DUBAI: Nadeen Ayoub, who will represent Palestine at the Miss Universe competition on Nov. 21, has said she wants to “speak up about Palestine and to carry the voices of those that are unheard.”
Speaking on Sky News’ ”The World With Yalda Hakim,” the contestant said: “I don't want people to be thinking when they hear the word Palestine, to just be thinking of suffering and pain.
“So just like we hear the word 'Italy' and we think of beautiful things, like the Amalfi Coast and pizza and pasta.
“When we think of other nations, we think of their heritage and their culture and their identity, and we see them as human beings. I want the same thing for Palestine to show the world that we are human beings, and that is simply my message.”
Ayoub was raised in the US and Canada and now reportedly splits her time between Dubai, Ramallah, and Amman.
Ayoub will join competitors from more than 130 other countries and territories at the 74th Miss Universe final in Bangkok, Thailand.
The 27-year-old is the first woman to represent Palestine at the Miss Universe competition.
“The Miss Universe Organization proudly welcomes delegates from across the globe, celebrating diversity, cultural exchange, and the empowerment of women,” Miguel Ángel Martínez, MUO’s head of communications, told CNN when the announcement was made in August.
“Ms. Ayoub, an accomplished advocate and model from Palestine, embodies the resilience and determination that define our platform,” Martínez added.
