Hostages Featured in Miss Israel’s National Costume Presentation

At this year’s international beauty pageant, Israel’s entrant made a powerful visual statement. Twenty‑six‑year‑old Melanie Shiraz took to the stage representing her country with purpose and pride.

For the national‑costume segment of Miss Universe, Shiraz unveiled a gown of her own design. The dress was bright yellow a hue now associated in Israel with the campaign for the return of hostages. She embroidered the gown with a large Star of David and accented it with dozens of red anemones, Israel’s national flower. The symbolism was intentional: each flower a tribute to a life lost in the Gaza war.

Shiraz explained on her social‑media: “My national costume … carries symbols that speak to the heart of the Israeli story. These flowers represent the lives lost since the war began, a collective tribute to families, friends and communities forever changed.”

Despite the strong message and the meaningful design, Shiraz did not advance to the Top 30 of the competition. Meanwhile, the contestant representing Palestine, Nadeen Ayoub, did make it that far.

In the build‑up to the pageant, a short video of the contestants lining up for a photo went viral. Some social‑media users claimed Shiraz appeared to glare at Ayoub. The clip drew a wave of online harassment including graphic threats directed at Shiraz. She responded by posting additional footage that showed she was standing behind Ayoub, not looking directly at her. “Sensationalising … edited or incomplete content at the expense of another woman is disappointing,” she wrote.

In taking this platform, Shiraz chose to do more than showcase beauty. She embraced representation of her country, of its story, of grief and hope. Her national‑costume design reminded global audiences of the human cost of war, while reaffirming Israel’s identity and the enduring values of its people.

In a world often focused only on headlines, this moment stands as a reminder: individual voices and symbolic acts matter. Israel’s story continues through its people creative, determined and unafraid to speak.

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