Best of friends

8216;8216;I think the perpetrators of the current West Asia crisis could learn a few lessons from Miss Lebanon and Miss Israel, who are the best of friends here,8217;8217; said Miss Germany Natalia Ackerman.

The contest doesn8217;t allow much room for warring, with contestants from 86 countries this year all crammed into the same Los Angeles hotel for a month with a rigorous schedule of rehearsals for the show. Mostly in their early 20s, the women become friends mainly based on geographic nearness and shared languages.

Entin and Rached have been pulled together by the force of shared cultures, whatever is happening back home, smiling, posing for pictures together, even though Rached8217;s presence sparked a protest by some 20 Lebanese Muslims on Wednesday in front of the downtown Los Angeles hotel.

The protest had no effect and the organisers avoided talking about it, but some contestants said the two West Asian beauties8217; friendship set an example for the world.

8216;8216;The fact that Miss Lebanon and Miss Israel can be friends 8230; People can see that it sets a wonderful example,8217;8217; said Miss Canada, Alice Panikian.