Miss Palestine to compete in Miss Universe for the first time

Nadine Ayoub will be the first woman to represent Palestine in the Miss Universe 2025 competition, which will be held in Bangkok in November.

The 27-year-old, who was crowned Miss Palestine in 2022, said she wants to convey the voice of the Palestinian people. "I represent every Palestinian, woman and child, whose strength the world must see," she said in an Instagram post.

Ayoub's participation comes amid growing international criticism of the war in Gaza. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, at least 62,004 people have been killed in the Gaza Strip since October 2023.

The Miss Universe Organization (MUO) issued a statement welcoming Ayoub's participation, stressing that she "embodies the resilience and determination."

More than 130 countries and territories will participate in the 74th final of the competition, on November 21.