Miss 'Israel' claims she did not glare at Miss Palestine amid backlash
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Miss 'Israel', Melanie Shiraz, has publicly responded to a wave of online criticism after videos and images from the Miss Universe 2025 “Universe Ceremony” appeared to show her directing a hostile stare at Miss Palestine, Nadeen Ayoub.
The controversy ignited on social media after users circulated clips of the interaction, describing Shiraz's glance as an act of hostility, which quickly went viral amidst the high-profile nature of the event.
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In a comment posted from her official account, Shiraz addressed the accusations directly, dismissing them as a misinterpretation of an ordinary moment.
"It's very clear that I was simply looking toward the other contestants as they came on stage," Shiraz wrote. "Adding dramatic language to ordinary moments—especially when it misrepresents people—doesn't promote kindness or fairness. I hope you'll reconsider in the future before choosing virality at the expense of others."
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The controversy ignited on social media, with commenters accusing Miss 'Israel' of looking "jealous" and "pissed" that she was standing behind Miss Palestine. Other users sarcastically remarked that she was "acting like this is war" and as if the pageant "was promised to her 3,000 years ago."
Read more: Miss Palestine Nadeen Ayoub makes first official appearance at Miss Universe
The intense scrutiny of the moment is heightened by the historic context of this year's pageant. Nadeen Ayoub, 27, is the first-ever representative from Palestine to compete in the global Miss Universe pageant.
Ayoub, who was crowned Miss Palestine in 2022, has been vocal about the significance of her participation, especially given the ongoing aggression in Gaza. Based between Dubai and Ramallah, she stated that she carries “the voice of a people who refuse to be silenced” and aims to represent the resilience of Palestinian women and children on the global stage.
The online debate highlights the sensitive political backdrop against which the pageant is taking place, where interactions between contestants are closely analyzed by a global audience.
