Nadeen Ayoub Is the First Miss Palestine Join Miss Universe

In November, Nadeen Ayoub will step onto the Miss Universe stage in Thailand as the first person to represent Palestine in the pageant’s history. Crowned Miss Palestine in 2022, her international debut has been years in the making. The decision to delay was deliberate - timed to a moment when she felt her presence could carry weight beyond the crown.

Ayoub, who has watched events in her homeland unfold from abroad, says she wants her appearance to “humanise Palestinians and challenge global stereotypes.” She dedicates her participation to the people of Gaza and Palestine “who refuse to be silenced,” framing the competition not as an escape from reality but as an extension of it.

Living in Dubai, Ayoub’s life moves between the worlds of wellness, advocacy, and pageantry. A certified wellness and nutrition coach, she founded Olive Green Academy, an initiative aimed at promoting sustainability in everyday life. Her work often returns to a central question: how can visibility - whether in a classroom, on social media, or on an international stage - be used to shift perception?

Through the Miss Palestine Organisation, she channels that visibility into philanthropic work, focusing on women’s empowerment projects and community initiatives. The platform, she says, is as much about shaping conversations as it is about celebrating achievement.