Camels disqualified from beauty contest for cosmetic work

UNITED STATES, March 8 — Camels disqualified from beauty contest for Botox, fillers Michelle Del Rey USA TODAY March 6, 2026, 6:06 p. m. ET Hear this story A group of beauty queens has been caught using fillers and Botox to enhance their looks — but these rulebreakers aren’t human.

They’re camels . The unusual scandal unfolded at the 2026 Camel Beauty Show Festival in Al‑Musannah, Oman, where 20 camels were disqualified after inspectors discovered they had undergone cosmetic enhancements. According to reports from Vice and Forbes, veterinary officials identified signs of injected fillers and Botox-like substances, procedures that are strictly banned under competition rules designed to preserve the animals’ natural appearance.

The discovery has reignited debate over the lengths breeders will go to in pursuit of prize money and prestige at high-profile camel beauty contests, which are hugely popular across the Gulf region. More: 'Halfway towards a live nativity': A camel, cow and donkey were found wandering together on a Kansas road What kind of procedures did the camels have? Inspectors determined the camels had received an array of cosmetic enhancements, including hyaluronic acid injections to their lips, dermal fillers, silicone around their noses, Botox to soften facial features and silicone wax to artificially inflate their humps, according to Vice and Forbes.

According to Forbes , organizers operating as the Camel Club and the Oman Camel Racing Federation said they are "keen to halt all acts of tampering and deception in the beautification of camels," adding that strict penalties would be imposed on those responsible. USA TODAY has reached out to the Oman Camel Racing Federation for comment. Camel beauty contests typically judge animals on their coat, neck, head, and hump, traits meant to reflect natural breeding rather than cosmetic enhancement , Forbes reported.

This time, officials decided, the camels simply looked too good to be true. Michelle Del Rey is a trending news reporter at USA TODAY. Reach her at mdelrey@usatoday.