Miss Palestine Nadeen Ayoub makes first official appearance at Miss Universe

For the first time in history, Palestine will have a representative at the Miss Universe 2025 contest, and that spot goes to Nadeen Ayoub.

The 27‑year‑old beauty queen, crowned “Miss Palestine” in 2022, made her first official appearance this week during the contest’s “Universe Ceremony,” signaling her entry into November’s global competition. 

Based between Dubai and Ramallah, Ayoub says her participation is deeply meaningful against the backdrop of the war in Gaza. “As Palestine endures heartbreak, especially in Gaza, I carry the voice of a people who refuse to be silenced,” she declared on social media. “I represent every Palestinian woman and child whose strength the world needs to see.” 

The Miss Universe contest is scheduled for 21 November 2025 in Pak Kret, Thailand. This marks the 74th edition of the pageant, which will feature participants from more than 130 countries. 

Ayoub’s story brings multiple firsts and bold ambition. In 2022, she became the first Palestinian woman to compete in the Miss Earth 2022 pageant, where she placed among the top five. Her current advocacy includes women’s empowerment and sustainability, visible in her Dubai‑based initiative, the Olive Green Academy, which trains women in environmental advocacy and digital media.

She says she sees the platform not just as a competition of beauty but as a stage for truth and representation: “Wearing this sash is an honour, and a responsibility. It carries the weight of generations, the dreams of our daughters, and the strength of a homeland still standing with grace,” Ayoub posted.

As the competition nears, Ayoub’s role carries deeper resonance: her presence on this global stage comes amid one of the most challenging eras for her homeland. For many Palestinians, her representation carries symbolism far beyond the traditional pageant runway.