PALESTINE will be joining the Miss Universe pageant for the first time in 74 years, with Dubai-based Palestinian model Nadeen Ayoub seeking her war-torn state’s first crown as its representative.
Ayoub’s representation to the global tilt was announced on her Instagram page on August 14, with the model saying it is a role she accepted with “deep responsibility.” Palestine is yet to be recognized as a sovereign country by the United Nations, though it has been a non-member observer state of the UN General Assembly since November 2012.
“Today, I am honored to share that I’ll be representing Palestine at Miss Universe 2025. At a time when the world’s eyes are on our homeland, I carry this role with deep responsibility. It’s more than a title; it’s a platform to speak up for the people of Palestine, especially our women and children,” she said.
Ayoub also announced the launch of her initiative Sayidat Falasteen, which aims to tell stories that “rarely make the headlines,” reiterating that women have “dreams, talents, and a powerful voice” to offer.
“We are more than our struggle. We are women with dreams, talents, and a powerful voice to offer the world. This journey is for every single girl who dares to dream beyond the headlines and for every woman shaping a better future despite the odds,” she said.
In her caption, Ayoub added that her Miss Universe journey will carry the voices of fellow Palestinians who “refuse to be silenced.”
“As Palestine endures heartbreak — especially in Gaza — I carry the voice of a people who refuse to be silenced. I represent every Palestinian woman and child whose strength the world needs to see. We are more than our suffering — we are resilience, hope, and the heartbeat of a homeland that lives on through us,” she said.
According to Arab News, Ayoub also represented Palestine at the Miss Earth 2022 tilt, where she was crowned as Miss Earth – Water. (Hannah Mallorca © Philippine Daily Inquirer)
