Nearly 20 camels have been disqualified from an annual beauty competition in Oman after inspectors discovered the animals had received Botox injections and other cosmetic enhancements, officials say – the latest example of cheating to roil a tradition that takes animal aesthetics very seriously across the Arabian Peninsula.
Inspectors at the competition flagged the camels after determining their appearances had been artificially altered, a direct violation of contest rules that strictly prohibit the use of cosmetic substances to enhance an animal’s looks. The disqualified camels were stripped of their eligibility before judging could be completed.
Camel beauty contests are a deeply rooted cultural tradition in Oman and across much of the Gulf region, where the competitions carry significant prestige and can come with substantial prize money. Judges typically evaluate camels on the shape of their heads, necks, humps, and lips – features that some owners have attempted to manipulate using fillers, Botox, and other substances to achieve a more desirable appearance.
The practice of cosmetically enhancing camels is not new to the region. Similar disqualifications have occurred at high-profile competitions in Saudi Arabia, where organizers of the King Abdulaziz Camel Festival have repeatedly removed animals found to have received cosmetic treatments. That event, one of the largest camel festivals in the world, has seen dozens of camels disqualified in recent years as organizers have cracked down with veterinary inspections.
Officials in Oman did not publicly confirm whether the owners of the disqualified camels face additional penalties beyond the loss of eligibility, and no injuries to the animals were reported in connection with the enhancements.
The disqualifications highlight the growing lengths some competitors will go to in pursuit of victory at events that blend cultural heritage, national pride, and serious competition. Organizers have increasingly deployed veterinary experts and inspection protocols to keep the contests – and the camels – on a level playing field.
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