Former Miss Israel Melanie Shiraz is giving New York City first lady Rama Duwaji another chance to meet over coffee after their tense Brooklyn encounter went viral in May—and she’s offering to pick up the tab.
Shiraz publicly challenged Duwaji, the wife of Mayor Zohran Mamdani, to sit down again after the two unexpectedly crossed paths at a Brooklyn cafe.
This time, Shiraz said, she is prepared to address difficult subjects, including Duwaji’s outspoken pro-Palestinian views and criticism of Israel.
“Last time I was here, you guys might remember, so-called Mayor Mamdani’s wife wasn’t particularly interested in having a conversation with me,” Shiraz said in an Instagram video posted Tuesday. “Since I’m all about building bridges, I thought I’d extend a personal invitation—Rama, coffee is on me.”
“We can talk about Israel, the Middle East, whatever you’d like,” she continued while walking through New York City. “Actually, that invitation goes out to anyone who has a problem with me or what I stand for. I promise I don’t bite, but I may ask questions you might not like answering.”
Shiraz told The Post that she wanted to give Duwaji “another chance to do the right thing.”
“Apparently, talking about Israelis is much easier than listening to one,” she added.
The beauty queen said she would ask Duwaji to explain, in person, how she reconciles her public views and associations with accounts from people who survived Hamas’ atrocities.
Duwaji has faced scrutiny over what critics describe as anti-Israel sentiment. Controversy intensified after old social media posts resurfaced, including one in which she wrote that Tel Aviv “shouldn’t exist in the first place.”
Shiraz said she believes Duwaji and her husband “have made the city with the largest Jewish population outside Israel feel more antisemitic and dangerous for Jews.”
“So congratulations,” she added sarcastically. “Quite an achievement.”
Mamdani has described his wife as “a private person who has held no formal position on my campaign or in my City Hall.”
The Miss Israel organization cut ties with Shiraz, the 2025-2026 titleholder, this summer after she alleged that the pageant had been rigged. Shiraz studied at UC Berkeley and worked in Silicon Valley’s technology sector before moving back to Tel Aviv.
The 27-year-old previously told The Post in May that Duwaji “brushed me off” after learning she was Israeli. Shiraz said their brief interaction initially seemed friendly, as she began recording a selfie video with Duwaji.
Duwaji, who has also faced criticism over reports that she once liked posts celebrating the Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist massacre in Israel, initially smiled at the camera. She then appeared to move out of the frame while saying something to Shiraz.
Shiraz said Duwaji’s “tone changed” as soon as she identified herself and that Duwaji “couldn’t allow herself to engage with me.”
Earlier this year, Shiraz made headlines after confronting what she called “hateful” agitators at Stanford University, where a protester also grabbed one of her signs.
Shiraz said she has continued traveling across the United States since then.
A spokesperson for the mayor did not respond to a request for comment.