Photo:webshot.

December 10, 2021

Anna Murray 

Saudi authorities have launched their largest-ever crackdown on camel beauty contestants that received Botox injections and other artificial touch-ups, disqualifying 43 dromedaries from the annual pageant. Judges at the month-long festival in the desert northeast of Riyadh tightened their grip on artificially enhanced camels, employing specialized and advanced technology to detect tampering, according to the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) on December 9.

The 40-day King Abdulaziz Camel Festival, located about 100 kilometers (62 miles) northeast of Riyadh, began in early December. Breeders compete for more than US$66 million in prize money in its sixth year, according to Saudi state media outlet SPA, so the competition is intense. Camel racing is also part of the 40-day festival, which runs until mid-January.

The winner is determined by the shape of the camels' heads, necks, humps, dress, and posture. Therefore, Botox injections, facelifts, and other cosmetic alterations to make camels more appealing are strictly forbidden. In recent years, organizers have cracked down on cosmetic enhancements, a practice that has thrived despite stiff competition and harsh penalties.