The Miss Universe Organization (MUO) recently announced its decision to lift the disqualification on transgender woman Jenna Talackova, Canada's candidate for the 2012 Miss Universe pageant. They also said the pageant's rules would be modified to accommodate transgender women starting 2013. According to the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation's Media Reference Guide, the term transgender refers to "people whose gender identity and/or gender expression differs from the sex they were assigned at birth."

Beauty queen Miriam Quiambao shared her thoughts on the matter in a series of tweets on her official Twitter account, @miriamq, PEP.ph reports. Miriam, who won first runner-up at the 1999 Miss Universe pageant, said, “In my humble opinion, transgenders should not be allowed to join the MissU because it's only for REAL women. We should all make a stand. Just because it's popular, it doesn't mean that it's right.”

"I'm not judging gays/transgenders and I love them anyway, but @MissUniverse should be for natural born women only," she added.

She made sure to send MUO co-owner Donald Trump her opinion via Twitter as well. "@realDonaldTrump Whatever happened to the "essence of a woman"? The @MissUniverse pageant should be for natural born women," she said in one tweet.

"This may set a precedent that one day most participants in @MissUniverse are transgenders. #essenceofawoman? #majormistake @realDonaldTrump," she said in another.

She also retweeted messages from her followers who had similar views. "@miriamq @MissUniverse allows a transgender to join the pageant but disqualifies WOMEN who are either petite or married. WOW!" said user g3rrlan3.

"@annaigpit @miriamq i know, right? im a transgender, but i dont agree with this. we have our own arena," tweeted user bee2urgello.

How about you, FNites? What do you think of the MUO's decision? Do you agree or disagree with Miriam? Share your thoughts in a comment.


(Photo courtesy of PEP.ph)