The Miss Universe Canada organizers threw out Jenna Talackova when they found out she had undergone surgery to become a woman.
The transgendered contestant had already successfully reached the finals in the Miss Vancouver pageant before she was banned from continuing in the competition.
Although the pageant organizers described Talackova as a ‘real girl’ they disqualified her arguing that the rules state that each contestant must be a ‘naturally born female.’
According to Denis Davila, the national director of Miss Universe Canada, Talackova claimed on her registration form she was born a female.
But becoming suspicious Davila confronted the 23-year-old about her sex change and the contestant admitted she was actually born a male.
Cut costs without cutting corners on corrective lenses; Money tip.(Business)
The Seattle Times (Seattle, WA) October 17, 2010 Byline: Gregory Karp; Chicago Tribune The rate of nearsightedness in the United States has soared 66 percent in the past 30 years, which means more Americans are shelling out for eyeglasses and contact lenses.
A study in the early 1970s showed that 25 percent of the U.S. population ages 12 to 54 were nearsighted, or myopic, which means they have trouble seeing things at a distance.
A more recent study, from 1999 to 2004, showed the rate was 41.6 percent. Americans spend $31.7 billion annually on vision products and services, according to the Vision Council of America. Eyeglass frames and lenses make up the largest portion, about $21 billion.
Customer-satisfaction surveys show that consumers are generally happy with buying eyewear from their eye doctors or from optometrists. But to save big bucks, you’ll have to consider shopping at unconventional places. For example, some online stores sell custom prescription eyeglasses for about $8, instead of the hundreds of dollars you’re used to paying.
Here’s what you need to know:
Eye health is a priority: Studies show consumers who order contacts online tend to get fewer eye exams, said Dr. S. Barry Eiden, immediate past chairman of the American Optometric Association.
“Regardless of where you buy eyewear products, you should put your eye health first,” Eiden said. this web site 1800contacts coupon code
The good news is that buying products from alternative sources is not a health issue.
“If your prescription or the grinding of your lenses is significantly off, you will know it, so you can get the problem fixed or, if necessary, start again with a new pair,” says Consumers’ Checkbook, which rates service providers.
And boxed disposable contact lenses of a certain brand and prescription should be the same no matter where you buy them.
Contact lenses online: This is the primary way to save money on contacts. And it’s easy because you just buy the exact brand and prescription your eye doctor recommended after a proper eye exam and fitting.
Such online sites as 1800contacts.com and VisionDirect.com allow you to easily plug in your prescription and order with a credit card.
Personnel at the retailers contact your eye doctor to confirm the prescription. Because prices are posted online and products are all the same, it’s easy to shop among several retailers to get the best price. Lesser-known sites, such as CoastalContacts.com, WebEyeCare.com and CLEcontactlenses.com, might have lower prices. site 1800contacts coupon code
The regular price of a box of Acuvue Oasys lenses recently ranged from less than $22 per box at WebEyeCare.com to about $34 per box at 1800contacts.com. Buying online also saves you a trip to the doctor’s office because the contacts are mailed to your house, and it could save state sales tax.
Glasses online: Such sites as ZenniOptical.com, EyeBuyDirect.com and CoastalContacts.com sell made-to-order prescription eyeglasses — frames and lenses — for less than $10. Most glasses are in the $20 to $50 range.
But there are several drawbacks to buying online. First, you probably have your eyeglasses prescription, but you might not have the measurement for your PD, or pupillary distance, the distance in millimeters between your pupils.
Online sites suggest asking your doctor for this measurement or measuring it yourself. Another drawback is you can’t try on frames, although some sites allow you to upload a photo of yourself and “virtually” try on frames.
And after you get your glasses, you won’t have an optician to adjust the arms and nose pads for a custom fit. Many bricks-and-mortar opticians do that for free, but it’s unfair to ask them for adjustments when you bought your glasses online for cheap, Eiden said.
Online merchants are aware of the drawbacks of buying glasses online, said Rob Long, U.S. manager for CoastalContacts.com, whose site sells glasses starting at $6.99. That’s why they offer some supercheap glasses — to encourage people to try ordering them online.
“A lot of customers will buy glasses online as a backup pair,” Long said. “That’s their initial intention.” Online sellers of glasses typically have liberal return and exchange policies, says Consumers’ Checkbook.
Reviews of some online retailers are available at EyeglassRetailerReviews.com and GlassyEyes.blogspot.com.
A beauty pageant has booted a contestant out the competition after discovering the buxom blonde was born a boy. 
