Miss Palestine alleges rigging in a Miss Universe 2025 fan-voted category
Miss Universe Palestine 2025 Nadeen Ayoub called out the alleged rigged results concerning a fan-voted category.
In a video posted on Instagram on Nov. 25, Ayoub talked about the Most Beautiful People category, which was is through fan votes through the Miss Universe app.
Accompanied by screenshots, she narrated that she was leading the category with 182,237 votes, followed by Miss Tanzania at 177,328. The photo indicated that there were 42 minutes and 48 seconds left before voting closed.
"Lately, I was leading in the voting category on the Miss Universe app for the Most Beautiful People. And it was the only category on the application that didn't close, and they didn't award anyone out of all of the other categories, even though the competition was over," she shared.
Ayoub then noted how Miss Tanzania suddenly got a surge of 16,010 votes within two minutes, taking over the top spot with 193,338 votes. Miss Palestine claimed that this is "very impossible to do unless there's more than one person voting."
Another screenshot, four minutes and 40 seconds before voting closed, showed Yona with 211,353 votes—a 34,025 jump in 36 minutes.
"And it's not really realistic unless it's done internally," Ayoub said.
She also shared screenshots of messages with her fans, who were allegedly unable to vote or were "forcibly logged out" of the app during the period.
Ayoub clarified that her callout is not about getting the award but standing up for what is right.
"As a Palestinian woman, I will stand up for what's right. I will stand up for something that I see is wrong, whether it's for myself or for others. And this is, this really feels not right," she said.
"I've gotten the biggest award. I've gotten the biggest crown. I've gotten the biggest prize by being Miss Palestine, by being the voice of my people and everyone's voice," she added. "So for me, I believe I'm already a winner. But when something does not seem right, it's a time where we have to speak up about it."
The Miss Universe 2025 pageant ended with Mexico's Bosch as the winner, Thailand's Praveenar Singh as first runner-up, Venezuela's Stephany Abasali as second runner-up, and the Philippines' Ahtisa Manalo as third runner-up.
Miss Côte d'Ivoire Olivia Yacé, the fourth runner-up, stepped down as Miss Universe 2025 Africa and Oceania, citing a matter of "values."
The recent competition faced allegations of rigging, as a judge who reportedly resigned claimed that before the finale, it was decided Bosch would win because the Miss Universe Organization president allegedly had business with her father.
Rocha addressed the allegations, stating that no judge has resigned and that his company's contract with Pemex, where Bosch's father is a long-time employee, has no relation to the Mexican beauty queen's victory in the 74th edition of the pageant.