A transgender Canadian beauty contestant who was initially disqualified from taking part in the Miss Universe Canada pageant because she was not a “naturally born female” lost her bid to win the crown but was awarded the title of Miss Congeniality.

Jenna Talackova, a tall blonde who underwent gender-reassignment surgery at age 19 and holds legal documents affirming her identity as a woman, made it into the top 12 in the Miss Universe Canada pageant on Saturday night in Toronto. She shared the title of Miss Congeniality with three other women voted on by their fellow contestants, Stuff.co.nz reported.