Latest news with #MissPalestine
Perth Now
34 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Miss Palestine to compete in Miss Universe pageant for the first time
Beauty queen Nadeen Ayoub will become the first woman to represent Palestine at the Miss Universe pageant. The Miss Universe Organization (MUO) said in a statement sent to CNN on Sunday that it was 'pleased to confirm' that Ayoub would represent Palestine at the Miss Universe 2025 competition, which takes place in November. 'The Miss Universe Organization proudly welcomes delegates from across the globe, celebrating diversity, cultural exchange, and the empowerment of women,' the statement reads. 'Ms Ayoub, an accomplished advocate and model from Palestine, embodies the resilience and determination that define our platform.' Ayoub will join competitors from more than 130 other countries and territories at the 74th Miss Universe final, which will be held on November 21 in Bangkok, Thailand. 'We look forward to welcoming Ms. Ayoub on the Miss Universe stage, where she will proudly represent Palestine, standing alongside contestants from every corner of the world,' MUO said in the statement. Ayoub, now 27, was crowned Miss Palestine back in 2022, according to Abu Dhabi-based news outlet The National. Nadeen Ayoub, right, will represent Palestine at the Miss Universe beauty pageant in November. Credit: Francis R Malasig / EPA Posting on Instagram on Thursday, Ayoub said she wanted to be a voice for the Palestinian people. 'I am honoured to announce that for the first time ever, Palestine will be represented at Miss Universe,' she wrote in the caption. 'As Palestine endures heartbreak — especially in Gaza — I carry the voice of a people who refuse to be silenced. I represent 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.' The decision to include a Palestinian entry in the beauty pageant comes amid growing international criticism of Israel's war in Gaza. At least 62,004 people have been killed in the strip since the start of the conflict in October 2023, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said in a statement published Monday. Authorities in Gaza do not distinguish between civilians and Hamas fighters when reporting casualty figures, but the health ministry and the United Nations say the majority of deaths are women and children. As the war continues, a growing number of countries are pledging to recognise a Palestinian state, with more than 145 nations now joining the call for international recognition. Most recently, Australia, Canada and France announced plans to recognise a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly meeting in September, while the United Kingdom has conditionally said it will recognise it if Israel does not meet criteria that include agreeing to a ceasefire in Gaza.
7NEWS
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- 7NEWS
Miss Palestine to compete in Miss Universe pageant for the first time
Beauty queen Nadeen Ayoub will become the first woman to represent Palestine at the Miss Universe pageant. The Miss Universe Organization (MUO) said in a statement sent to CNN on Sunday that it was 'pleased to confirm' that Ayoub would represent Palestine at the Miss Universe 2025 competition, which takes place in November. 'The Miss Universe Organization proudly welcomes delegates from across the globe, celebrating diversity, cultural exchange, and the empowerment of women,' the statement reads. 'Ms Ayoub, an accomplished advocate and model from Palestine, embodies the resilience and determination that define our platform.' Ayoub will join competitors from more than 130 other countries and territories at the 74th Miss Universe final, which will be held on November 21 in Bangkok, Thailand. 'We look forward to welcoming Ms. Ayoub on the Miss Universe stage, where she will proudly represent Palestine, standing alongside contestants from every corner of the world,' MUO said in the statement. Ayoub, now 27, was crowned Miss Palestine back in 2022, according to Abu Dhabi-based news outlet The National. Posting on Instagram on Thursday, Ayoub said she wanted to be a voice for the Palestinian people. 'I am honoured to announce that for the first time ever, Palestine will be represented at Miss Universe,' she wrote in the caption. 'As Palestine endures heartbreak — especially in Gaza — I carry the voice of a people who refuse to be silenced. I represent 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.' The decision to include a Palestinian entry in the beauty pageant comes amid growing international criticism of Israel's war in Gaza. At least 62,004 people have been killed in the strip since the start of the conflict in October 2023, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said in a statement published Monday. Authorities in Gaza do not distinguish between civilians and Hamas fighters when reporting casualty figures, but the health ministry and the United Nations say the majority of deaths are women and children. As the war continues, a growing number of countries are pledging to recognise a Palestinian state, with more than 145 nations now joining the call for international recognition. Most recently, Australia, Canada and France announced plans to recognise a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly meeting in September, while the United Kingdom has conditionally said it will recognise it if Israel does not meet criteria that include agreeing to a ceasefire in Gaza.
