Transgender Miss Universe Beauty Ends in Top 12

The first-ever transgender contestant in a Miss Universe pageant lost—but finished in the top 12 of 61 participants. Jenna Talackova failed to make the cut to the final five in the Canada contest, but was one of four contestants named Miss Congeniality, reports People. Talackova was born a male but underwent a final sex change operation four years ago. She was initially barred from the contest, whose rules require that all participants be born female. An outpouring of support and media coverage finally convinced officials to allow her to compete. Despite the final results, she's "still a winner as far as I'm concerned," said Talackova's attorney, Gloria Allred. (More Miss Universe stories.)