In pictures: The modern-day beauty contest

Contestants use all kinds of props and tricks to enhance their chances of winning. Fake tan and lip gloss are only the beginning.

They use Vaseline to make their teeth shine and hairspray on their bottoms to stop their swimsuits riding up. Then there is the gaffer tape - wide, silver, extremely adhesive tape which is used to give extra cleavage.

"It's really painful," says one contestant. "You have a huge raw spot on your body for a week after... The things we do to look beautiful!"