Miss Israel (also referred to as , , ) is a national beauty pageant in Israel. The pageant was founded in 1950 and the winners were sent to international pageants such as Miss Universe and Miss World.
History In the late 1920s, a "Queen Esther Beauty Pageant" was held in Tel Aviv, centred on the holiday of Purim. The first Miss Israel took place in 1950, two years after Israel's independence.Miss Israel 2017, The social media beauty queen
From then onwards, Miss Israel was the national franchise holder for Miss World, Miss Universe, and Miss International. The pageant's official winner represented Israel at Miss World and or Miss Universe and the runners-up at Miss International, and Miss Europe.
In 2022, the original organizers (LaIsha) cancelled the pageant amid controversies over its relevance to modern social standards. It was then restarted under new management, and in 2024, the Miss Universe Israel pageant was organized by Edgar Saakyan, owner of Edgar Entertainment.
Controversy Under Edgar Entertainment In June 2026, the Miss Israel Organization became the subject of public controversy after reigning titleholder Melanie Shiraz alleged that the 2026 selection process had been predetermined and that no genuine national pageant would take place. One day before the organization's announcement, Shiraz publicly stated on Instagram that Danielle Yablonka would be selected as the winner. Yablonka was announced as the organization's representative the following day after the organization stated that, due to the ongoing war, it would not hold a national pageant and instead had appointed its representative directly. The controversy followed broader criticism of changes to the competition under the new franchise holder, Edgar Entertainment, which owns the license for Miss Universe Armenia and Uzbekistan as well. Since becoming the license-holder for the Israel franchise in 2024, Edgar Entertainment held the Miss Israel pageant in Miami, Florida, both in 2024 and 2025, rather than Israel, and applications were opened to non-Israeli Jews from the Diaspora. In a statement, the organization, which is partly managed by Edgar Entertainment, falsely claimed that Miss Israel LLC is an Israeli company, despite Florida state filings showing that the production company Edgar Entertainment and a company in Puerto Rico manage Miss Israel LLC, which was set up in 2025.
Prior to the announcement of the 2026 titleholder, several media outlets reported on a recording in which an Edgar Entertainment producer described a process designed to "look like a pageant" and discussed creating a surprise crowning moment despite there being no competitive selection process. The Algemeiner reported that attorneys for the organization acknowledged awareness of the recording but did not dispute its authenticity, instead stating that they were considering legal action over the recording itself.
Shiraz also alleged intimidation, financial extortion, and abusive treatment by the organization's leadership, and denounced ties with the organization. Her criticism of the organization's explanation for cancelling the pageant drew attention because the appointment occurred during a period in which other large-scale public events in Israel, including the 2026 Maccabiah Games, were proceeding.
Pageant rules As part of reforms introduced in the early 2020s, eligibility requirements for Miss Israel were expanded. Contestants must be at least 18 years old and hold Israeli citizenship. Restrictions related to marital status, motherhood, height, and weight were removed, allowing married and divorced women, as well as mothers, to participate. Candidates must not have a criminal record or be associated with explicit or erotic content. Since Edgar Enterainment's acquisition of the license, eligibility was controversially opened to all Jewish women globally, even if they did not possess Israeli citizenship.
International crowns
Miss Europe 1994 – Lilach Ben-Simon Miss Asia Pacific International: Nurit Mizrachi (winner, 1985) Tali Ben-Harush (winner, 1992)
Grand slam franchise holders Miss Universe (1952–2022; 2024—present) — Edgar Saakyan (2024—present) Miss World (1952–2017) Miss International (1960–2005) Miss Earth (2003–2009)
Track records Miss Universe On 20 July 2021, Miss Universe confirmed that the competition would be held in the Israeli city of Eilat in December 2021.
