For the first time in the Miss Universe pageant’s 74-year history, Palestine will be represented on the global stage — and its flag bearer is Dubai-based beauty queen Nadeen Ayoub.
Nadeen is set to compete at the 2025 Miss Universe in Thailand this November, marking a milestone for the Palestinian community worldwide. On Instagram, she introduced herself as Palestine’s delegate, emphasizing that her role goes beyond a crown and sash. “At a time when the world’s eyes are on our homeland, I carry this role with deep responsibility,” she said in a video message.
The 27-year-old candidate described her participation as a platform to advocate for Palestinians, particularly women and children. She also highlighted her initiative Sayidat Falesteen (Women of Palestine), which seeks to share untold stories from her community.
Dedicating her pageant journey to “every single girl who dares to dream beyond the headlines”, Nadeen stressed that Palestinians are “more than our suffering — we are resilience, hope, and the heartbeat of a homeland that lives on through us.”
Support for Nadeen has poured in from fellow beauty queens, including Miss Universe Philippines 2019 Gazini Ganados and Bahraini-Filipina model Shereen Ahmed.
This isn’t Nadeen’s first time on the international stage. She previously represented Palestine in Miss Earth 2022, where she earned the Miss Earth–Water title.
Palestine’s debut coincides with first-time entries from Saudi Arabia and the U.S. Latina community. Meanwhile, the Philippines will be represented by Ahtisa Manalo, who will be vying for the country’s fifth Miss Universe crown. The last Philippine win was in 2018, also in Thailand, through Catriona Gray — a batchmate of Ahtisa in Binibining Pilipinas.
