Miss Israel has refuted claims of giving Miss Palestine unfriendly looks after a video showing them together at a Miss Universe gathering gained widespread attention online.

On Sunday evening, Melanie Shiraz, Israel’s representative, ignited backlash after she was seen momentarily glancing in the direction of Palestinian contender Nadeen Ayoub during a pageant event in Thailand.

Social media users swiftly criticized Ms. Shiraz, accusing her of casting a disparaging glance at her fellow contestant, leading to an influx of harsh comments on her profiles.

Some individuals suggested she was envious of Miss Ayoub, sparking a debate about which contestant was deemed more attractive.

In response to the criticism, the Israeli beauty queen promptly dismissed the allegations. As reported by the Times of Israel, she clarified in an Instagram comment screenshot that she was merely observing other contestants as they appeared on stage.

‘Adding dramatic language to ordinary moments – especially when it misrepresents people – doesn’t promote kindness or fairness.

‘I hope you’ll reconsider in the future before choosing virality at the expense of others.’

Social media reactions to Ms Shiraz come as Israel faces intense international criticism for its actions in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. 

Miss Israel has denied giving Miss Palestine hostile looks at a Miss Universe event in Thailand. Pictured: Miss Israel Melanie Shiraz on stage during the official Miss Universe 2025 welcome event in Bangkok, Thailand 

Ms Shiraz appeared to turn her head towards Miss Palestine, Nadeen Ayoub, pictured left

It launched its military offensive on Gaza in retaliation to the October 7, 2023, attack in Israel by Palestinian group Hamas that resulted in the deaths of 1,221 Israelis and 240 taken hostage. 

Israel’s subsequent assault on Gaza has killed more than 68,500 Palestinians, according to figures from the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry.

The country and group agreed to a ceasefire last month under a peace deal brokered by US President Donald Trump, which saw Palestinian militants return all living hostages.

Ms Shiraz, who is set to compete in the Miss Universe pageant contest on November 21, has received a flurry of criticism and abuse on social media as a result Israel’s participation in the beauty competition.

Her Instagram posts are often bombarded with comments calling her ‘Miss Genocide’ or the slogan ‘Free Palestine’.

It is also the first time a Palestinian representative competes in the beauty pageant. 

After her participation in the competition was announced earlier this year, Ms Ayoub said in an Instagram post: ‘Today, I step onto the Miss Universe stage not just with a title but with a truth… 

‘I represent every Palestinian woman and child whose strength the world needs to see. We are more than our suffering – we are resilience, hope and the heartbeat of a homeland that lives on through us.’

But some social media users have accused Ms Shiraz of giving a ‘dirty look’

Miss Ayoub is the first-ever Miss Palestine to participate in the 2025 Miss Universe contest. She is pictured here presenting onstage during the Miss Universe 2025 welcome event in Bangkok on November 5

She previously represented Palestine in the 2022 Miss Earth beauty pageant in the Philippines, where she came third.

The beauty queen who lives between Dubai and Ramallah in the West Bank told The National newspaper in the United Arab Emirates: ‘There hasn’t been another Miss Palestine since 2022, due to the genocide.’

In July, Ms Shiraz was crowned Miss Israel at a competition in Miami, Florida. 

The entrepreneur told the Jerusalem Post: ‘I want to show people, both in and outside of Israel, that this title can be a force for connection, for understanding and for positive change.

‘It’s about far more than beauty – it’s about making our people proud by standing for something that matters.’

Footage of Ms Shiraz looking at Miss Palestine is the latest controversy to hit the Miss Universe contest this year after last year’s winner staged a mass walkout from an event last week after a contestant was publicly reprimanded. 

Victoria Theilvig, the first Dane to win the top title last year, stormed out of the sashing ceremony at the Miss Universe delegates’ hotel in Bangkok, after the boss berated Fátima Bosch in front of dozens of other beauty queens.

Justifying her protest against pageant authority, 21-year-old Theilvig said: ‘This is about women’s rights.’

‘To trash another girl – it’s beyond disrespectful and it’s nothing I’ve ever done. That’s why I’m taking my coat and I’m going.’

The unprecedented incident took place during a live-streamed ceremony of the event, where Nawat Itsaragrisil, Vice President for Asia and Oceania within the Miss Universe Organisation, confronted 25-year-old Bosch about her absence from a sponsor shoot earlier that day.

In footage broadcast on the official Miss Universe Thailand Facebook page, Nawat asked Bosch to stand and ‘explain herself’ in front of the rolling cameras, before instructing security personnel to escort her out of the hotel after she insisted on ‘using my voice’.

In a mass revolt in support of the beauty queen, several of her fellow contestants proceeded to stand up from their seats ready to storm out of the room.

A distressed Nawat could be heard shouting ‘Stop, stop!’ as the models began making their way out of the ceremony, demanding that they ‘Sit down’.