As the stakes in competitive events rise and global attention grows, contests around the world have taken a turn for the strange and extreme. From beauty pageants for camels to deadly water-drinking competitions, here’s a look at some of the most unusual contests that have captured public fascination and raised eyebrows:
1. Camel Beauty Contests in Saudi Arabia: In 2018, over 40 camels were disqualified from a Saudi Arabian beauty contest after receiving Botox injections to enhance their appearance. Camel breeders compete annually for a whopping $66 million in prize money, with judges evaluating the camels based on the shape of their heads, necks, humps, dress, and posture.
2. Tragic Water-Drinking Contest: Jennifer Strange tragically lost her life to water intoxication after participating in a 2007 radio contest titled “Hold Your Wee for a Wii” in Sacramento. The contest required participants to drink large quantities of water without urinating to win a Wii console. Despite warnings from the public and medical professionals about the dangers, the contest proceeded.
3. Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest: This quirky competition challenges participants to write the worst opening sentence to a novel. It was named after Edward Bulwer-Lytton, author of the novel Paul Clifford which famously begins with “It was a dark and stormy night; the rain fell in torrents.” My favourite was always this one: “Dawn crept slowly over the sparkling emerald expanse of the country club golf course, trying in vain to remember where she had dropped her car keys.” It didn’t win the main prize but won in the “vile puns” category in 1987.
4. Extreme Japanese Game Show: The Japanese game show Susunu! Denpa Shōnen tested the endurance of diehard baseball fans by isolating them in small rooms for an entire baseball season. Contestants received dinner only when their favorite team won; otherwise, they sat in the dark until the next victory.
5. Obfuscated Code Contest: This international competition celebrates the most unreadable and aesthetically unique computer code that still functions correctly. Competitors often shape their code into complex patterns or figures, like Christmas trees, testing the limits of programming creativity.
6. Jeopardy! Phenom James Holzhauer: James Holzhauer revolutionized game show strategies with his aggressive play style on Jeopardy!, becoming the third highest-earning American game show contestant ever and holding the record for single-game winnings at $131,127.
These contests, ranging from the innovative to the outright dangerous, highlight a global fascination with pushing the boundaries of traditional competitions. What’s the most unusual contest you’ve heard of, or perhaps even participated in? Is there one you think you could win?