New South Wales Fair Trading has confirmed it has received a complaint about the legitimacy of a beauty pageant won by the sister of controversial Sydney property developer Salim Mehajer.

Mariam Mehajer was crowned Miss Lebanon Australia on Sunday night in Pyrmont and will go on to compete at Miss Lebanon International in Beirut in 2017.

But a complaint was lodged with NSW Fair Trading this week that questioned the win.

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It described the contest as “rigged” and alleged that monetary incentives were offered to influence the judging panel and why Ms Mehajer was allowed late entry to the pageant, News Corp reported.

The complaint also raised concerns of fairness given that the Mehajer brothers are major sponsors of the event.

Salim Mehajer congratulated his sister in a post that said: “greatness is to stay humble when the world calls you great”. Photo: Facebook

NSW Fair Trading was “still in the process of assessing the complaint”, a spokesperson confirmed to The New Daily.

Mr Mehajer came to public attention with an exorbitant wedding ceremony, which included four helicopters, a fighter jet flyover and multi-million-dollar sports cars. It closed down streets in Sydney’s west.

The property developer was suspended as deputy mayor of Auburn City Council, along with the entire council, after a NSW government inquiry.

‘I only see positives’

The annual Miss Lebanon Australia contest encourages women to celebrate their Australian and Lebanese cultural backgrounds.

Ms Mehajer said she was “hesitant” to join. She entered the contest at least a month after her competition.

“I felt I was very awkward and very stiff, and I didn’t think I would actually fit in,” she told the ABC’s 7.30 program.

“As soon as I came to the competition, all the girls were so beautiful, they helped me out with the dance – at one stage the choreographer was actually moving my arms for me because I was too shy to even lift up my arms for the dance.”

Her brother, Salim Mehajer, dismissed the cheating allegations.

“As the old saying goes ‘beauty is in the eye of the beholder’,” he told The Daily Telegraph.

“It is unfortunate the first idea that strikes people’s minds are such negative connotations as I can only see positives for the success my younger sister has achieved.”