For the first time, Palestine will have a representative at the Miss Universe pageant. Palestinian-Emirati beauty queen Nadeen Ayoub will compete in the global event this November.

Nadeem Ayoub confirmed her participation through a video and post on Instagram. She said she will use the international stage to draw attention to the struggles of her homeland.

The 73rd Miss Universe pageant will take place in November in Pak Kret, Thailand.

In her announcement video, the 27-year-old wore a traditional dress by Palestinian designer Hiba Abdul Karim. The dress featured national colours and detailed embroidery.Nadeen Ayoub expressed pride in being the first Palestinian to step onto the Miss Universe stage.

She said that while her homeland — especially Gaza — is suffering, she will be the voice of a people who refuse to be silenced. She added that she represents every Palestinian woman and child whose strength the world needs to see.

“We inherit not only pain,” Nadeen Ayoub said, “but also courage, hope, and the beating heart that keeps our homeland alive.”

Her participation comes at a time when Gaza is facing a deep humanitarian crisis. The war, now in its 22nd month, has created dire living conditions.

The UN World Food Programme has warned that hunger and malnutrition levels are at their highest since the conflict began. It has called for at least 100 trucks of food to enter Gaza each day. Gaza’s Health Ministry says 239 people — including 106 children — have died from malnutrition since the war began.

Who is Nadeen Ayoub?

Nadeen Ayoub is originally from the Palestinian city of Jaffa. She spent her childhood in the West Bank, Canada, and the United States. She holds a BA in literature and psychology from Western University in Canada. She now works as a fitness coach and nutritionist.

In 2022, Nadeen Ayoub won the Miss Palestine crown. That same year, she represented Palestine at the Miss Earth pageant in the Philippines. It was Palestine’s first participation in Miss Earth since 2016. She reached the top five and earned the title of “Miss Water 2022.”

Ayoub is also active in human rights and environmental causes. She founded the Olive Green Academy in Dubai — the UAE’s first academy to train women in sustainability and artificial intelligence. She also works with the “Women of Palestine” platform, which runs education and empowerment programmes for women.

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