The "Captive Beauty" prisoner contest  took place at the only female prison in Juarez.

The city is one of the most violent places in the the world, with on-going deadly wars between rival drug gangs.

"Rescuing women´s self-esteem" was the slogan for this beauty contest.

Fifteen women out of the prison population of 600 prisoners took part in the pageant.

The contest is the result of efforts by social worker Velia Alicia Legaspi, and the prison´s administration.

The idea was to start creating jobs for prisoners, and bring a sort of cultural life behind bars.

Legaspi said they intended to fight boredom and help increase the inmates´ self-esteem.

She says the contest also helps to make the girls feel attractive and beautiful again.

One contestant, 22-year-old Janet Machado, is serving a 10 year term for drug trafficking.
She has appealed and is waiting to get a new hearing.

Nearly all the inmates at the prison were convicted for drug trafficking.
 
Some contestants have managed to recover the trust of their relatives with this contest, after being rejected socially.