NSW Fair Trading receives complaint regarding Salim Mehajer’s sister’s win at Miss Lebanon Australia beauty pageant

A COMPLAINT has been raised about the pageant win of Salim Mehajer’s sister but her big brother says “beauty is in the eye of the beholder”.

Mary Mehajer, with brother Salim, after winning the Miss Lebanon Australia 2016 pageant. Picture: Paradisepro/Facebook

THE family of infamous former deputy mayor Salim Mehajer has yet another battle on its hands with a complaint being raised over the victory of the property developer’s younger sister at a beauty pageant.

Miriam (Mary) Mehajer, 18, was crowned Miss Lebanon Australia on Sunday with her beaming brother at the ceremony.

However another contestant has reportedly complained to NSW Fair Trading questioning the circumstances of Ms Mehajer’s triumph.

The property company of Mr Mehajer, who was until recently a councillor on western Sydney’s Auburn council, sponsored the event.

A spokesman for NSW Fair Trading confirmed to news.com.au it has received a complaint regarding the Miss Lebanon Australia event and is assessing whether the organisation will investigate further.

The stoush comes just a week after Mr Mehajer was found allegedly “yelling” and “screaming” while knocking on a door of a house in Wollongong, reportedly owned by a member of his wife Aysha’s family.

He is said to have demanded the keys back to a car his wife was driving.

The couple haven’t been seen together for weeks fuelling rumours of a split.

The pageant complaint questioned how Ms Mehajer could fairly enter when her brother’s business, Mehajer Bros, was a major sponsor and why she was allowed to enter just weeks before the event. No rules banning a last minute entry could be found.

Sister, Aisha, who competed in 2015, was a member of the organising committee.

Salim Mehajer embraces sister Mariam at the Miss Lebanon Australia 2016. Picture: Channel 10

One of the judges, Dr David Carr, told the Telegraph Ms Mehajer did not even make it into his top five.

“I certainly didn’t rate her and I felt there were far better contestants but then my count is only one fifth of the count so who knows?” Dr Carr said.

Mr Mehajer hit back, telling the Telegraph: “As the old saying goes “beauty is in the eye of the beholder. It is unfortunate the first idea that strikes people’s minds are such negative connotations as I can only see positives for the success my younger sister has achieved”.

On Sunday, Mr Mehajer posted a picture of himself and his sister, draped in the Miss Lebanon sash, on his Facebook page. Next to it, Mr Mehajer wrote: “Greatness is to stay humble when the world calls you great.”

The pageant directors have denied the contest was rigged.

Ms Mehajer will now represent Australia in the Miss Lebanon International pageant in Beirut next year.