During her participation in the Miss Universe 2025 pageant, contestant Nadeen Ayoub—representing “Palestine”—was reported to have been previously married to Sharaf Barghouti, the son of imprisoned militant leader Marwan Barghouti, who was convicted in Israel on multiple terror-related charges.
Ayoub’s alleged marriage to Sharaf reportedly led to the couple naming a son after Marwan Barghouti. She also maintained links to the Barghouti family through social-media posts and appearances at gyms associated with the clan.
The revelation comes amid scrutiny of her eligibility for the pageant: Miss Universe officials previously indicated she was the first to carry the title “Miss Palestine,” though there is no public record of a national competition to determine the representative. The committee has not responded publicly to the controversy.
The story has sparked debate as Ayoub continues to compete internationally while her personal background and the political implications of her title are examined.