It’s official: Palestine will see itself represented at Miss Universe for the first time ever in its history. The 74th edition of the global beauty pageant — scheduled to take place on Nov. 21 in Pak Kret, Thailand — will see Nadeen Ayoub carry the colors of her homeland on one of the world’s most watched stages, in a debut many will be celebrating as a milestone in representation.
The piece of news — which was revealed by Ayoub herself and shared to her 1.1M followers on Instagram — instantly drew waves of congratulatory messages, expressions of pride, and excitement from Palestine, its diaspora and beyond. Describing her participation as a moment she wishes to use to highlight the heritage of her people, the young model framed her upcoming appearance as moment she looks forward to embracing to paint a different picture to the one usually associated with those indigenous to the Holy Land.
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“Today, I step onto the Miss Universe stage not just with a title — but with a truth,” she wrote in caption of her most recent Instagram post. “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 added.
Ahead of her much-awaited debut, below, we gathered five must-know facts about Nadeen Ayoub, Palestine’s first-ever Miss Universe contestant.
She studied in Canada
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Ayoub holds a BA in Psychology and Literature from the University of Western Ontario, Canada. Although she does not work in the fields she studied per se, she can often be seen raising awareness about mental health issues and making knowledge on the matter more accessible to all. She’s also a certified wellness and nutrition coach.
She lives in Dubai
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Ayoub has been based in Dubai for the past few years. When she’s not modeling, she devotes her time to other ventures, including work as a coach and nutritionist, helping clients achieve healthier lifestyles and a balanced sense of well-being.
She’s a seasoned competitor
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Ayoub’s participation in the 74th edition of Miss Universe won’t be her first time competing in a beauty pageant. Her most notable appearance to date came in 2022, when she was crowned Miss Palestine and went on to compete in Miss Earth, becoming the second contender to ever represent Palestine and the first to return with a crown from there. There, she earned herself the title of Miss Earth Water, one of the competition’s highest honors. With this achievement, she became the first Palestinian to ever clinch a win at a major international beauty pageant.
She’s also an entrepreneur
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Using her time away from runways to drive positive change, Ayoub founded the world’s first sustainability and AI institution, the Olive Green Academy, where she tries to empower Palestinian women through education and digital media.
She’s a proud activist
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Ayoub uses her social platforms to champion causes close to her heart. A Palestine Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF) ambassador, she can repeatedly be seen speaking about the plight of Palestinians and advocates for autism awareness, climate action, sustainability, amongst many other humanitarian initiatives.
