An unexpected scandal rocked an Omani camel beauty pageant. Twenty camels were disqualified by organizers due to the discovery of prohibited cosmetic enhancements.
The competition in the Omani city of Al-Musannah – the 2026 Camel Beauty Show Festival – is an annual event seeking the most beautiful camel. Lately, contestants have shown enhancements similar to those seen in human beauty contests. Twenty camels had their appearance altered using Botox, hyaluronic acid, dermal fillers, or even silicone implants.
“Hyaluronic acid injections were used to achieve the signature pouty lips. Dermal fillers and silicone for a more statuesque nose profile. Botox to soften the face into an expression of eternal, calm superiority. Silicone wax to inflate the hump. Hormones to sculpt muscle definition that would put even a crossfitting camel to shame,” reports Tanya Akim for Forbes.
“We want to stop all manipulation and cheating attempts in camel beautification,” stated representatives from the Camel Club and the Oman Camel Racing Federation, promising “strict penalties for manipulators.”
This isn't the first time a similar event has been exposed in camel beauty contests. In Saudi Arabia at the King Abdulaziz Camel Festival, judges uncovered cases in 2018 and 2021, where even forty camels were disqualified. Breeders had been doping them with loads of hormones from veterinarians who formerly specialized in racehorses. The disqualification likely hit camel owners hard, as the total prize money at this festival reaches 66 million U.S. dollars annually.
