But seeing something on your body for that long and not being able to look at myself in the mirror because I couldn’t stand seeing the other part, it was actually very rewarding, too.”

Talackova was originally banned from the Miss Universe competition because pageant rules state that models have to be “naturally born females.”

Donald Trump, who owns the competition, said that she could compete as long as she meets “the legal gender recognition requirements of Canada, and the standards established by other international competitions.”

Talackova, and her lawyer Gloria Allred, are now trying to get Trump to remove the rule and clearly state that transgender people will be allowed to compete in the contest.

Talackova said that the ordeal has been painful and embarrassing, but she feels that it has happened for a reason. Talackova said:

“I feel like the universe, the creator just put me in this position as an advocate. If it’s helping anybody else, my story and my actions, then I feel great about it.”

Do you think transgender contestants should be allowed in the Miss Universe pageant.

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