Jenna Talackova, 23, had complained after being disqualified from the contest, which chooses Canada's candidate for the Miss Universe Competition -- co-owned by Trump -- because she used to be male.

In an about-face announced hours before she appeared with her celebrity lawyer in Los Angeles to protest about discrimination, the Miss Universe Organisation said it could allow her to take part.

But it said she must meet 'the legal gender recognition requirements of Canada and the standards established by other international competitions.'

Talackova was not happy with that wording, calling on real estate tycoon Trump, who co-owns the Miss Universe organisation with NBC Universal, to step in to ensure that she can take part whatever Canadian authorities say.

'I am a woman. I was devastated .. I have never asked for any special consideration, I only wanted to compete. I saw the statement by Mr Trump's representative and I found it quite confusing,' she said.

'I wish Mr Trump would just say in plain words whether or not I would be allowed to compete and, if I win, whether I will be allowed to represent Canada in the Miss Universe competition.'

Despite being born with male genitals, Talackova said in a 2010 interview that she knew she was a woman from a young age, began hormone therapy at 14, and had surgery to change her gender when she was 19..