Los Angeles ( CNN ) -- It was a public relations battle featuring two well-known masters of the media , a beauty queen , and a controversial question : Should someone born a man be allowed to compete in the Miss Universe pageant ? On the East Coast was Donald Trump , the New York business tycoon whose fortune and brand is boosted by his ability to navigate storms of controversy . On the West Coast was Gloria Allred , a Beverly Hills lawyer legendary for her ability to draw hordes of cameras to her law office to capture her outrage over alleged injustices done to her clients . The client is Jenna Talackova , a 23-year-old , 6-foot-1-inch blond Canadian , who underwent sexual reassignment surgery four years ago . Talackova won a regional beauty crown qualifying her for Canada 's national title , but she was then told the Miss Canada Universe pageant in Toronto on May 19 was only open to `` naturally born females . '' `` I am a woman , '' Talackova said in a prepared statement she read to reporters in Allred 's conference room Tuesday . `` I was devastated and I felt that excluding me for the reason that they gave was unjust . '' Allred attacked Trump , who owns and controls the Miss Universe franchise , for questioning Talackova 's sexuality . `` She did not ask Mr. Trump to prove that he is a naturally born man or to see photos of his birth to view his anatomy to prove that he was male , '' Allred said . How she became a female is not important , she said . `` The Miss Universe competition is designed to find the one person in the world whose human qualities make them worthy of the Miss Universe crown and title , '' Allred said . `` Jenna is beautiful in every way . Her life story will undoubtedly inspire people throughout the world . '' Talackova , in a 2010 interview , said she knew she was a girl at age 4 . She said she started hormone therapy at age 14 and underwent sexual reassignment surgery at 19 . Trump , warned of Allred 's attack when the lawyer alerted reporters Monday afternoon that she would hold the news conference , shifted his pageant 's position in an announcement Monday night . Talackova could compete provided `` she meets the legal gender recognition requirements of Canada , and the standards established by other international competitions , '' the Miss Universe Organization said . Trump 's maneuver did n't appear to temper Allred 's outrage . `` The last-minute statement by Mr. Trump 's representative put out late yesterday only confuses the issue , '' she said . `` Instead of stating clearly that Jenna will be allowed to compete , Mr. Trump qualifies it by adding conditions that are ambiguous . '' She asked Trump for `` a clear answer -- not a wimpy , wishy-washy type of answer -- but something that we can take to the bank . '' Allred did n't know it then , but Trump gave a clearer statement to CNN in New York two hours earlier . `` We went by the laws of Canada and the laws of the United States , and those laws say that she should be allowed to enter the pageant , '' Trump said . `` So she will be entering the Miss Canada pageant . '' When read Trump 's new statement , Allred paused for several seconds and said `` I stand by my statement . We want this rule eliminated . '' `` We want a clearer statement that this rule will be eliminated , '' Allred said . `` Step up , say it loudly , say it clearly , this rule will never be in effect again for anyone . '' Allred declined to have Talackova react to Trump 's decision to let her compete . `` Sorry , '' Talackova whispered to a reporter , apologizing for her silence . Allred would not say if her client still intended to compete in the pageant . Controversy over pageant rules is not new for Trump . The media stir over Miss California Carrie Prejean 's same-sex marriage comments at Trump 's Miss USA pageant three years ago raised the profile of that competition . Prejean , in response to a question from a judge , declared her opposition to same-sex marriage . Trump initially said Prejean could keep her Miss California title despite a controversy over topless photos , missed appearances and her statements against same-sex marriage . He eventually fired her for `` contract violations , '' including missed public appearances . Allred has affected more than beauty contests . She hosted several news conferences in 2010 to reveal evidence that Meg Whitman , who was then the Republican nominee for governor of California , employed an undocumented worker . The October surprise hampered Whitman 's campaign at a crucial time in her race against Jerry Brown , who won the election . CNN 's Doug Hyde contributed to this report .
`` She should be allowed to enter the pageant , '' Miss Universe owner Donald Trump says . Contestant 's lawyer : `` We want this rule eliminated '' ` This is a rush transcript from "On The Record," February 16, 2011. Officials previously disqualifed the transgender woman from Miss Canada Universe .