Al Arabiya

Contestant Karin Gharawi was crowned Miss Lebanon 2013 in a beauty pageant aired by the private television station LBC on Sunday.

Gharawi, who received the crown from her predecessor Rina Shibani, was selected from among 15 other women hailing from all over the country.

The beauty queen hopefuls paraded around the stage in their swimwear and evening gowns and answered questions posed by a panel of nine judges.

The judges included beauty industry experts as well as politicians; Nayla Tueni, a Lebanese journalist and politician, was a part of the judging panel.

The renowned Lebanese singer, Asi al-Hilani, and winner of France’s “The Voice,” Anthony Toma both performed for the competition’s audience.

Lebanon is considered one of the most liberal Arab countries, allowing bikini-clad women to compete in the national beauty pageant.