A pageant in Hungary has celebrated women who have plastic surgery.

The AP reports that the event was created to promote the benefits of surgical enhancements.

One of the judges, photographer Marton Szipal, said: "I think this competition is long overdue. Hungarians used to laugh about plastic surgery, but it's time for Hungarian women to care more about their appearance. They are the most beautiful in Europe."

Plastic surgeon Dr Tamas Rozsos added: "This is about restoring harmony... eliminating asymmetries and giving women the opportunity to have normal features.

"Plastic surgery has a bad reputation in Hungary, but it's mostly due to the exaggerations."

To compete in the pageant, women had to prove that they had gone under the knife. Cosmetic procedures such as Botox and collagen injections did not count.

Most contestants had augmented breasts or nose jobs, although one finalist had surgically adjusted toes.

The pageant queen, 22-year-old Reka Urban, won an apartment in Budapest. The second prize was a new car, while the woman who came in third place won diamond jewellery.

The women's plastic surgeons were also given awards.