The National
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The National
Nadeen Ayoub on representing Palestine at Miss Universe: 'We should never be silenced'
This November, as Nadeen Ayoub steps on to the Miss Universe stage alongside contestants from over 120 countries, she will do more than make history as Palestine 's first participant – she will carry the courage and spirit of her people on a global stage. 'When you have that power, you have a responsibility to speak out. And I feel a huge responsibility,' she tells The National. 'Miss Universe is a huge platform, and there's a big responsibility in speaking out about what's happening in the Gaza. No one should be silent about the injustice that's happening. This is the time when Palestine needs to be represented on all platforms everywhere.' Crowned Miss Palestine in 2022, Ayoub, 27, made history that year when she represented her country for the first time at the Miss Earth pageant, where she was one of the top five finalists. But she had to put her future plans as a title holder on hold after conflict broke out in Gaza in 2023. 'There hasn't been another Miss Palestine since 2022 because of the genocide,' she says. 'After Miss Earth, I was supposed go to Miss Universe. But I postponed it because I did not want to go when genocide was happening. I wanted to focus more on staying behind the scenes because the spotlight was supposed to be on the people in Palestine who are suffering, rather than me.' But as violence raged and the humanitarian crises in Palestine worsens, Ayoub felt compelled to use her platform and voice to raise awareness about her people's plight. 'Palestinian people's voices need to be heard, not only the women and children, but everyone,' she says. 'The Palestinian woman is a beautiful woman who has a voice that is strong, that's resilient, that is powerful and that is angelic. And I want to show the world that side of Palestine.' A certified wellness and nutrition coach with a degree in literature and psychology, Ayoub was raised between Palestine, the US and Canada by her father who's a lawyer and her mother, an educator. She currently splits her time between her hometown of Ramallah, Amman and Dubai, where she founded Olive Green Academy, which promotes sustainability through training and awareness programmes. She also works for Sayidat Falasteen, the philanthropic and media platform of the Miss Palestine Organisation that works to uplift women by sharing their stories, supporting their businesses and showcasing their impact across Palestine and the diaspora. 'In a way, I love being an international citizen – a Palestinian international citizen,' she says. 'I like to mix what I learn internationally with me being Palestinian. This combination is almost like my art.' The long-running Miss Universe pageant is one of the most popular annual beauty competitions in the world, watched by an estimated global audience of 500 million. This year, the 74th event will be held in Pak Kret, central Thailand, with the finals on November 21. The road to the Miss Universe has not been easy, Ayoub says. 'It's a long process … a lot of interviews, a lot of applications. This is the first time in history that Palestine is being represented, but they were not going to just accept my entry. They have a lot of requirements in order to qualify as a contestant. It took me, honestly, years to get here.' With the support of the Miss Palestine Organisation as well as well-wishers and supporters, she says she's managed to pull together a team to help her prepare for the big stage in November. 'When we went to Miss Earth, it was almost like a one-woman show,' she says. 'I didn't have a big agency behind me so I had to really work hard and prepare myself because we lack these tools in Palestine. We don't have as much opportunity as other countries, because we have other causes that need more attention. 'But we have had the most positive reactions to our announcement and people have been so amazing and supportive. I have a team in the Philippines and in Palestine and other places, and all these people want to support me, because they love Palestine. And this is the most beautiful thing about it – they are so happy that Palestine is being represented at this time.' That huge responsibility is not lost on Ayoub who says she's going to give it her all and hopes to make a mark, from her fashion choices to the messages she will speak about on stage at multiple events. 'I will definitely be wearing designs from more than one designer in the competition, because I want to support as many Palestinian designers as possible. And I'm also using designs from international designers as well, and I think it's a great way to express my Palestinian identity and also my international identity,' she says. 'And as I've said before, we should never be silenced when there is injustice happening in the world. And we always should speak up for the people in Palestine, for the women and children that are starving right now, for people that are suffering for no fault of their own. And to be truly a queen is to talk about this. This is really my message.'
