4 days ago
Palestine crowns first Miss Universe representative Nadeen Ayoub
Palestine is set to make its Miss Universe debut, represented by Nadeen Ayoub.
On Instagram, Nadeen said that she is honored to make the announcement that she will represent the country in the prestigious pageant.
'Today, I step onto the Miss Universe stage not just with a title—but with a truth. As Palestine endures heartbreak—especially in Gaza—I carry the voice of a people who refuse to be silenced,' she said.
Per the beauty queen, she represents every Palestinian woman and child whose strength the world needs to see.
'We are more than our suffering—we are resilience, hope, and the heartbeat of a homeland that lives on through us,' she said.
In 2022, Nadeen also represented Palestine in the Miss Earth competition. She finished as Miss Earth 2022 Water.
The ongoing conflict between Palestine and Israel has led to a humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
On Tuesday, foreign ministers of 24 countries said in a joint statement that the humanitarian crisis in Gaza has reached "unimaginable levels."
"We call on the government of Israel to provide authorization for all international NGO [non-governmental organizations] aid shipments and to unblock essential humanitarian actors from operating," the statement read.
The statement was signed by the foreign ministers of Australia, Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and Britain.
Meanwhile, the Miss Universe competition is now in its 74th edition.
The international pageant is scheduled to take place in Thailand on November 21, 2025.
The Philippines will be represented by Ahtisa Manalo.
—Carby Rose Basina/CDC, GMA Integrated News
