Beauty in the Middle East.

Byline: Aarti Nagraj

Summary: As beauty queens from around the world gather in the Bahamas for this year's Miss Universe pageant, we check out the competitions that rate beauty in our region.

1. Miss Moral Beauty, Saudi <p>The kingdom held its first ever beauty contest this year. But 18-year-old Aya Ali Al-Mulla, who won the contest, did not have to bare all. Instead of swimsuit and evening wear competitions, the contestants were subject to a three-month test of dutifulness to their parents and family, and of their service to society.

Al-Mulla beat 274 rivals to win SR5,000 ($1,333), pearl and diamond necklaces, a diamond watch, and a ticket to Malaysia.

http://www.kippreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/12.jpg 2. Miss Arab World (Malihat Al Arab) <p>The only regional pageant, it takes place every year. Again, the beauty queens are not judged in their bikinis, but this time they are rated for their looks. According to celebrity website Waleg, the competition was held in Beirut last year and Layal Makki, a Lebanese model, beat 20 contestants to win the title.

Reports say the first runner up in 2006, Miss Iraq (whose real name is Claudia Hanna), couldn't return to her country after the contest because she received death threats.

http://www.kippreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/22.jpg 3. Miss Lebanon <p>According to the official Miss Lebanon committee, it has been conducting pageants for the last 30 years. The winner receives more than $500,000 and represents the country in both the Miss Universe and Miss World pageants. The Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation (LBC) broadcasts the event.

This year's winner, Martine Andrawos, was crowned Miss Lebanon at a gala ceremony on June 26.

http://www.kippreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/32.jpg 4. Miss Egypt <p>The only other country in the region that has a beauty contest is Egypt. Elham Wagdi, a 25-year-old from Cairo, was crowned Miss Egypt Universe this year. Wagdi - a dancer, painter, and aerobics instructor - was also the first runner-up at the Miss Egypt 2005 contest.

The pageant is sponsored by Procter & Gamble's hair care brand Pantene, and the event is broadcast by Melody Hits.

http://www.kippreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/42.jpg 5. Camel beauty contest, Abu Dhabi <p>This contest is held as part of the Mazayin Dhafra festival, and attracts camels from countries across the region including Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. The Abu Dhabi event is one of the richest and biggest of its kind, with more than $9 million and 100 cars given away as prizes.

The contest is open to anyone owning a disease-free animal.

http://www.kippreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/52.jpg 6. Sheep beauty contest, Saudi <p>The first such contest in the kingdom was held last year in front of a men-only crowd. The finalists among the locally bred sheep, called Nejdi sheep, were auctioned off to the highest bidder.

The goal of the competition was to encourage Saudis to breed for quality.

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