Vancouver's Jenna Talackova was everything Miss Universe Canada was looking for when she was selected among 65 finalists for the 2012 competition, to be held in Toronto in May.
But the Donald Trump--owned beauty pageant confirmed Friday that the 23-year-old has been disqualified from the competition.
The reason, Talackova claims, is she was born male.
"She did not meet the requirements to compete despite having stated otherwise on her entry form," stated a Miss Universe Canada release issued on Friday.
"We do, however, respect her goals, determination and wish her the best," it concludes, without specifying what requirements she did not meet.