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IN PHOTOS: A Beauty Pageant for Holocaust Survivors

Thirteen women compete in the third annual beauty contest for survivors of the Nazi effort to exterminate European Jews.

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Stela Krashes, 85, a Holocaust survivor, has her make-up done during preparations ahead of a beauty contest for survivors of the Nazi genocide in the northern Israeli city of Haifa. November 24, 2015.
Stela Krashes, 85, a Holocaust survivor, has her make-up done. November 24, 2015.Credit: Reuters
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Haaretz

Thirteen women who survived the Nazi effort to exterminate European Jews took part in the third annual "Miss Holocaust Survivor" beauty pageant in Haifa on Tuesday evening.

After facing some tough competition, including former "Miss Holocaust Survivor" beauty queen Hava Hershkovitz, 82, Rita Berkowitz, 83, took the crown.

Linda Ruben, 82, walks on a runway. November 24, 2015.Credit: Reuters
Hava Hershkovitz, 82, a previous beauty queen in the competition, has her make-up done. November 24, 2015.Credit: Reuters

Berkowitz is the mother of one, grandmother of six and great-grandmother of five, according to Reuters.

In a message for “the entire people of Israel,” she said: “That all Jews from all across the world will come (to Israel), all of them. And we shall be stronger. We are not afraid of anyone. The Jew will never disappear from the world.”

The pageant was organized by the Helping Hand organization, which aids thousands of the some 200,000 Holocaust survivors living in Israel.

Holocaust survivors wait backstage during a beauty pageant in Haifa. November 24, 2015.Credit: Reuters
Sarah Israel, 85, has her hair done. November 24, 2015. Credit: Reuters
Stela Krashes, 85, a Holocaust survivor, has her make-up done during preparations ahead of a beauty contest for survivors of the Nazi genocide in the northern Israeli city of Haifa. November 24, 2015.
Rita Berkowitz, 83, a Holocaust survivor and winner of a beauty contest for survivors of the Nazi genocide, waves on a stage, in the northern Israeli city of Haifa. November 24, 2015.
Rivka Kushnir, 85, a Holocaust survivor, waits backstage during a beauty contest for survivors of the Nazi genocide in the northern Israeli city of Haifa. November 24, 2015.
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Stela Krashes, 85, a Holocaust survivor, has her make-up done. November 24, 2015.Credit: Reuters
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Rita Berkowitz, 83, a Holocaust survivor and winner of a beauty contest for survivors of the Nazi genocide, waves on a stage, in the northern Israeli city of Haifa. November 24, 2015.Credit: Reuters
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Rivka Kushnir, 85, waits backstage. November 24, 2015.Credit: Reuters
Holocaust survivors stand on a stage during a beauty contest for survivors of the Nazi genocide in the northern Israeli city of Haifa. November 24, 2015.Credit: Reuters
Judith Rosenzweig, 81, has her make-up done. November 24, 20Credit: Reuters
A Holocaust survivor has her nails done during a beauty pageant. November 24, 2015.Credit: Reuters
Sarah Israel, 85, has her make-up done as part of a beauty contest. November 24, 2015.Credit: Reuters
Rita Casimo Brown, 81, puts on makeup backstage at a Haifa beauty pageant. November 24, 2015.Credit: Reuters
Rivka Kushnir, 85, a Holocaust survivor, has her make-up done. November 24, 2015.Credit: Reuters
Judith Rosenzweig, 81, (R) and Rivka Shtanger, 74, (L) walk on a pageant runway. November 24, 2015.Credit: Reuters
Rivka Kushnir, 85, waits backstage. November 24, 2015.Credit: Reuters
Rita Berkowitz, 83, a Holocaust survivor and winner of a beauty contest for survivors of the Nazi genocide, waves on a stage, in the northern Israeli city of Haifa. November 24, 2015.Credit: Reuters

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