Palestine's First-Ever 'Miss' Makes Top 30 in Miss Universe Competition Despite Secret Marriage Scandal
Nadeen Ayoub, the pioneer of the "Miss Palestine" title, has secured a spot among the top 30 contestants competing for the coveted Miss Universe crown. The announcement came hours after a New York Post exposé revealed her secret marriage to Sharaf Barghouti, son of convicted Palestinian terrorist Marwan Barghouti, who is serving five life sentences in Israel.
The news took a dramatic turn on Thursday evening when Ayoub was eliminated from the competition during the swimsuit round, where she wore a revealing white one-piece and sheer tights. The elimination came despite her impressive performance in previous preliminary competitions, which earned her enough support to secure her spot among the top 30 finalists.
The Miss Universe pageant is scored across various categories, including evening gowns, interviews, and platforms, with participants vying for the title based on their overall presentation. Ayoub's inclusion among the top 30 signifies a notable achievement, as she has outperformed at least 90 other competitors from around the world.
The revelation of Ayoub's secret marriage to Barghouti, obtained by The Post, highlighted a significant controversy surrounding her candidacy. Screenshots and social media posts show that Ayoub had attempted to erase her past marriage from public view, but the New York Post was able to uncover evidence of the relationship. Ayoub and Barghouti have a child together named after the convicted terrorist.
Other countries represented in the top 30 include Mexico, Philippines, Zimbabwe, Costa Rica, Malta, Chile, Canada, Venezuela, Guatemala, Palestine, Nicaragua, France, Paraguay, China, Thailand, Brazil, Rwanda, Côte d'Ivoire, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Bangladesh, Cuba, Japan, Puerto Rico, Netherlands, India, and Guatemala.
Nadeen Ayoub, the pioneer of the "Miss Palestine" title, has secured a spot among the top 30 contestants competing for the coveted Miss Universe crown. The announcement came hours after a New York Post exposé revealed her secret marriage to Sharaf Barghouti, son of convicted Palestinian terrorist Marwan Barghouti, who is serving five life sentences in Israel.
The news took a dramatic turn on Thursday evening when Ayoub was eliminated from the competition during the swimsuit round, where she wore a revealing white one-piece and sheer tights. The elimination came despite her impressive performance in previous preliminary competitions, which earned her enough support to secure her spot among the top 30 finalists.
The Miss Universe pageant is scored across various categories, including evening gowns, interviews, and platforms, with participants vying for the title based on their overall presentation. Ayoub's inclusion among the top 30 signifies a notable achievement, as she has outperformed at least 90 other competitors from around the world.
The revelation of Ayoub's secret marriage to Barghouti, obtained by The Post, highlighted a significant controversy surrounding her candidacy. Screenshots and social media posts show that Ayoub had attempted to erase her past marriage from public view, but the New York Post was able to uncover evidence of the relationship. Ayoub and Barghouti have a child together named after the convicted terrorist.
Other countries represented in the top 30 include Mexico, Philippines, Zimbabwe, Costa Rica, Malta, Chile, Canada, Venezuela, Guatemala, Palestine, Nicaragua, France, Paraguay, China, Thailand, Brazil, Rwanda, Côte d'Ivoire, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Bangladesh, Cuba, Japan, Puerto Rico, Netherlands, India, and Guatemala.
I'm low-key surprised she made it to the top 30 tbh 
. Like, I know she's got talent and all, but that marriage drama is some juicy stuff 
. I mean, you can't exactly hide the fact that you're married to a convicted terrorist's son from the world. 
The Post must've done some serious digging to get those screenshots and social media posts out. 
. But on the other hand, it raises so many questions about how she handled that whole situation 
.
! Maybe this is her chance to shine and take away from all the drama surrounding her past 
. Fingers crossed 
.
. I mean, I get it, everyone's got their own personal struggles and stuff, but come on... a secret marriage to a convicted terrorist's son? That's some wild stuff right there! 
And what really takes the cake is that she tried to keep it under wraps, like it was no big deal 
. But you know what? Despite all this drama, Nadeen Ayoub still managed to make it to the top 30... I guess that's a testament to her strength and resilience 
.
... and let's be real, sharaf barghouti is a bit of a problematic figure, so yeah, that kinda taints her whole achievement 
... anyway, at least she made it to the top 30, i guess? 
. A secret marriage doesn't necessarily disqualify her from being a great Miss Palestine, if you ask me! The pageant's all about presenting yourself in the best light, right? And Ayoub did that in spades – she slayed the swimsuit round like it was no big deal 
. The fact that Sharaf Barghouti's dad is a convicted terrorist doesn't define her either – we should be judging based on who she is today, not what her past might say about her.
. Can we separate an individual's past from their present, or does that impact how they're perceived by others? The beauty pageant might not address these deeper issues directly, but it definitely sparks conversations about identity and politics.
I don't get why her secret marriage is such a big deal though... like, isn't love love? 
. It just goes to show you can do whatever you want and still be a pretty face 
. On the other hand, I gotta wonder how much of this whole thing was just PR stunt 
. Anyway, I guess it's all about the politics of beauty pageants, right? 
like what kind of message does that send? is she supposed to be some kinda symbol of palestinian empowerment while secretly being involved with someone who's, well, not exactly a saint? 