Despite the war and destruction, Palestinians have not lost hope and the pursuit of their dreams, especially those living outside the Gaza Strip.
Nadine Ayoub, the first Palestinian to compete in the Miss Universe pageant, emphasized that she wanted to convey the message to the world that Palestinians are not just a suffering people, but have dreams, aspirations, and an identity to which they cling
We want life
Amid the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip for more than 23 months, the 27-year-old is preparing to wear the Miss Palestine sash for the first time in the history of the competition, scheduled for this year’s November in Thailand.
In this context, Ayoub explained, saying, “We are not just our struggles and suffering,” adding, “Palestinians are also children who want to live, and women with dreams and ambitions,” according to what was reported by Agence France-Presse.
She also noted that through her participation, she wanted to highlight the beauty of her land, the richness of her heritage, and, above all, the human image of her people
The young woman, who grew up between the occupied West Bank, the United States, and Canada, and now lives between Ramallah, Amman, and Dubai, explained that her parents “were academics, so they pushed her to focus on her studies.” She earned a degree in English literature and psychology. She taught in the Palestinian territories and worked with humanitarian organizations before being offered a role in a fashion show in Italy, which drew attention to her.
Professionals later encouraged her to enter international competitions, starting with the development of a national branch of the beauty pageant called “Mrs. Palestine.” He noted that the Miss Palestine pageant was held online in 2022 to ensure broad representation, given that half of Palestinians are spread across several countries around the world, while the other half live in Gaza, the occupied West Bank, and Israel
“Need a voice”
She also noted that after winning her first title, she participated in charitable activities and competed in the Miss Earth competition in 2022, but she withdrew from participating in Miss Universe the following year due to the war in Gaza that broke out on October 7, 2023.
But with the devastating war still raging, Miss Palestine felt she had to seize the opportunity to participate in this year’s competition “to talk about Palestine and showcase it on the international stage
“Our people need a voice. We don’t want our identity to be erased,” she said.
It also affirmed that it “represents a country in its own right,” recognized by approximately 145 of the 193 member states of the United Nations.
The United Nations General Assembly adopted the “New York Declaration” on Friday, which aims to give renewed impetus to the two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and seeks to establish a “sovereign and independent State of Palestine.” A total of 142 countries voted in favor of the resolution, while 10 voted against
