Saudi Arabia: Over 40 Camels Barred From 'Beauty Contest' Over Botox, Other Artificial Touch-Ups

Saudi Camel Festival: Some people have used Botox injections, facelifts, and other cosmetic products to make their camels look more attractive. These people have been barred from participating.

A Saudi man leads his camels during a beauty contest at the annual King Abdulaziz Camel Festival in Rumah in 2018. (Image: AFP)

New Delhi: Saudi Arabia's popular King Abdulaziz Camel Festival began earlier this month. As part of the festval, breeders of the most beautiful camels are invited to have their animals compete in a 'beauty contest' that gives away around $66 million as prize money. 

This year, the state-run Saudi Press Agency reported that about 40 camels have been disqualified from the annual pageant for use of Botox and other artificial beauty products on camels. 

Camels' heads, necks, humps, dress, and postures, etc are some features that are considered by the jurors before making a decision. Some people have used Botox injections, facelifts, and other cosmetic products to make their camels look more attractive. These people have been barred from participating in the competition. 

“The club is keen to halt all acts of tampering and deception in the beautification of camels,” the Saudi Press Agency report said, adding that the organisers would “impose strict penalties on manipulators".

Take a look at the launch video of the camel festival:

#حنا_بدو #مهرجان_الملك_عبدالعزيز_للإبل6
جانب من انطلاقة المهرجان الأضخم في العالم للإبل. pic.twitter.com/oRrA2idfqo

— حنا بدو (@alaibilfestival) December 2, 2021

The beauty pageant is a marquee competition along with camel races, sales, and other festivities at the King Abdulaziz Camel Festival. This festival is aimed at preserving Saudi's camel culture and the kingdom's Bedouin tradition and heritage.

According to the Saudi Kingdom's official website, "The King Abdul-Aziz Festival for Camels is an annual cultural, economic, sports and entertainment festival in Saudi Arabia under royal patronage. It aims to consolidate and strengthen the camel heritage in the Saudi, Arab and Islamic culture and provide a cultural, tourist, sports, leisure and economic destination for camels and their heritage."