Miss Israel's selfie with Miss Lebanon has caused a stir in Lebanon, and now an investigation is underway there to see if the beauty queen will be able to keep her crown and represent her country.
What sparked the controversy was the seemingly harmless photo at the Miss Universe pageant where Miss Lebanon, Saly Greige, 25, was shown side-by-side with Miss Israel, Doron Matalon, 21,
according to the New York Post.
The Miss Universe pageant will take place Jan. 25 in Miami
The Los Angeles Times reported that Israel and Lebanon have been under a cease-fire agreement since for more than eight years since a 2006 war, but their border remains tense and violence still occurs on occasion.
Public opinion in Lebanon turned against Greige when the photo appeared on Matalon's Facebook page. Matalon said,
according to Us Weekly, that she was just trying to be friendly in snapping and posting the shot, taken with Miss Slovenia Urska Bracko and Miss Japan Keiko Tsuji. Greige charged that she was photobombed.
"Since the first day of my arrival to participate to Miss Universe, I was very cautious to avoid being in any photo or communication with Miss Israel (who) tried several times to have a photo with me," Greige wrote on Facebook, according to the Post.
The Lebanon government said it will "launch an investigation," on whether Greige will keep her crown because of the "offensive photo."
Matalon said on her Facebook page, according to the New York Post, that she meant no harm.
"It doesn't surprise me, but it still makes me sad," said Matalon. "Too bad you cannot put the hostility out of the game, only for three weeks of an experience of a lifetime that we can meet girls from around the world and also from the neighboring country."
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