Miss Palestine to compete in Miss Universe pageant for the first time

(CNN, KYMA/KECY) - The "Miss Universe" competition will make history this year with a Palestinian contestant.

Nadeen Ayoub will be the first woman to represent Palestine in the legendary competition.

Ayoub was crowned Miss Palestine in 2022 and she'll be facing off against women from more than 130 other countries and territories.

In a social media post, the 27-year-old said she wants to be a voice for the Palestinian people.

"As Palestine endures heartbreak—especially in Gaza—I carry the voice of a people who refuse to be silenced. 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," she wrote in a post to Instagram.

The 2025 "Miss Universe" event will be held in Bangkok, Thailand on November 21.