Story By: Lee Bullen, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency:  Newsflash

Gorgeous model Maya Raidi has once again been crowned Miss Lebanon for the third year running after the contest was cancelled last year because of national unrest and then again this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the explosion in Beirut which she only narrowly survived.

The stunning 24-year-old, who has a Lebanese father and a mum of Russian origin, said that she “never expected” to remain as Miss Lebanon so long after being crowned in 2018.

The pharmacy student, who boasts 370,000 followers on Instagram, beat off 30 contestants to first represent her country at Miss Universe during her debut win in the Lebanese capital Beirut two years ago.

However, civil unrest in Lebanon last year and the COVID-19 pandemic this year together with the explosion that tore apart the capital Beirut has led to the cancellation of the last two Miss Lebanon pageants and Raidi has kept hold of her crown by default.

Raidi only narrowly survived the 2020 Port of Beirut explosion. She said she was in a building garage near the blast zone when it took place.

The Miss Lebanon pageant has been broadcast on Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation (LBC) since 1975, and the crowned winners go on to represent their country at Miss Universe.

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