MISS ISRAEL VS MISS PALESTINE: ‘BEAUTY PAGEANT PITTED US AGAINST EACH OTHER’
Miss Israel has accused one of the world’s largest beauty pageants of failing to protect her after a video went viral appearing to show her scowling at Miss Palestine.
The footage from a Miss Universe event provoked controversy online when Melanie Shiraz, the Israeli entry for the competition, was shown apparently rolling her eyes at Miss Palestine, Nadeen Ayoub. It is the first time the competition has included a contestant from the Palestinian-occupied territories.
The video circulating on social media appeared to show that the pair had been placed side by side.
But separate “official” footage later posted by the Israeli beauty queen showed her standing behind Miss Palestine, with her facial expression directed elsewhere.
In a post on her Instagram page, she said she had received death threats from Palestinian activists online after the video was published, which she said had left her requiring “heightened security”.
She insisted she was “simply looking toward other contestants as they came on stage” and claimed the footage was “edited”.
‘Deliberate provocation’
In a direct attack on the event’s organisers and competitors, she accused her fellow beauty queens of “staying silent” after she received a barrage of abuse.
Allies of Miss Israel separately told The Telegraph they believed Miss Israel and Miss Palestine had been “artificially drawn” into a conflict, accusing organisers of “deliberate provocation” by placing her “next” to Miss Palestine on stage.
Ms Shiraz added on social media: “[People] should uphold higher standards. Especially when it takes moments to fact-check.
“And especially when there are real stories, real crises and real human beings whose voices deserve attention far more than a manufactured narrative about a glance.
“This platform is meant to empower women. Using it to tear women down, sharing images without consent and staying silent while a fellow competitor is attacked all undermine what we are meant to represent.
“Private photography or content capture during official events is also not permitted under competition guidelines, and respecting those rules matters.
“As representatives of countries in conflict, we have a responsibility to model dignity, peace, and hope – not pettiness, hatred, or deepening divides.”
She added: “The hatred and dehumanisation that followed – including Hitler-related comments and a heightened security situation, over a brief, ordinary expression – reflect far more about the world than they do about me.
“It was hard to cope with at first, but it only reinforces exactly why I am here: to stand proudly as a Jewish Israeli woman, and to advocate for truth, peace, and unity. And it only motivates me more.”
Row result of ‘deliberate provocation’
It is the first year that there has been a Palestinian representative competing at Miss Universe since it began in 1952.
Ms Ayoub – who won Miss Earth in 2022 – has previously spoken openly about her Palestinian heritage.
The 27-year-old, who is based in Dubai, has pledged to use her platform to “represent” Palestinian women and children.
Ms Shiraz has previously rejected several claims made by Ms Ayoub on social media, including “inflated” numbers of casualties, “falsely presenting” Israeli children as Palestinian victims of war, and displaying a map labelled “Palestine” as the entire territory of Israel.
Edgar Saakyan, national director of Miss Israel, described the row over the glare as an “unserious discussion”.
He said: “Our mission at beauty pageants has always been to promote values, culture, and history.
“We are being artificially drawn into a conflict by being placed next to the delegate representing Palestine – a move that can only be seen as deliberate provocation.
“Nevertheless, we have no intention of engaging in this conflict and remain committed to respect, dignity, and the spirit of cultural unity.”
Addressing the claims made by Ms Ayoub and the statement from Ms Shiraz, Joseph Shrine, president of Miss Israel, said it came “only in response to factual misrepresentation”.
He said: “We want to be very clear: we would never initiate or engage in political discussion, and Miss Israel’s statement was made only in response to factual misrepresentation.
“In this case, the Israeli government requested that the official delegate respond as a matter of public clarification.
“We remain committed to ensuring that the Miss Universe platform stays apolitical and respectful, and we call on all participants to refrain from political statements or materials of any kind.”
The 74th edition of Miss Universe takes place in Thailand on Nov 21.
Miss Palestine and Miss Universe were contacted for comment.
2025-11-15T09:00:48Z