Jenna Talackova in this weekend’s Miss Universe Canada pageant

Trans woman ready to wear crown

Trans history will be made this weekend in Toronto at the May 19 crowning of Miss Universe Canada.

Among the contestants is Jenna Talackova, who fought Donald Trump for her place as the first trans woman to compete in the pageant.

“I think we are all training hard, but I think for one to be Miss Universe Canada you really have to have character,” says Talackova, who sees herself as a top contender.

Below is a video interview with Talackova and other women involved in the competition.

For more information on Miss Universe Canada, click here.

On occasion, the number of editors and other staff who contribute to a story gets a little unwieldy to give a byline to everyone. That’s when we use “Xtra Staff” in place of the usual contributor info. If you would like more information on who contributed to a particular story, please contact us here.

Keep Reading

Supporters of HIV AIDS research participate in the 2025 Toronto Pride Parade

Toronto man set to be the first Canadian cured of HIV

The patient received a stem cell transplant for his cancer that acted as a “double cure” because it contained a rare genetic mutation resistant to HIV
A photo of the outside of the New York Times building in New York City

Only 1 in 5 ‘New York Times’ news stories about trans issues quote actual trans people: report

A new 'Assigned Media' report found that the 'New York Times' rarely cited trans people in coverage about trans issues
A side by side of images from On Our Backs, a lesbian magazine.

The radical legacy of ‘On Our Backs’ magazine

“On Our Backs” filled a void by authentically documenting—and celebrating—lesbian sexuality
A side by side of two black and white photos by photographer Peter Hujar, one a self portrait and the other his piece Orgasmic Man.

The haunting photographs of Peter Hujar

Photographer Peter Hujar’s work revelled in eroticism, pain and the thin line between life and death
Advertisement