Miss Israel, Melanie Shiraz, has spoken out after a viral video appeared to show her giving Miss Palestine, Nadeen Ayoub, a hostile glance during the Miss Universe pageant held in Thailand last week. The brief clip, which spread rapidly across social media, sparked widespread criticism and debate online.
In the footage, Melanie is seen turning her head toward Nadeen during the event — a moment some viewers interpreted as a “dirty look.” Many accused her of jealousy, while others began comparing the two contestants. Facing intense online backlash, Melanie issued a firm denial, saying her action had been misunderstood.
“It’s very clear that I was simply looking toward other contestants as they came on stage,” she wrote on Instagram. “Adding dramatic language to ordinary moments – especially when it misrepresents people – doesn’t promote kindness or fairness.”
Before entering Miss Universe, Melanie was an entrepreneur and content creator. She was crowned Miss Israel in Miami in July, saying her goal was to use her title to promote “connection, understanding, and positive change.”
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