Beauty queen Nadeen Ayoub will make history as the first woman to represent Palestine at the Miss Universe pageant, CNN reported.
The Miss Universe Organisation (MUO) confirmed on Sunday that Ayoub will participate in the 74th edition of Miss Universe, set to take place in Bangkok, Thailand, this November.
The MUO welcomed her participation, saying Ayoub reflects the resilience and determination of the Palestinian people. She will compete alongside contestants from more than 130 countries and territories.
In an interview with The National, Ayoub called the event a major responsibility. “here’s a big responsibility in speaking out about what’s happening in 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,” she said.
Ayoub, now 27, was crowned Miss Palestine in 2022. That same year, she became the first Palestinian to compete in Miss Earth, where she placed among the top five finalists. Her plans were delayed after October 7, but she is now using the global stage to raise her voice.
READ MORE: Rachel Gupta Stripped of Miss Grand International 2024 Title
On Instagram, Ayoub posted that she wants to highlight the resilience of her people. “We are more than our suffering. We are hope, strength, and the heartbeat of a homeland that lives through us,” she wrote.
Her entry comes at a time of growing international criticism of Israel’s war in Gaza. According to Palestinian health officials, more than 62,000 people have been killed since October 2023, the majority women and children.
