Sheena Monnin, Miss PA USA, Resigns In Protest Of Transgender Contestants

By On Top Magazine Staff

Published: June 07, 2012

Sheena Monnin, Miss Pennsylvania USA, has resigned in protest of
transgender contestants.

Monnin stepped down from her post this week, just days after Olivia
Culpo, a 20-year-old cellist from Rhode Island, was crowned Miss USA.

During the contest's interview round, Culpo embraced the Miss Universe
Organization's recent policy change allowing transgender contestants.

“Would you feel it would be fair that a transgender woman wins the
Miss USA title over a natural-born woman?” a follower on Twitter
asked.

“I do think that that would be fair, but I can understand that people
would be a little apprehensive to take that road because there is a
tradition of natural-born women, but today where there are so many
surgeries and so many people out there who have a need to change for a
happier life, I do accept that because I believe it's a free country,”
Culpo answered.

In her resignation letter
<http://www.eonline.com/news/miss_pennsylvania_usa_resigns_inclusion/3...>
, Monnin, 27, cited the policy change, writing that she refused to be
“part of a pageant system has so far and so completely removed itself
from its foundational principles as to allow and support natural born
males to compete in it. This goes against every moral fiber of my
being. I believe in integrity, high moral character and fair play,
none of which are part of this system any longer.”

In a Facebook post, she claimed that the Miss USA pageant was rigged,
saying she found out that the finalists were predetermined.

The Miss Universe Organization changed its policy on transgender
contestants after Jenna Talackova challenged it. She ultimately was
allowed to compete, finishing in the top 12 and being named Miss
Congeniality <http://www.ontopmag.com/article.aspx?id=11881&MediaType=1&Category=22>
.

©2006-2012 On Top Media

http://www.ontopmag.com/article.aspx?id=12037&MediaType=1&Category=26