Palestine to be represented at Miss Universe pageant for the first time

Palestine will take part in the Miss Universe pageant for the first time this year, with the representing contestant saying she is stepping onto the global stage to highlight the strength and resilience of her people.

Nadine Ayoub, 27, is a certified health and nutrition coach who was crowned Miss Palestine in 2022 and will become the first-ever Palestinian representative at Miss Universe in November 2025.

Ayoub was raised across Canada, the United States, and the West Bank and is now based between Dubai and Ramallah.

“I am honored to announce that for the first time ever, Palestine will be represented at Miss Universe,” the contestant said on her official Instagram account.

“Today, I step onto the Miss Universe stage not just with a title – but with a truth,” she added.

“As Palestine endures heartbreak – especially in Gaza – I carry the voice of a people who refuse to be silenced.

Ayoub said her participation is about more than personal recognition.

“I represent every Palestinian woman and child whose strength the world needs to see,” she said.

“We are more than our suffering – we are resilience, hope, and the heartbeat of a homeland that lives on through us.”

The Miss Universe competition, one of the most widely watched international beauty pageants, brings together contestants from more than 80 countries.

Palestine’s debut adds a symbolic layer to the event, as the conflict in Gaza continues to draw global concern and as many countries stepped up and announced their plans to recognize a Palestinian state.

The pageant has long been viewed as a platform where contestants not only showcase beauty and talent but also use their voices to advocate for important causes and represent their national identity.