Saudi Arabian camels disqualified from beauty contest over Botox use

A Saudi Arabian camel beauty contest has been rocked by controversy after twelve of the prized animals had to be disqualified after their owners tried to enhance their good looks with Botox.

Much like a human beauty content, thousands of camels paraded at the King Abdulaziz Camel Festival to be judged on their shapely lips and humps.

But some owners were so desperate to win the cash prizes they turned to cosmetic procedures to enhance their camels’ beauty.

Judges were forced to step in upon discovery of the Botox and disqualify the camels.

The festival – which also features camel racing and camel milk tasting – has a combined prize money of $70.7m (£40m).

According to local media, Ali Al Mazrouei, the son of a top Emirati breeder, said the Botox was used for the lips, the nose and jaw.

"It makes the head more inflated so when the camel comes it's like, 'oh look at how big that head is. It has big lips, a big nose'," he said.

Judges also examine humps, muscular physiques and leathery mouths.

The camel beauty contest was first held in 2000.