Miss Lebanon 2025 crowned in ceremony highlighting culture, heritage

BEIRUT — On Oct. 4, Lebanon crowned 22-year-old Perla Harb from southern Lebanon as its new beauty queen in a star-studded ceremony highlighting Lebanese heritage and culture.

Harb won the Miss Lebanon 2025 title during a ceremony held at the ISOL Arena in Zouk Mosbeh, north of Beirut. The pageant was sponsored by the Lebanese Ministry of Tourism.

The event was broadcast live on the local LBCI TV channel, reaching Lebanese audiences across the Middle East, Europe, North America and Australia.

Sixteen contestants competed for the coveted crown before a judging panel comprised of prominent figures in the fields of beauty, fashion, art and politics, including Tourism Minister Laura al-Khazen Lahoud, parliament member Paula Yacoubian, Franco-Lebanese composer Ibrahim Maalouf, Lebanese fashion designer Nicolas Jebran, Miss World 2025 Opal Suchata from Thailand, Lebanese makeup artist Bassam Fattouh, Tunisian model Rym Saidi, and former Miss Lebanon and Lebanese actress Valerie Abou Chacra.

The contestants strolled the stage in swimsuits and evening gowns designed by Jebran before eight advanced to the semifinals, where the jury asked them a single question: “What hashtag or slogan would you assign to Miss Lebanon election night?”

“Hope,” replied Harb. “The hope of a new Lebanon that is being reborn and deserves to live.”

Beyond the competition, audiences enjoyed show-stopping dance tableaus that blended Eastern tradition with Western choreographies. The event also featured live performances from Lebanese pop icon Nancy Ajram and a group of dancers.
 

Harb mesmerized both the audience and the jury as she advanced through the competition, ultimately reaching the final round. When Harb was announced Miss Lebanon, 2024 titleholder Nada Koussa placed a diamond-encrusted crown on her head. Harb then gracefully walked across the stage to the tune of the iconic song “The Queen Has a Crown and a Scepter” by the late composer Mansour Rahbani.

The crown, designed by the internationally renowned Lebanese jeweler Mouawad, was also adorned with red, white and green gemstones, representing the colors of the Lebanese flag. It also featured the cedar tree — the national symbol of resilience, unity and optimism — reflecting the nation’s heritage and pride.

In addition to the title, Harb received several prizes, including a $175,000 apartment in Kfardebbian, a Suzuki Fronx, a jewelry set from Whaibeh Jewelry and an all-expenses-paid trip to Sharm el-Sheikh with five-star hotel accommodations.

Harb will represent Lebanon at Miss World 2026 in February, showcasing Lebanese beauty to millions of viewers tuning in to the global pageant.

The crowning of Harb, who is from the village of Maamariyeh in the Sidon District, was met with a wave of support on social media as a native of southern Lebanon, which has undergone daily Israeli strikes despite a ceasefire that ended the 13-month conflict between Israel and Lebanon last November.

Harb sent a message of hope in a brief statement via the media following her win: “Lebanon is full of hope. Do not give up and do not despair. … We are standing firmly on our feet, and that is how we will remain.”

Parliament member Charbel Massaad congratulated the winner, saying in a post on X that her victory “is not just a mere beauty coronation, but a message of hope from the south to all of Lebanon — a message confirming that Lebanese will, creativity and true beauty remain stronger than all difficulties, and that this country always has those who restore its luster and beauty.”

Similarly, former parliament member Amal Abu Zeid praised Harb as “a story of hope and inspiration, from Maamariyeh to the throne of beauty in Lebanon. … Oh flower of the south, your crown speaks with pride. … Congratulations,” he wrote on X.  

The annual Miss Lebanon competition has been canceled a number of times since its first edition began during French rule in Lebanon in 1930. After the nationwide antigovernment protests and the ensuing financial and political turmoil erupted in 2019, the event was suspended and would go on to be delayed for three more years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The pageant returned in 2022, with Yasmina Zaytoun — also from southern Lebanon — winning the title, succeeding Maya Reaidy, who had held it since 2018. Zaytoun was later named first runner-up at Miss World 2024, placing Lebanon on the global scene.

Despite the ongoing hardships and crises the country faces, the national beauty pageant remains a platform for promoting Lebanon’s rich diversity and cultural heritage.

Miss World 2025 Suchata toured a number of iconic places in Lebanon during her stay, including the coastal cities of Jounieh, Byblos and Batroun.

Ahead of the competition on Saturday, Suchata was received by Tourism Minister Khazen Lahoud at the prestigious Automobile et Touring Club du Liban in Jounieh. 

“It is an honor to welcome Miss World to our country and, through her, to share Lebanon’s beauty with the entire world. Our message is simple: Everyone is welcome here. Come and discover Lebanon, a land of wonders and rich culture,” Khazen said in a statement written on the Miss World website.

"Everywhere we go, we have a breathtaking view of the sea. It fills my soul. I’m in love with this country and will certainly return soon to explore even more," Suchata said.

Lebanon’s tourism sector has suffered in recent years amid political unrest and regional conflicts. The 2019 nationwide protests dealt a major blow, prompting cancellations of tourist and cultural events, including a planned July 2020 concert by global star Celine Dion.

The Gaza war and its spillover effects in Lebanon and Iran triggered frequent flight cancellations and heightened security concerns. The Tourism Ministry noted a 32% drop in the number of tourists arriving in the country to around 1.13 million in 2024, down from about 1.66 million in 2023.

So far in 2025, the sector has shown signs of modest recovery. Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport handled 3.8 million passengers in the first seven months of the year, up 3.23% from 3.75 million in the same period of 2024, according to August data from the airport.