Is the world ready for a transgender Miss Universe contestant?

The quick answer to this is: No.

The longer explanation has to do with beauty pageant contestant Jenna Talackova, 23, who made it to the finals in the Miss Vancouver pageant, but was ultimately ruled ineligible due to her being biologically male. The 6-foot-1-inch stunner did well — and even made it to the finals — but was disqualified after organizers learned she wasn’t a naturally born female, according to CTV News.

“Jenna Talackova from Vancouver, British Columbia, will not compete in the 2012 Miss Universe Canada competition because she did not meet the requirements to compete despite having stated otherwise on her entry form,” Miss Universe Canada organizers said in a statement. “We do, however, respect her goals, determination and wish her the best.”

According to CTV News, Talackova started hormone therapy at 14 and had gender reassignment surgery at 19.

Talackova is claiming discrimination, which Miss Universe Canada national director Denis Davila refutes, telling CTV News, “There is no discrimination here at all. You can look at it the way she wants to look at it … but we all have to follow the same rules.”

Miss Universe Canada says that Talackova indicated on her registration form that she was born a female but later admitted that she was born a male.

Here’s the thing: Whether you are applying for a job at Arby’s or as a beauty pageant contestant in Canada, you can’t lie on your application form.

I can see where this is tricky. Women already earn, on average, 23 percent less than men. Sadly, pageants are one constant where we can compete on a level playing field. A playing field where we compete in high heels and fake eyelashes, but a fair one nonetheless. Then again, she doesn’t look like she had any less work done than the rest of Miss Universe contestants, so what’s the big deal?

Del Rey’s new beau?

Rumors are swirling that new singing sensation Lana del Rey is dating Marilyn Manson, according to Hollyscoop. The pair first turned heads when they were spotted “sneaking into an elevator” in Berlin earlier this month, and since then they’ve reportedly been spending a lot of time together — like grabbing dinner before del Ray’s performance at the Echo Awards. After the show, del Rey and Manson left together in a van.

There are three things I will never understand in life: the world’s fascination with someone as boring as Kim Kardashian, people who don’t like books, and how Marilyn Manson gets women. Can someone explain this to me?