Winners 1951 – Michal Harʾel, former honorary president of the Women's International Zionist Organization and member of the World Jewish Congress 1958 – Miriam Hadar, finalist at Miss Universe 1999 – Rana Raslan, first Arab and Muslim to win the title 2004 – Gal Gadot, actress 2005 – Elena Ralph, first winner to be placed at Miss Universe since 2001 2013 – Yityish Titi Aynaw, first Ethiopian Jew to win the title
Audience favorites In some years, spectators at home were able to choose their favorite contestant by SMS: 2000 – Nirit Bakshi 2003 – Shahar Nehorai 2004 – Keren Friedman 2005 – Jennifer Bop 2008 – Shunit Faragi 2018 – Emma Eytan 2019 – Maya Barsheshet 2020 – Tali Krasnopolski 2021 – Alin Gurevich
Hosts Shaike Ophir (1954) Alexander Yahalomi (1957) Uri Zohar (1960) Rivka Michaeli (1963, 1965, 1989) Meni Peer (1972, 1973) Dudu Topaz (1991) Hanny Nahmias (1992, 1993) Mike Burstyn (1992) Sapir Koffman (1993) Miki Kam (1994) Gilat Ankori (1996) Noa Tishby (1997, 1998) Alon Reinhorn (1998) Lion Rosenberg (1999) Yael Abecassis (2000) Aki Avni (2001, 2002) Yael Bar Zohar (2004) Orna Datz (2005) Raz Meirman (2005) Orna Datz (2006) Galit Gutmann (2007, 2008, 2009) Guy Zu-Aretz (2009 Hilla Nachshon (2010, 2011) Ilanit Levi (2014) Titi Aynaw (2016) Shani Hazan (2017) Reef Neeman (2021)
Judges Binyamin Gibli (1973) Lea Gottlieb (1973) Ora Namir (1989) Rina Mor (1989, 2004)) Dorit Jellinek (1997) Galit Gutmann (2001) Judy Shalom Nir-Mozes (2003) Ronit Yudkevitz (2005) Judy Shalom Nir-Mozes (2005) Michal Yannai (2007) Yael Goldman (2008) Sivan Klein (2008) Yael Bar Zohar (2011) Michaela Bercu (2012) Sivan Klein (2012)
Venue International Convention Center Menora Mivtachim Arena Cinerama theater Haifa International Convention Center
Titleholders YearMalkat HayofiBirthDateResidence / CountryImage 1950 Miriam Yaron 1929 September 30, 1950 Tel Aviv, Israel – Brazil/Germany 1951 Michal Har'el 1931 September 23, 1951 Herzliya, Israel 1952 Ora Vered 1934 May 25, 1952 Tel Aviv, Israel – Fort Lauderdale, United States 1953 Chavatzelet Dror 1934 July 22, 1953 Tel Aviv, Israel – Austria 1954 Aviva Pe'er 1935 June 25, 1954 Tel Aviv, Israel – Brazil/Romania 1955 Ilana Carmel 1935 June 25, 1955 Tel Aviv, Israel – China 1956 Sara Tal 1936 June 14, 1956 Tel Aviv, Israel – New York City, United States 1957 Atara Barzely 1939 June 6, 1957 Tel Aviv, Israel 1958 Miriam Hadar 1937 May 22, 1958 Tel Aviv, Israel – New York City, United States 1959 Rina Yitzchakov 1940 June 16, 1959 Tel Aviv, Israel – New York City, United States 1960 Aliza Gur 1940 May 29, 1960 Haifa, Israel – Los Angeles, United States 1961 Dalia Lion 1943 May 30, 1961 Haifa, Israel – Luxembourg 1962 Yehudit Mazor 1943 June 9, 1962 Haifa, Israel – New York City, United States 1963 Ester Kfir 1944 May 30, 1963 Tel Aviv, Israel – China 1964 Ronit Rinat 1946 N/A Haifa, Israel – Los Angeles, United States 1965 Aliza Sadeh 1946 June 9, 165 Tel Aviv, Israel – New York City, United States 1966 Aviva Israeli 1947 May 18, 1966 Tel Aviv, Israel – Italy/Los Angeles, United States 1967 Batia Kabiri 1948 June 29, 1967 Tel Aviv, Israel 1968 Miri Zamir 1950 May 28, 1968 Haifa, Israel 1969 Chava Levy 1951 May 13, 1969 Haifa, Israel 1970 Moshit Tsiporin 1949 April 9, 1970 Netanya, Israel 1971 Ester Orgad 1953 May 4, 1971 Eilat, Israel – South Africa 1972 Ilana Goren 1953 June 6, 1972 Kiryat Motzkin, Israel – New York City, United States 1973 Limor Schreibman-Sharir 1954 May 22, 1973 Tel Aviv, Israel 1974 Edna Levy 1955 June 5, 1974 Ashkelon/Rishon Lezion, Israel 1975 Orit Cooper 1956 May 20, 1975 Tel Aviv, Israel 1976 Rina Mor (née Messenger)Miss Universe 1976 1956 May 25, 1976 Kiryat Tivon, Israel 1977 Zehava Vardi 1956 