Jenna Talackova Says She Was Bullied In School

Transgender beauty queen Jenna Talackova on Friday told Barbara Walters that she was bullied in school.

In an interview broadcast on ABC's 20/20, Walters spoke with Talackova, her mother and civil right attorney Gloria Allred, who is representing Talackova.

Talackova is the 23-year-old Canadian who was told she could not compete in the Miss Universe Canada pageant because she was not born female. The organization later backtracked, saying Talackova would be allowed to participate.

Talackova told Walters that her high school was very supportive but she was bullied by other students, including being called “tranny.”

She said she began to transition at the age of 14.

“I went to the doctor and I just let them know this is how I feel, this is what it is, and I need to start hormones as soon as possible. I took estrogen, which helped me develop my own breasts and keep my skin as it was,” she said.

Talackova said her gender reassignment surgery was “intense” and “terribly painful.”

“But seeing something on your body for that long and not being able to look at myself in the mirror because I couldn't stand seeing the other part, it was actually very rewarding, too,” she said.

When Walters asked, “So, if I saw you undressed, you would look like a woman to me totally?” Talackova answered: “Of course.” (Watch the entire segment on YouTube.)