Jenna Talackova

Talackova was born and raised in Vancouver, British Columbia. Her father is Czech,[http://revue.idnes.cz/transsexualka-jenna-talackova-je-ceska-otec-je-cech-vladimit-talacko-11y-/missamodelky.aspx?c=A120418_104508_missamodelky_nh "Transsexuálka, která změnila pravidla Miss Universe, je napůl Češka"]. Revue iDNES, April 19, 2012. and her mother is a member of the Babine First Nation, from the Lake Babine Nation in British Columbia.[http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/04/05/jenna-talackovas-journey-from-first-nation-to-miss-universe-contestant/ "Jenna Talackova's journey from First Nation to Miss Universe contestant"]. National Post, April 5, 2012.

She experienced gender dysphoria beginning in early childhood, and began her gender transition at age 14, while attending Vancouver's Killarney Secondary School, before completing her sex reassignment surgery at 19. She initially took the name "Page" when she began transitioning, before changing it again to Jenna.

As of 2012, Talackova was a student of holistic nutrition.

After previously competing in the 2010 Miss International Queen pageant for transgender and transsexual women in Thailand,[https://www.thestar.com/living/article/1152370--transgendered-contestant-s-ouster-from-miss-universe-canada-sparks-outrage-over-natural-born-rule "Transgendered contestant's ouster from Miss Universe Canada sparks outrage over 'natural born' rule"]. Toronto Star, March 27, 2012. Talackova registered to compete in Miss Universe Canada 2012.[http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/04/04/jenna-talackovas-miss-universe-canada-bid-could-be-back-on-after-donald-trump-steps-in/ "Jenna Talackova's Miss Universe Canada bid could be back on after Donald Trump steps in"]. National Post, April 4, 2012. Sources are in conflict as to whether she identified herself as transgender on her application; however, after she was selected as one of the Top 65 applicants who would proceed to the pageant, a person who recognized her from Miss International Queen contacted the Miss Universe Canada organizers, and the organization then disqualified Talackova on the grounds that the pageant rules required its competitors to be "naturally born" women.

Talackova subsequently contacted lawyer Gloria Allred, who took on the case and challenged the pageant organizers, including future president Donald Trump in his capacity as owner of the international Miss Universe organization, to reverse the decision and allow Talackova to compete.[http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/04/03/jenna-talackova-donald-trump-miss-universe-canada/ "Jenna Talackova — armed with a high-profile lawyer — fires back at Miss Universe Canada"]. National Post, April 3, 2012. The organization reversed its decision before the case reached the courts, with Trump's office issuing a statement that "as long as she meets the standards of legal gender recognition requirements of Canada, which we understand that she does, Jenna Talackova is free to compete in the 2012 Miss Universe Canada pageant."

At the pageant on May 19, 2012, Talackova made it into the Top 12, but failed to reach the Top 5.[https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/transgender-contestant-falls-short-at-miss-universe-canada-1.1188866 "Transgender contestant falls short at Miss Universe Canada"]. CBC News, May 19, 2012. She was, however, one of four contestants awarded the title of Miss Congeniality. Talackova was named co-grand marshal of the 2012 Vancouver Pride Parade in recognition of her fight to be in the Miss Universe pageant.{{cite web |url= https://vancouversun.com/news/Transgendered+Jenna+Talackova+would+Miss+Universe+helm+Vancouver+Pride+Parade/6943230/story.html |title=Transgendered Jenna Talackova, would-be Miss Universe, to helm Vancouver's Pride Parade |first= Christopher|last= Reynolds|work=vancouversun.com |date=July 16, 2012|accessdate=August 6, 2012}}

A reality show based around her life, Brave New Girls, was filmed in summer 2013 as Talackova moved to Toronto to pursue a modelling career.{{cite news|last=Oved|first=Marco Chown|title=Transgender model Jenna Talackova gets reality TV gig|url=http://www.therecord.com/whatson/artsentertainment/article/929108|accessdate=May 5, 2013|newspaper=Waterloo Region Record|date=May 4, 2013|archive-date=May 9, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130509162332/http://www.therecord.com/whatson/artsentertainment/article/929108|url-status=dead}} The series, produced by Peacock Alley Entertainment, premiered on E! Canada in January 2014.[https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/television/2014/01/16/jenna_talackova_shares_life_after_miss_universe_on_brave_new_girls.html "Jenna Talackova shares life after Miss Universe on Brave New Girls"]. Toronto Star, January 16, 2014.

Talackova is a vegan and appeared in a PETA ad campaign promoting the diet.Aasim Raza, "[http://www.vancouverobserver.com/city/jenna-talackova-unveils-racy-peta-ad-and-promotes-vegan-diet Jenna Talackova Unveils Racy PETA Ad And Promotes Vegan Diet] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140127023138/http://www.vancouverobserver.com/city/jenna-talackova-unveils-racy-peta-ad-and-promotes-vegan-diet |date=2014-01-27 }}," Vancouver Observer, January 23, 2014.

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• [http://jennatalackova.ca/ Official website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331175354/http://jennatalackova.ca/ |date=March 31, 2019 }}
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Category:1988 births

Category:Female models from British Columbia

Category:Canadian people of Czech descent

Category:Dakelh people

Category:Participants in Canadian reality television series

Category:LGBTQ First Nations people

Category:Living people

Category:Activists from Vancouver

Category:Transgender female models

Category:LGBTQ media personalities

Category:Canadian transgender women

Category:Canadian media personalities

Category:21st-century Canadian LGBTQ people

Category:Mass media people from Vancouver