May 3, 1977 Kiryat Bialik, Israel 1978 1958 May 30, 1978 Haifa, Israel 1979 Vered Polgar 1962 May 22, 1979 Mitzpa, Israel 1980 Illana Shoshan 1961 April 14, 1980 Kfar Saba, Israel – Los Angeles, United States 1981 Dana Wexler 1964 April 7, 1981 Giv'atayim, Israel 1982 Deborah Hess 1963 May 5, 1982 Tel Aviv, Israel – United States 1983 Shim'ona Hollander 1965 April 26, 1983 Tel Aviv, Israel 1984 Sapir Koffmann 1965 May 22, 1984 Petah Tikva, Israel 1985 Hilla Kelmann 1966 May 14, 1985 Holon, Israel 1986 Nilly Drucker 1968 May 20, 1986 Beersheba/Tel Aviv, Israel 1987 Yamit Noy 1969 March 3, 1987 Rishon Lezion/Moshav in Sharon plain, Israel 1988 Shirley Ben-Mordechai 1971 March 15, 1988 Tel Aviv, Israel 1989 Nicole Halperin 1970 February 21, 1989 Tel Aviv, Israel – United States 1990 Yvonna Krugliak 1971 February 27, 1990 Tel Aviv, Israel – Latvia 1991 Miri Goldfarb 1970 April 23, 1991 Hod Hasharon, Israel 1992 Ravit Asaf 1974 April 5, 1992 Beer Sheva, Israel 1993 Jana Khodirker 1973 March 2, 1993 Rehovot, Israel – Ukraine 1994 1973 March 2, 1994 Giv'atayim, Israel 1995 Jana Kalmann 1975 March 29, 1995 Tel Aviv, Israel – Siberia, Russia 1996 Taly [Talia] Lewenthal 1978 March 18, 1996 Haifa, Israel 1997 Mirit Greenberg 1979 March 10, 1997 Beersheba, Israel 1998 Linor AbargilMiss World 1998 1980 March 24, 1998 Netanya/Tel Aviv, Israel 1999 Rana Raslan 1977 March 9, 1999 Haifa, Israel 2000 Nirit Bakshi 1982 March 30, 2000 Beer Sheva, Israel 2001 Ilanit Levi 1982 March 21, 2001 Haifa, Israel 2002 Yamit Har-Noy 1982 March 13, 2002 Oranit, Israel 2003 Sivan Klein 1984 April 1, 2003 Tel Aviv, Israel 2004 Gal Gadot 1985 March 22, 2004 Petah Tikva/Tel Aviv, Israel 2005 Elena Ralph 1983 April 6, 2005 Ramat Gan, Israel – Ukraine 2006 Yael Nizri 1988 March 21, 2006 Kiryat Shmona, Israel 2007 Liran Kohener 1988 March 13, 2007 Rishon Lezion, Israel 2008 Tamar Ziskind 1985 March 27, 2008 Haifa, Israel 2009 Adi Rodnitzky 1989 March 18, 2009 Tel Aviv, Israel 2010 Shavit Wiesel 1990 March 8, 2010 Kibbutz Be'eri, Israel 2011 Ella Ran 1989 March 30, 2011 Herzliya, Israel 2012 Shani Hazan 1992 March 7, 2012 Kiryat Ata, Israel 2013 Yityish Titi Aynaw 1991 February, 2013 Netanya, Israel – Ethiopia 2014 Mor Maman 1995 March 4, 2014 Beersheba, Israel 2015 Maayan Keren 1997 June 3, 2015 Ashdod, Israel 2016 Karin Alia 1998 June 6, 2016 Kiryat Gat, Israel 2017 Rotem Rabi 1995 May 10, 2017 Tel Aviv, Israel 2018 Nikol Reznikov 1999 May 1, 2018 Afula, Israel 2019 Sella Sharlin 1996 March 26, 2019 Herzliya, Israel – Boston, United States 2020 Tehila Levi 2001 July 13, 2020 Yavne, Israel 2021 Noa Cochva 1999 October 24, 2021 Yehud, Israel Edgar Saakyan directorship — a franchise holder to Miss Universe from 2024. 2024 Ofir Korsia 2000 September 29, 2024 Rishon LeZion, Israel 2025Melanie Shiraz1998July 18, 2025Tel Aviv, Israel 2026 Danielle Yablonka 2000 July 01, 2026 Miami, Florida
Categories Winner International Title Miss Universe Israel Miss World Israel Miss International Israel Miss Europe Israel Miss Earth Israel Miss Asia Pacific Israel Miss Young Israel
1950–1959 The Miss Israel divided into five categories; "Malkat Hayofi" - Israel's Beauty Queen (IBQ) is usually for the main winner, "Na'arat Israel" – Israel's Maiden of Beauty (IMB) is for a second place, "Malkat Hachen" - Israel's Queen of Grace (IQG) is for a third place, "Malkat Hayofi-Esreh" - Israel's Teen Queen (ITQ) is for fourth place and "Nesichat Hayofi" - Israel's Princess of Beauty (IPB) is for the last of Top 5 Miss Israel which means a fifth place. These titles represent Israel at International competitions such as Miss Universe, Miss World, Miss International, Miss Europe, Miss Earth and other minor pageants.