The world's 'Miss' pageants

23-year-old Megan Young, the Philippines' candidate for Miss World, has been named the winner of the contest. The final round was initially planned to be held in Jakarta, but the Muslim community there protested heavily against the competition. As a result, it was moved to Bali, where the majority is Hindu. Many other "Misses" are crowned around the world - whether in good taste or not.

The crowning of Miss Muslim World 2013 took place in Indonesia on September 18 without any protests. The 19 finalists presented themselves in stark contrast to typical pageants - in high-necked dresses and head scarves - and were quizzed on their knowledge of Islam and the Koran. Obabiyi Aishah Ajibola, a 21-year-old Nigerian, was named the victor.

Nazis murdered her father, and she herself survived World War II in a Romanian bunker. Seventy years later, she struts the catwalk for the selection for Miss Holocaust Survivor 2013 in Israel. The 70- to 94-year-old participants were rated on their "inner beauty." Critics consider the contest macabre, arguing that it doesn't respect the life stories of the survivors.

The Cambodian government considered the treatment of landmine victims in the Miss Landmine contest disrespectful. In 2009 they banned the contest, in which victims from Cambodia or Angola participated. The Norwegian founder of the competition, Morten Traavik, will continue the pageant online, claiming that it strengthens the confidence of victims and draws attention to the matter.

Eight-year-old girls made up, dressed and presented like grown women: In France, this scene is about to become extinct. The senate wants to forbid "Mini-Miss-Pageants" for children under 16 years old. The National Assembly has yet to decide whether or not the law will pass. Should organizers violate the ban, they could face a 30,000-euro ($40,500) fine.

In 1888, the first European beauty pageant took place in the Belgian city of Spa. From 35 contestants, 20 were judged by a jury of eight men. The unglamorous presentation of the finalists proved a great disappointment for the public. The pageant turned out to be a PR-campaign for the resort.

"Atomic energy makes you sexy," was the motto of a Russian candidate for the 200 Miss Atom contest. The plant's bikini-clad female employees posed in front of the cooling towers. Since 2003, Russia has used beauty pageants in an attempt to improve the nuclear industry's image. The crowned beauty becomes the face of this campaign, aimed at alleviating fears of nuclear power.

In October 2009 Therese Van Belle was elected Miss Homeless in Brussels. The responsible charity, Artefix, wanted the competition to draw attention to the city's homeless problem. The prize was one year of free rent. After that, the victor had to pay her own rent or return back to the streets. Other organizations criticized the contest as a violation of human dignity.

Full lips, long lashes, silky-smooth legs: For the Miss International Queen pageant, seemingly perfect women take the stage. But in reality, the beauties are men. The contest has been taking place since 2004. Organizers want to improve the acceptance of transsexuals and also draw tourists to Thailand.

For the grand prize, winners of the Miss Jumbo Queen contest get to become the poster child for the Elephant Zoo in Thailand. According to organizers the contest should serve to protect the elephants. Minimum participation weight is 80 kilograms (180 pounds). Since 1997 participants have also been evaluated in their performances - such as a dance.