Express Tribune
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Nadeen Ayoub to represent Palestine at Miss Universe for the first time
Nadeen Ayoub will make history this year as the first woman to compete for Palestine at the Miss Universe pageant. The 27-year-old, crowned Miss Palestine in 2022, will take the stage in Pak Kret, Thailand, on November 21, marking the country's debut at the global competition since it began in 1952. Ayoub announced her participation on Instagram, wearing a traditional dress designed by Hiba Abdelkarim, featuring national colours and intricate embroidery. 'I am honoured to announce that for the first time ever, Palestine will be represented at Miss Universe,' she wrote. Her family originates from Yafa (Jaffa), and she spent her childhood between the West Bank, Canada and the United States. A graduate in literature and psychology from the University of Western Ontario, Ayoub works as a certified fitness coach and nutrition consultant. After winning Miss Palestine, she competed in Miss Earth 2022 in the Philippines, placing in the top five and earning the Miss Water 2022 title. Now based in Dubai, Ayoub is also an activist, founding the Olive Green Academy, the UAE's first centre training women in sustainability and AI. Her historic appearance at Miss Universe comes amid the ongoing genocide in Gaza, now in its 22nd month, as humanitarian conditions worsen.
IOL News
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Breaking barriers: Nadeen Ayoub makes history as Palestine's first Miss Universe contestant
Beauty queen, Nadeen Ayoub has become the first-ever Palestinian beauty queen to partcipate in Miss Universe. Image: X Nadeen Ayoub, a Palestinian beauty queen who is based in Dubai, has made history as a first-time representative for Palestine at the prestigious and international Miss Universe 2025 beauty pageant. The former Miss Earth 2022 finalist excitedly announced the news on Instagram on Wednesday, August 13. She captioned her post: "I am honoured to announce that for the first time ever, Palestine will be represented at Miss Universe. '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 people who refuse to be silenced.' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Ayoub further added that as she embarks on this journey, she will use her platform to represent every woman and child whose strength the world needs to see. She concluded: 'We are more than our suffering - we are resilience, hope and the heartbeat of a homeland that lives through us.' This is not the first time that Ayoub has carried the title of Miss Palestine. She competed in Miss Earth in 2022, becoming the first Palestinian to place among the top five finalists. In an interview with 'The National', Ayoub revealed that her decision to participate in Miss Universe stems from trying to use her platform to humanise Palestinians and challenge global stereotypes. 'I want to show the world that Palestinian women are not only resilient and beautiful, but are also leaders, innovators and changemakers,' she shared. The beauty queen revealed during the interview that her decision to postpone her participation in Miss Universe until now was influenced by the humanitarian crisis in her homeland. 'I am proud to walk this path, especially at this time, when we all need to be a voice for Palestine. 'I am honoured to have this platform to speak and I want to use it to help my people, especially the people in Gaza and Palestine suffering every day,' Ayoub said. Fans and followers flooded the comments section as they proudly supported Ayoub as she embarks on this journey, proudly and boldly representing Palestine. 'So happy to see Palestine being represented on the global stage. May your beauty and voice shine as a symbol of strength, hope and peace,' @evline_khalifa commented. 'Nadeeen, YES! Congratulations, darling,' @ wrote. While @sofiacajo added: 'Congrats, Nadeen! Palestine has the best representative." The 74th edition of the global pageant is scheduled to take place on November 21 in Pak Kret, Thailand.
