Nadeen Ayoub, the first Palestinian to compete in the Miss Universe pageant, is set to take the stage in Thailand this November, determined to show the world that her people are “more than headlines of war.”
Speaking to AFP in Dubai, where she is preparing for the global contest, Ayoub said her participation comes at one of the darkest moments in Palestinian history.
“We’re more than our struggle and pain,” she said. “Right now, our people need a voice and we don’t want our identity to be erased.”
Her appearance will come nearly two years into the Israel-Hamas war, which has claimed tens of thousands of Palestinian lives in Gaza. As Israel intensifies its military campaign—causing what the United Nations has described as famine in Gaza City and widespread destruction across the enclave—Ayoub said she hopes to present her homeland’s heritage and humanity beyond the suffering.
“Palestinians are also children who want to live, women who have dreams and aspirations,” said the beauty queen, her fair face framed by long dark brown hair.
‘A Voice’ for Palestine
Ayoub divides her time between Ramallah, Amman, and Dubai, where she founded an organisation that trains content creators on sustainability and artificial intelligence.
Raised in the occupied West Bank, the United States and Canada, she holds degrees in English literature and psychology and has worked as a teacher and for NGOs in the Palestinian territories.
“My parents are both academics and they always told me to focus on my university (studies),” she said.
After a fashion show in Italy sparked industry interest, Ayoub launched the Miss Palestine franchise, despite the unique challenges it posed.
“Something as simple as having a (Miss Palestine) organisation is difficult,” she said, noting that Palestinians are scattered across the occupied West Bank, besieged Gaza, annexed East Jerusalem, Israel, and neighbouring countries.
Although Palestine is recognised by the vast majority of countries, some still do not recognise it as a state — making Ayoub’s participation on a world stage a bold act of representation.
“(Palestine) is a country, it is a nation, I will be representing an actual country,” she insisted.
Western frustration over Israel’s conduct in Gaza has seen countries like Britain and France announce plans to recognise Palestinian statehood later this month. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that “there will be no Palestinian state,” and Israel recently approved a major West Bank settlement that the international community warns threatens any future Palestinian state.
‘Talk About Palestine’
Ayoub first won the Miss Palestine title in 2022 through an online pageant designed to include Palestinians across the globe, including those in the territories and in Israel. She went on to compete in Miss Earth the same year and has led the organisation’s philanthropic efforts.
Since the Gaza war erupted in October 2023 — following a Hamas attack on Israel that killed 1,219 people, mostly civilians — Ayoub has paused participation in beauty contests. Israel’s retaliatory military campaign has since killed at least 64,756 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to figures from Gaza’s health ministry considered reliable by the United Nations.
Ayoub says she will use the Miss Universe platform to amplify Palestinian voices.
“We must be present on every single international stage. Every single opportunity that we have to talk about Palestine, to show Palestine, we must take it,” she said.
