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Miss Israel Responds To Photo Controversy

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- Dozens of the world's most beautiful women are in South Florida for the Miss Universe pageant but the competition isn't without controversy.

A photo posted online by Miss Israel is causing a diplomatic dilemma.

Last week, Miss Israel, Doron Matalon posted a selfie while standing alongside Miss Lebanon and two other contestants.

"We were at an event and I stood next to Miss Lebanon, Miss Slovenia and Miss Japan and took a selfie like any girl," Matalon told CBS 4's Lauren Pastrana Tuesday.

Click here to watch Lauren Pastrana's report. 

Miss Lebanon, Saly Griege, drew criticism on social media over the photo because the two countries are considered enemy states.

She responded on Facebook, with a statement that said in part, "I was very cautious to avoid being in any photo or communication with Miss Israel."

She said Matalon jumped into the picture at the last moment.

Miss Israel said she never imagined it would spark some sort of international incident.

"Oh my God, it's crazy. All the media attention. It's good because we should talk about it," she said.

Her fellow contestants are talking about it, too.

"These beauty pageants are aiming for peace. They're not aiming for political issues," said Miss Egypt, Lara Debanne.

"The girls have dealt with it so well. It's just a pity that politics had to get into this," Miss Ireland Lisa Madden said.

This isn't the first time something like this has happened at the Miss Universe pageant.

In 1993, Lebanon disqualified its Miss Universe representative for posing for a picture with her Israeli competitor.

Twenty-two  years later, it seems peace between the two countries, even among their reigning beauty queens, may still be a long way off.

"If out of it, I will be able to achieve just a small peace between me and her, me and Saly, so we already won this competition. It will be a victory for me," Matalon said. "So I believe our countries should follow us and support us."

Miss Lebanon was not available for comment Tuesday.

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