Vancouver trans beauty queen Jenna Talackova to star in reality TV series

Update

Please see Jenna Talackova reality show rejected by Shaw Media

Vancouver beauty queen Jenna Talackova may not have won the title of Miss Universe Canada, but she won a civil-rights victory for trans people. And she'll continue to contribute to the representation of trans people in the public eye this fall.

According to news reports, Shaw Media announced on May 30 that it has picked up a reality TV show featuring Talackova.

Senior vice-president of content Barbara Williams said that the show is being picked up for the Lifetime channel (which is set to launch in Canada in September).

Talackova garnered international headlines when Miss Canada Universe officials disqualified her from the pageant in March when organizers identified her as a trans person.

After much controversy and widespread attention, including a petition and a press conference threatening legal action, the New York–based Miss Universe organization, headed by Donald Trump, eventually reinstated Talackova.

She made history by becoming the first trans person to compete for the crown, against 61 other women at the pageant in Toronto, and she finished in the top 12.

She did win the Miss Congeniality award in a tie with three other contestants. A fellow Vancouverite, Sahar Biniaz, won the title on May 19.

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