Miss Palestine’s connection to convicted terrorist leader revealed ahead of Miss Universe pageant

Nadeen Ayoub, the first woman to take the title “Miss Palestine,” is fighting a backdrop of controversy while she prepares to compete in the 2025 Miss Universe pageant in Bangkok. Apart from her beauty‑contest hopes, the former fitness instructor has tied her life to a high‑profile Palestinian family, stirring debate in both the page‑antique and Middle‑East communities.

Ayoub, who says she is 27‑year‑old and holds U.S. and Canadian passports, lives in Dubai and claims to be in that city’s “Miss Palestine organization.” In 2016, she married Sharaf Barghouti, younger brother of Marwan Barghouti, a well‑known Fatah leader and longtime Israeli prisoner. The two welcomed a son in 2019, naming him Marwan—an obvious tribute to the fugitive uncle.

While screenshots and social‑media posts from 2016 and 2019 confirm the wedding and motherhood, Ayoub’s official “Miss Palestine” Instagram account does not mention her marriage. Some posts from her deleted accounts show her with Sharaf and his wife Fadwa, a prominent Fatah activist, but whether she is still married remains uncertain.

Ayoub made headlines in 2022 when she competed in Miss Earth. Contest guidelines prohibited married women or mothers, yet she was crowned Miss Earth‑Water (second runner‑up). Strait‑forward rules changed in 2023, however, allowing her entry into Miss Universe.

At Miss Universe, Ayoub opted for a “burkini” instead of a swimsuit, claiming it reflects modesty. Earlier, she had worn a turquoise bikini at Miss Earth and a bright purple one during the national‑costume showcase. Her wardrobe choice and her past eligibility violation drew criticism from page‑ants, the competition’s official channels, and Israeli‑aligned observers.

The “Miss Palestine” title first appeared in the wake of pro‑Palestinian rallies triggered by the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks. No national pageant has ever been held in the territories that would owe the title. Instead, Ayoub founded the Dubai‑based Miss Palestine organization, which issued herself the crown—an arrangement permissible under Miss Universe rules, which allow purchased national‑pageant licenses.

Her participation raises a political question—as many critics say, “Palestine doesn’t exist” for a page‑ant, a claim that Australia’s and the U.S. embassy do not share. Israeli leaders, including former Knesset member Ruth Wasserman Lande, see her appearance as a political statement. “Beauty contests aren’t a Palestinian or Islamic idea,” Lande said. “They’re a tool for spreading political narratives.”

Marwan Barghouti—convicted of orchestrating child‐murder and terrorism in 2000‑2002—spent 17 years in Israeli prison. He led a hunger strike that pulled international attention. His family seeks his release in a prisoner exchange, claiming he is a “political” figure. International terrorism lists from the U.S., EU, and others include his al‑Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades.

Ayoub’s ties to the Barghouti family place her in a limelight that extends beyond pageants. Her Instagram posts of al‑Aqsa Mosque and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre—highlighting coexistence but omitting the Western Wall—fueled further debate in Israel and abroad.

Miss Universe offers a powerful platform for advocacy. Ayoub says she hopes to use the stage to raise awareness about what she calls “the injustice in Gaza.” Whether her intentions trump her contested eligibility remains debated. Israeli officials fear that releasing Braghouti could set a dangerous precedent similar to the 2011 release of Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar, who rose to influence after he escaped.

As the pageant moves forward, both supporters and detractors keep a close eye on Ayoub’s presence on the global stage. Her story is a reminder of how a beauty pageant can become a flashpoint for political, religious, and national identity disputes.

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