Iranian beauty wins Miss Universe Canada

An Iranian Canadian, Sahar Biniaz, was crowned Miss Universe Canada on Saturday.

The 26 year-old, who was born in India, grew up in Iran and later became a Canadian citizen living in Vancouver, was previously the first runner-up in Miss Universe Canada in 2008.

She has also had some bouts with fame as an actress.

Biniaz will go on to compete for the ultimate crown in the International Miss Universe competition. The city that will host the event has yet to be announced.

She is not the only Canadian of Middle Eastern origin to have participated in the contest.

There was the Jordanian Canadian, Majd Al-Saudi, 26, from Ottawa, Sofi Mukbil, 24, a Lebanese Canadian from Quebec, and the Syrian Canadian, Maria Nahri, 26 from Ottawa.

History made

Contestant Sahar Biniaz celebrates as she wins the Miss Universe Canada competition in Toronto. (Reuters)

Biniaz is not the first to receive this prize.

In 2003, Nazanin Afshin-Jam, who is now the wife of Canada’s Minister of National Defense, Peter MacKay, was crowned Miss World Canada and Miss World first-runner-up.

However, what put Canada in the international spotlight was the first transgendered female contestant to compete alongside 62 other beauty contestants on Saturday.

The 6-foot-1 blonde model, Jenna Talackova, created controversy at the event as the panel was set to reject her based on her transgender but retreated from their decision.

Talackova went on to win one of four “Miss Congeniality” titles in the contest. She was also selected as one of the Top 12 finalists.