Iranian crowned Miss Universe Canada

Sahar Biniaz,26, was crowned Miss Universe Canada Ottawa - Agencies 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 host city has not yet been 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. Biniaz is not the first to receive this prize. In 2003, Nazanin Afshin-Jam, who is now the wife of Canada’s defence minister, 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.