Women’s camel beauty contest makes debut in Saudi Arabia

For first time, women allowed to take part in prestigious King Abdelaziz Festival; previously a men-only affair in conservative kingdom

One participant says staging a contest for women ‘is a big step forward’

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Camels during the sixth King Abdulaziz Camel Festival, 161km from the capital Riyadh. The festival this weekend has, for the first time, introduced a round for female camel owners. Photo: AFP

Published: 11:45pm, 9 Jan 2022Updated: 12:10am, 10 Jan 2022

Saudi women, in a first for the conservative kingdom, have paraded their camels in a beauty pageant for the prized ‘ships of the desert’.

“I hope today to reach a certain social standing, inshallah (God willing),” said Lamia al-Rashidi, 27, who took part in the weekend contest in the Rumah desert northeast of the capital Riyadh.

Camels are showcased in a parade during the King Abdulaziz Camel Festival. For the first time female camel owners can showcase their animals. Photo: AFP

The event formed part of the prestigious King Abdelaziz Festival, was previously a men-only affair.

“I’ve been interested in camels ever since I was little,” said Rashidi, whose family owns 40 camels.

“Once this event was opened to women, I decided to participate,” said the young woman, wearing a black face covering and with a colourful shawl over her shoulders.

Saudi camel owner Lamiaa al-Rashidi, 27, talks to reporters about her participation in the King Abdulaziz Camel Festival. Photo: AFP

The top five in the field of about 40 participants in the women’s event went home with total prize money of one million riyals (about US$260,000).