Ananova:

A Hertfordshire woman has won the title of Miss Net World which has been held in Libya.

Lucy Layton, 20, came top out of 25 women taking part in the country's first ever international beauty pageant.

Contestants switched swimsuits and sequins for T-shirts and dresses containing pictures of Libyan leader Colonel Gaddafi.

All the participants met Gaddafi and toured the country's beaches, desert and monuments for a week.

The beauty pageant is said to be a campaign to promote tourism in Libya.

Twenty-five women competed in the Internet contest, but the contenders from Australia and Thailand didn't travel.

Lucy says she doesn't know her future plans yet, but is happy for now to receive first place.

The closing ceremony, in one of Tripoli's main hotels, featured the contestants wearing dresses with pictures of the Libyan leader printed on them.

The founder of the pageant, Omar Harfouch, from Lebanon, was quoted in the Arab press as saying that the contest's slogan is "beauty will save the world".

Story filed: 11:57 Sunday 3rd November 2002

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