The reigning Miss Israel, Melanie Shiraz Asor, in an Instagram post, said that her unexpected meeting with Zohran Mamdani’s wife, Rama Duwaji, turned out to be unpleasant. She claimed that the Syrian-American artist’s “demeanour changed” when she disclosed her identity.
“Was I surprised by the outcome? Not particularly. It is easy to apologize without meaningfully changing one’s behavior. It is easy to claim opposition to dehumanization in principle, but far more difficult to embody that in practice,” Miss Israel wrote.
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She added, “She was polite throughout. But the shift in demeanor was evident, and the lack of willingness to engage even more so. I approached the interaction with openness to a genuine, respectful conversation. That openness was not reciprocated.”
Melanie Shiraz Asor continued, “And that, perhaps, is the more telling point: how often this disconnect appears, and how normalized it has become.”
She shared a video in which she discussed Duwaji’s old posts and accused her of not engaging in conversation.
Recalling her interaction with Duwaji, the beauty pageant winner shared, “For those asking, I told her I was Miss Israel, that I’m Israeli and Jewish. I also told her I was disappointed to see the content that she was posting, liking, and promoting, but that I would be open to having a productive conversation with her about it.”
What did social media say?
An individual wrote, “I love you, Melanie, you are a great, beautiful person.” Another expressed, “Exactly, easy to post appeasing words, but face to face is when we see the truth! Very proud of how you handled yourself!”
A third commented, “Wow. You are a queen. Thank you for always standing up with so much grace. You make us all very proud.” A fourth posted, “Whoo hoo!! You are brave, and that’s why you are Miss Israel! You deserve the crown.”
Who is Melanie Shiraz Asor?
She is an Israeli entrepreneur with a background in technology, innovation, and advocacy. She completed her studies at Tel Aviv University and went to London as an exchange student.
She received dual bachelor’s degrees from the University of California, Berkeley, and then returned to Tel Aviv. Proud of her culture and heritage, she is passionate about “empowering women, amplifying underrepresented voices, and strengthening pride”.
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While talking about her life, passion, and goals, she once said, “I’ve always been someone who thrives on building—whether it’s a venture, an idea, a story, or a space where others feel seen and inspired. I was born in Israel and raised between cultures, eventually returning to live in Israel full-time. I earned dual degrees from UC Berkeley in Data Science and Interdisciplinary Studies with a focus on Israel, and I hold a Global MBA from Tel Aviv University.”
She added, “Over the last several years, I’ve worked at the intersection of technology, strategy, and impact—contributing to fast-moving startups in Silicon Valley, leading global teams, and eventually founding my own FinTech company. I bring both structure and vision to what I build, always grounded in the belief that women deserve a seat at every table.”
