Aynaw's victory "was very important for all Israeli society", says Penina Tamanu-Shata, one of two Ethiopian Israelis currently serving as a member of the Israeli parliament, the Knesset.

BBC: Yityish Aynaw: First black Miss Israel will go to the ball

Tamanu-Shata says the fact that the contest was shown on prime-time television was important as most Israelis encounter the Ethiopian community - just 120, 000 strong - through the media.

BBC: Yityish Aynaw: First black Miss Israel will go to the ball