Transgender contestant to make history at pageant

TORONTO - Jenna Talackova is set to make history as the first-ever transgendered contestant to compete at the Miss Universe Canada pageant.

The Vancouver beauty, who was born a man but underwent sex-change surgery four years ago, is among 62 contenders vying for the crown.

It all starts tonight with a swimwear and evening gown contest in front of a panel of 15 judges and a live audience in downtown Toronto.

The panel includes designers Colin McAllister and Justin Ryan of HGTV's "Home Heist," "The Kennedys" actress Kristin Booth and singer Kreesha Turner.

The Miss Universe Canada winner will be crowned Saturday.

Talackova has drawn the bulk of media attention so far, attracting an entourage of reporters and photographers at various public events in recent days.

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  Jenna Talackova, the first transgendered Miss Universe contestant, is seen during an interview at the Sandman Signature Hotel in Toronto on Saturday, May 12, 2012, in advance of next Saturday's Miss Universe Canada pageant. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Aaron Vincent Elkaim)

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  Jenna Talackova, right, who advanced to the finals of the Miss Canada competition, part of the Miss Universe contest, and was recently forced out of the competition, appears with her attorney Gloria Allred at a news conference in Los Angeles Tuesday, April 3, 2012.(AP / Reed Saxon)