This is one helluva human-interest story. Try telling me there isn't a book, movie and/or reality series looming. Talackova has achieved what anyone who enters a beauty competition aims for -- visibility and name recognition -- in spades. She's also become a heroine to the transgender community in the process. Good for her. The organizers of Miss Universe Canada should have given her first place just for the massive free PR she provided. (One official conceded "a lot of factors" go into deciding who gets the title -- including who stands a chance at the international level.)

One caveat: This is not an unadulterated human-rights triumph. Talackova won reinstatement for one reason alone: she's undeniably hot. If she'd been the tiniest bit manly, or less buxom, or lacking anything in feminine appeal, the disqualification would have stood. Because beauty pageants are inherently discriminatory. The rule may be unwritten, but it's Rule No. 1 and it's rigidly enforced: No uglies or fatties need apply!

Talackova happens to be stunning enough to overwhelm the gut reaction of all but the most diehard anti-LGBT yahoo. Surely, if gender-reassignment surgery can work this well, God is cool with it. Still, it must be a fun time to be a neuron in the pleasure centers of their brains as they grapple with their now thoroughly confused and troubling emotions.

For that image alone, thank you, Miss Talackova.