Nadeen Ayoub
Nadeen Ayoub | |
|---|---|
نادين أيوب | |
Ayoub in 2025 | |
| Born | August 23, 1998 Michigan, U.S. |
| Alma mater | University of Western Ontario (BA; BS) |
| Occupations |
|
| Beauty pageant titleholder | |
| Title |
|
| Major competitions |
|
Nadeen Ayoub (Arabic: نادين أيوب, romanized: Nādīn Ayyūb; born August 23, 1998)[1] is a Palestinian model, businesswoman and beauty pageant titleholder. As Miss Universe Palestine 2025, she was the first representative of Palestine at Miss Universe 2025, where she reached the top 30. She was previously crowned Miss Earth – Water in Miss Earth 2022, becoming the first Palestinian to win the title.
Early life and education
Ayoub was born in Michigan to Palestinian parents who had moved there to treat her epileptic brother.[2] Her mother was born in Hebron, while her father was born in Nablus to parents who were forced to flee from Jaffa and Ramle in 1948;[3][4] they met during their studies at An-Najah University and later settled in Ramallah.[4] Shortly after Ayoub's birth, the family moved back to Ramallah, where she was raised until the age of six,[2][4] and then returned to the US, living between Michigan, Illinois and Minnesota[2] for three years.[4] During her teenage years, her family moved to Canada, where she completed her secondary education.[2][3][4] Media outlets have stated that, throughout her childhood, she lived in Detroit, Michigan; Illinois; Minnesota; Ontario, Canada; Dubai, United Arab Emirates; and Ramallah, Palestine.[2][3][5]
Ayoub studied English literature and psychology at the University of Western Ontario,[2][5] during which years she was also part of an exchange program with Birzeit University in Palestine.[2] After graduating, she moved back to Ramallah,[4] teaching at the local Friends School[5] as well as volunteering with United for Humanity and the Palestine Children's Relief Fund.[2]
Pageantry
Miss Earth 2022
Ayoub competed at Miss Earth 2022, representing Palestine.[1][2] At the contest, she became a finalist, progressing to the top four question-and-answer round where she was asked about a particular issue she sought to correct and its corresponding solution.[2][6] In her answer, she highlighted the "ignorance and selfishness of people", which she cited as the cause of environmental catastrophes and sought to correct through an "educational campaign with governmental and non-governmental organizations in Palestine".[6] At the end of the competition, she was named Miss Earth – Water in top five, becoming the first Palestinian to obtain the title.[3][7]
Miss Universe 2025
Following Miss Earth, Ayoub was called for a modeling session at a fashion show in Italy; there, representatives from the Miss Sweden organization noticed her and helped her establish the Miss Universe Palestine organization.[2] In August 2025, the newly formed organization announced her as its entrant to Miss Universe 2025, marking Palestine's debut in the annual contest.[8][9] With the announcement, Ayoub stated that she was to compete in Miss Universe after Miss Earth, having won in 2022, but her participation was delayed after the outbreak of the Gaza war.[2][10] The Miss Universe Organization welcomed her participation as part of its efforts in "celebrating diversity, cultural exchange, and the empowerment of women".[7][11]
The announcement received significant international attention in the press due to its timing amid the Gaza war.[10][12] Marni Rose McFall of Newsweek deemed her participation significant because of her stated mission to "challenge perceptions of Palestinians and empower women and children" amid heavy casualties in the Israeli bombing and invasion of the Gaza Strip.[13] Meanwhile, Ritu Singh of NDTV questioned Ayoub's appointment and expressed skepticism over the dearth of biographical information about her online.[5]
Ayoub competed in the contest with a team based in Palestine and the Philippines,[14] training with the Kagandahang Flores pageant camp.[14] For the contest, Ayoub planned to wear designs from Palestinian and International designers to express her Palestinian identity.[11] Her participation was supported by American makeup artist Huda Kattan, whose cosmetic brand Huda Beauty sponsored her at the competition.[15]
During the opening ceremony, media outlets noted the perceived animosity of Melanie Shiraz of Israel toward Ayoub, an observation Shiraz denied but was criticized for online.[2][16] Both contestants claimed to have received death threats – Shiraz following the ceremony, and Ayoub after Shiraz posted a video critical of her participation.[2]
Other ventures
In 2024, Ayoub was offered a position at the SEE Institute in Dubai, an educational institution dealing with sustainability; as of November 2025, she trains content creators with an interest in the topic.[2] In Dubai, Ayoub founded the Olive Green Academy, which administers courses related to artificial intelligence and sustainability to women.[17]
Personal life
Ayoub describes herself as a "Palestinian international citizen", splitting her time between Ramallah, Amman, and Dubai.[2][11] Her parents live in Canada and she has family across the West Bank and Jordan.[2]
References
- ^ a b "Miss Palestine takes crown in Miss Earth 2022 contest". Roya News. November 29, 2022. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Singh-Kurtz, Sangeeta (November 26, 2025). "The First Miss Palestine Has Seen Some Things". The Cut. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
- ^ a b c d Farmilo, Kathleen (November 9, 2025). "The first Miss Palestine hopes to make history in the 'Olympics of women's beauty'". SBS News. Retrieved November 12, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f Ayoub, Nadeen [@nadeen.m.ayoub]; (September 10, 2025). "The universe shaped me, but Palestine raised me. Here is my journey, my roots, my home". Retrieved December 20, 2025 – via Instagram.
- ^ a b c d Singh, Ritu (August 26, 2025). "The Mysterious Case Of Nadeen Ayoub: From Canadian Roots To Miss Palestine On The Miss Universe Stage". NDTV.
- ^ a b "TRANSCRIPT: How Miss Earth 2022 Final 4 fared in Q&A portion". ABS-CBN News. November 29, 2025. Retrieved November 12, 2025.
- ^ a b Arnaldo, Steph (August 19, 2025). "Nadeen Ayoub to make history as first Miss Universe Palestine". Rappler. Retrieved November 11, 2025.
- ^ "'Miss Palestine' to debut at Miss Universe 2025 beauty contest". The New Arab. August 14, 2025.
- ^ Chiat, Inbal (August 14, 2025). "Historic first: Miss Palestine to compete in Miss Universe 2025". Israel Hayom.
- ^ a b Guy, Jack (August 18, 2025). "Miss Palestine to compete in Miss Universe pageant for first time". CNN. Retrieved November 11, 2025.
- ^ a b c Tusing, David (August 18, 2025). "Nadeen Ayoub on representing Palestine at Miss Universe: 'We should never be silenced'". The National.
- ^ Burke, Minyvonne (August 19, 2025). "Nadeen Ayoub will be first model to represent Palestine at Miss Universe pageant". NBC News. Retrieved August 23, 2025.
- ^ McFall, Marni Rose (August 21, 2025). "Who is Nadeen Ayoub? Miss Palestine to compete Miss Universe". Newsweek. Retrieved November 11, 2025.
- ^ a b Manipon, Roel Hoang (October 20, 2025). "First Miss Universe Palestine answers pageant questions". The Daily Tribune. Retrieved November 12, 2025.
- ^ "Huda Kattan shows support for Miss Palestine Nadeen Ayoub before Miss Universe pageant". Arab News. October 22, 2025. Retrieved November 12, 2025.
- ^ "Miss Universe: Miss Israel's glare at Miss Palestine says it all". The Canary. November 8, 2025.
- ^ Farhat, Beatrice. "Meet Nadeen Ayoub, first Palestinian woman to compete for Miss Universe - AL-Monitor: The Middle Eastʼs leading independent news source since 2012". Al-Monitor. Retrieved August 19, 2025.