(MENAFN- Morocco World News) Sara Belkziz was crowned Miss Morocco 2016 on Saturday evening in a glittering ceremony in held Casablanca.

Sixteen candidates took part in the final of the third edition of Miss Morocco, which was held at the Morocco Mall in the presence of large audience and significant media coverage.

The lucky winner received the highest number of votes of Moroccans, who were called to choose their favorite candidates on social media.

On Friday, Miss Morocco's organizing committee posted the pictures of the 16 finalists on its official page and called on Moroccans to vote for their favorites candidates by sending text messages to the number 9050.

Unlike beauty pageants organized in Western countries where contestants are required to wear swimsuits, Miss Morocco's candidates wear the emblematic Moroccan caftan.

The selection of the 16 candidates who took part in the final required several weeks of work from the organizing committee. During the first stage, several castings were organized in Casablanca, Tangier, Marrakech, and Rabat to select the candidates.

At the end of the first stage, 16 young women were chosen to spend a 10-day training under the supervision ofcoaches and professionals in the fields of choreography, communication, and personal development.

The winner will succeed to Fatima Zahra El Hor, who won the second edition of Miss Morocco in May 2015.