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Miss Algeria 2006 crowned

Miss Algeria 2006: Meriem Leitim

1st Runner-Up: Amanda Belghoul

2nd Runner-Up: Soumia Chayeb

3rd Runner-Up: Amel Alik

4th Runner-up: Leila Draou

They were 19 beautiful hopefuls ages 17-25 competing for the title of Miss Algeria 2006, but it was the young Meriem Leitim from the capital city who was crowned. Tall and 17 years old, the young girl doesn't realise her victory and hardly finds the words to say to journalists. But her radiant smile doesn't hide her happiness. The contestants modelled different outfits: freestyle clothing, traditional costume and evening gown.

The strongest elements of the contest this year were the natural hair styles and the simple make-ups used on the contestants, while the weakest were the lack of regional representation and the lack of interview questions: the contestants were judged primarily on their physical appearance.

Meriem Leitim will represent the country in Best Model of the World 2006 competition, to take place in Turkey at around March. Another version of the Miss Algeria contest will be crowned in March as well.

The Winners of Miss Algeria..from 1997 to 2005

Halima Bagaa, 1997

She was the country's first beauty queen. Originally from Boussadaa, she migrated with her family to the capital city. The young men in her neighborhood called her Barbie because of her looks. She represented Algeria in Best Model of the World 97.

Sarah Bassam, 1998

She won her title at 16 of age, migrating to France with her family shortly after, where she became a model. She is currently a singer-actress in Egypt.

Dounia Amesrar, 1999

She was 18, a high school student from Annaba. She represented the country in Miss Mediterranean, as well as in fashion shows in Tunisia ans Syria.

Soraya Boukbir, 2000

She was a 22 years old computer science student from Miliana. The edition she won was sponsered by Peugeot, so a brand new Peugeot 206 and a trip to France she won, amongst other gifts.

Yasmine Brahimi, 2001

She was 19 and a pharmacy student. She won Miss Algiers and was appointed Miss Algeria without the contest taking place, in respect of the flood victims in Algiers that year.

Lamia Saoudi, 2002

Originally from Annaba, she migrated with her family to the capital at young age. She was 22 and a journalism student. That year she was Algeria's first and only representative in a major beauty pageant: Miss World.

Mounia Achlaf, 2003

She won her title at 20 and was a pharmacy student, aspiring a career in fashion designing as well. She was from the capital city and attended a lot of cultural activities and fashion shows in Algeria and France.

Carmen Mehdaoui, 2004

She won her title at 24 a year after she survived the 2nd deadliest earthquake in the country's history. She was Ukranian by mother and currently has her own fashion line in the capital, getting the highlights in fashion magazines from time to time.

Nesrine Melbani, 2005

Competing the year before she wasn't even a finalist, the 2nd time was a charm. She won her title at 20, a mechanical engineering student from Algiers. She loves shopping and dreams of settling down for a family in the future.