Herstory is about to unfold at the Miss Universe 2025 stage. For the first time ever, a representative from Palestine will grace the most prestigious beauty pageant in the globe.
That honor goes to the multi-achiever Nadeen Ayoub, who is an educator, humanitarian, mental-health advocate, and a certified wellness and nutrition coach. She was Miss Earth Water 2022, the first placement for her state in any international beauty tilt.
Appointed by the Miss Palestine organization, ‘where Palestinian women rise through purpose, pride and power,’ Nadeen will compete on November 21 in Thailand, alongside Miss Universe Philippines 2025 Maria Ahtisa Manalo.
Nadeen, 27, is the founder of the world’s first sustainability and AI institution, the Olive Green Academy; holds a BA in Psychology and Literature from the University of Western Ontario, Canada; and a Palestine Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF) ambassador.
She is currently in Manila as she prepares for her Miss Universe journey. She is training under Rodgil Flores of the Kagandahang Flores beauty camp, who also trained Miss Universe Philippines 2019 Gazini Ganados, who is half-Palestinian.
‘I’m feeling so excited. I’m happy. Thank you for coming. I love the Philippines. I love Manila. And the people here are fantastic, amazing vibes, beautiful energy. I’m just so excited to be here,’ she gushed at her meet and greet with the press, hosted by her Q and A mentor JV Canta, at Luxent Hotel on October 12.
Nadeen wore a beautiful outfit designed by Victor Baguilat Jr., featuring the colors of the Palestinian flag and roses symbolizing a woman in bloom. Pretty and articulate, she gave powerful replies to the questions thrown her way.
On why she should be the next Miss Universe:
‘I should be the next Miss Universe because there are so many changes that I can make beyond just beauty and looks. I can make a change in people’s hearts, in people’s minds, and I can really show the world that it’s so important that every single child can dream and that they have aspirations. And I really think that I could make a huge impact not only in my country but the whole entire universe.’
Importance of joining a pageant:
‘I think it’s so important that right now, it’s a time for a Palestinian to join Miss Universe, because it’s a platform where we can share our stories with the world beyond the headlines that we see today, beyond the suffering, beyond what we’re used to seeing on the news, and to show the world that Palestinians, especially our women and children, we have dreams and aspirations. And we give so much to our communities. And we can also give so much to the world, or might I say, the universe.’
Beauty as a soft power:
‘I would say there are so many characteristics that I can share. But I think the compassion that I have and the strength to keep going, despite the obstacles, despite the challenges that I may face, I continue to keep going. And I would like to consider this as a type of soft power, you know?
‘And beauty is a soft power, to be able to share with the world my story, to share with the universe the stories of children and women in Palestine. That is a truly powerful thing. And it’s through beauty, it’s through relating with others, through touching people’s hearts. And I think that is a characteristic that I truly admire about myself and want to share with everyone.’
On leadership:
‘I think leadership is the ability to act with the mind and heart, both together, to be able to inspire others through your words, your energy, and through kindness. And to be able to be a role model for young girls everywhere. And not just young girls, but everyone in the world. And I think that is the most beautiful leadership, to inspire through the mind and the heart, connected as one.’
On her education advocacy:
‘The Olive Green Academy is an academy [based in Dubai] where we teach sustainability and technology. We teach technology and AI, but as tools for good. So, it’s how to incorporate the tools of content creation and showing the world what is sustainability and how we can protect our planet more and how we can uplift communities.’
Breaking stereotypes:
‘[As a Palestinian and as a Muslim woman, there’s nothing that’s currently holding me back.] Actually, it’s empowering me even more to be an Arab and Muslim woman in this competition. It’s giving me a new layer of a voice. And it gives me such motivation to show the world that Muslim women are just as powerful and just as independent.
‘And we have so much to say to the world. And it’s also a chance to break those stereotypes. I love the challenge. And I love to break stereotypes. ‘
Message to the United Nations:
‘I would say to the United Nations that I want every single child and woman in Palestine to be able to live their lives just like any democratic nation that has justice. And that without a world where every single child can have equal rights and go to school and where women can live their lives freely, they cannot truly have a justice world, a world with justice.
‘And so. my message would be that, Look at me, I’m a woman and I have dreams and aspirations and I want to reach them. And I don’t want any obstacles to stop me because there’s so much that I can say and I have a strong voice. So imagine the other women that can’t do that, what they have to say.
‘Imagine what they can do, what they can accomplish. I’m not the only one that can accomplish things and can get to where I am today. There’s many. I’m just lucky. I’m lucky and I work hard, of course, but I do have privileges.
‘But think of the others, think of the children and the women that don’t have those opportunities. Let’s give them a chance.’
Prayer for Palestine:
‘I have a lot of relatives in Palestine. And I also go there a lot. I was there probably a few weeks ago for my humanitarian foundation, but I was in the West Bank. And I have uncles there, cousins, close family members. My mom was also there when I was there. So, we are always going there back and forth. And I have relatives there, not in Gaza, but in the West Bank.
‘Thankfully, a ceasefire did happen. And I am so thankful that children can now be safe.
‘My prayer is for us to have equal rights, just like every other human being that has equal rights in the world, for our children to be able to go to school, for our children to be able to dream, aspire and reach their goals in life.’
Being Palestinian is being a humanitarian:
‘Beauty is not just our physical appearance. Beauty is in the culture. It’s in how we relate to the world and how the world relates to us.
‘But it expanded my heart even more when I was able to see all these children and women. And I think that the heart grows just like the universe. It’s forever expanding and there’s always room to give my heart to everyone in the universe that needs it and those that are in need.
‘And so being Palestinian is being someone that is a humanitarian. And there is a quote that says that Palestinians, we teach life, which means that if given a chance, we can show the world how we love to live and how we love to help others as well. And so, me being a Miss Universe and winning that title will just give me that opportunity to show the world how much room we have in our hearts.’