Canadian woman names herself 'Miss Palestine' to compete in Miss Universe pageant

A Canadian-raised model is set to represent participate in the Miss Universe pageant in Thailand this November as Miss Palestine. This comes even as questions are raised over whether or not a Miss Palestine competition ever took place to gain her that title.

Nadeen Ayoub, 27, who was reportedly born in the United States and raised in Canada before moving to Dubai, announced on social media that she will serve as Miss Palestine at the global contest on November 21. She is also listed as the founder and manager of the Miss Palestine Organization, which only registered its website earlier this year.

“I am proud to walk this path, not just as Miss Palestine but as a voice for those who deserve to be seen and heard,” Ayoub wrote on Instagram, where she posed with a sash reading “Miss Universe Palestine.”

There is little evidence of any Miss Palestine competition having been held or other contestants participating. Ayoub previously told The National newspaper in 2022 that she won the title in a pageant but postponed competing in Miss Universe after the October 7 Hamas terror attack, saying she wanted attention focused on Palestinians in Gaza.

Her comments on “genocide” drew the expected criticism from pro-Israel groups. “What’s strange is that Miss Universe made the decision to include her,” said Adela Cojab, a Jewish activist and runner-up in this year’s Miss Israel pageant. “Miss Universe stands for unity, peace and co-existence—and if she stands for all of those things then let’s have it.”

The Miss Universe Organization declined to detail how Ayoub was selected, with vice president of international relations Mario Bucaro saying only that “all applications are carefully reviewed.” The New York Post reports that he said the pageant is “an apolitical, inclusive organization.”

France and Canada are among several countries preparing to recognize Palestinian statehood at the United Nations General Assembly next month. The United States and Israel continue to reject the notion that Palestine is a nation separate from Israel.

Ayoub, who studied at the University of Western Ontario in Canada, has also taught in Ramallah and founded a Dubai-based academy offering influencer training. The Miss Palestine Organization announced plans for a 2026 competition, though the last known attempt to host one in Ramallah in 2009 was canceled after Hamas officials denounced it as “spreading moral corruption.”