Photo ~'Jenna'

Toronto Catholic school hosts ‘transgendered’ Miss Universe contestant

TORONTO, Ontario, May 17, 2012 (LifeSiteNews ) – A Toronto Catholic elementary school is under fire after hosting a “transgendered” Miss Universe Canada contestant on Tuesday in the run-up to the annual spectacle this weekend.

The event, owned by Donald Trump, has often been criticized for its hyper-emphasis on women’s sexual values and displays of women in skimpy bikinis.


Miss Universe contestant "Jenna" Talackova poses for a shot with a young girl outside of St. John Vianney Catholic School on Tuesday.
Montreal Gazette

Gwen Landolt, national vice-president of REAL Women Canada, says the Catholic school event sent the message to young girls that they need to be “sexy and glamorous.”

“How many girls watching that will now want to be a Miss Universe?” she asked.

This year’s contest has gotten unprecedented media coverage after controversy over the involvement of “Jenna” Talackova, a naturally male contestant who underwent “gender reassignment” surgery at the age of 19.

Talackova, a 23-year-old Vancouver native, was originally barred because of rules requiring that contestants be a “naturally born woman.” But after a media firestorm, Trump stepped in to overrule the decision.

On Tuesday morning, the 62 contestants in Saturday’s pageant visited children at St. John Vianney Catholic Elementary School in Rexdale as one of numerous publicity events.

According to a Canadian Press report on the Catholic school appearance, Talackova “says she’s proud to be opening the door for other pageant hopefuls who may want to follow in her footsteps.”