The 2025 Miss Universe pageant has been rocked by controversy after a viral clip allegedly showed Miss Israel, Melanie Shiraz, glaring at Miss Palestine, Nadeen Ayoub, sparking intense online accusations and prompting an emotional denial from the Israeli contestant.
November 14, 2025: The stage of the Miss Universe 2025 pageant in Thailand has become the latest arena for regional tension, following a brief interaction between Miss Israel, Melanie Shiraz, and Nadeen Ayoub, the first-ever contestant representing Palestine.
A video clip, filmed during a pre-pageant event last week, went viral on social media, igniting a firestorm of controversy. The clip shows Miss Israel briefly glancing in Miss Palestine’s direction as the contestants stood on stage. This fleeting moment was seized upon by viewers who claimed the look was one of “dislike or jealousy,” fueling accusations tied directly to the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict.
Online Backlash and ‘Miss Genocide’ Slurs
The backlash was immediate and severe. Commenters flooded Melanie Shiraz’s social media with political statements, including “Free Palestine” messages and harsh personal attacks, with some calling her “Miss Genocide.” The incident underscored the volatile intersection of global politics and international pageantry, especially given Ayoub’s historic debut as Miss Palestine.
Miss Israel Responds with Official Footage
Melanie Shiraz did not remain silent, issuing a strong denial that the moment was anything other than a normal look at contestants moving onto the stage.
Melanie Shiraz: “It’s very clear that I was simply looking toward other contestants as they came on stage. Adding dramatic language to ordinary moments—especially when it misrepresents people—doesn’t promote kindness or fairness.”
On Thursday, Shiraz escalated her defense by posting an official side-by-side video of the moment on her Instagram account. The new footage allegedly showed a different perspective, demonstrating that she was standing behind Ayoub, not directly beside her, and was turning her head generally toward the other contestants.
Shiraz further stated: “The truth always speaks for itself. It shows how easily perspective can distort a simple expression when only one angle is circulated. Sensationalising intentionally misleading, edited, or incomplete content at the expense of another woman is disappointing.”
She revealed the incident resulted in “hatred and dehumanisation—including Hitler-related comments and a heightened security situation,” but maintained that the backlash only reinforces her resolve to participate: “to stand proudly as a Jewish Israeli woman, and to advocate for truth, peace, and unity.”
The Miss Universe 2025 final will take place on November 21, and the organization now faces the complex challenge of managing the fallout from a controversy that has turned a fleeting glance into a global political debate.