More Than a Crown: The Defiant Truth of Miss Israel, Melanie Shiraz

I have to tell you, I walked away from this week’s episode of No Reservations feeling so incredibly inspired—and I think you will be, too.

I sat down with Melanie Shiraz, Miss Israel 2025-2026. Now, before you think of a typical pageant story, let me stop you right there. Melanie is a data scientist with a Master’s degree and a tech entrepreneur who left a six-figure salary behind. She didn’t enter Miss Universe because she wanted a crown; she entered because she wanted a weapon to fight for her people.

The Dress, The Betrayal, and the Scissors

Melanie shared a story with me that I’m still reeling from. She designed a national costume meant to honor the hostages—a yellow dress covered in 2,150 flowers, each one representing a life lost since the war began.

But just 24 hours before she was set to walk the world stage, her dress was stolen. Most people would have broken. But not Melanie. She found a Thai designer to recreate a version of it overnight, and literally minutes before walking out in front of 900 million viewers, she took a pair of scissors to the fabric to make sure the message was clear. She walked onto that stage with no help, no support from the organization, and the eyes of the world hunting for a reason to tear her down.

We talked about:

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The Viral “Side-Eye”: What really happened in that clip with Miss Palestine and how the media doctored the narrative to smear her.
The Cost of Courage: Why she gave up financial security and a lucrative tech career to become a full-time advocate.
Fighting the “Imposter”: Why even Miss Israel wakes up some mornings asking, “Why me?”
No More Apologies: Why she refuses to soften her confidence and why we should stop apologizing for our own strengths.

“I Am Smart and I Am Beautiful”

The moment that struck me most was when Melanie said those words without flinching. She didn’t say it to brag; she said it as a fact. It made me realize how often we as women try to “shrink” ourselves so we don’t seem threatening or “too much.”

Standing there on the Aish rooftop, looking out over the Kotel, Melanie reminded me that owning who you are isn’t arrogance—it’s power. She chose to be a “bulldozer” for Israel because she knows that our long-term survival is more important than a 9-to-5 paycheck. 🕍

This conversation is a masterclass in resilience:

WATCH: Why Miss Israel Refused to Stay Quiet on the World Stage

Amplifying the Message

Stories like Melanie’s don’t spread by accident. They spread when people decide the truth is worth sharing. If you’ve ever felt like you had to wear a mask or hide your light to fit in, this episode is for you.

I’d love to hear from you: When was the last time you said something positive about yourself without a disclaimer or a “humble” joke? Let’s practice owning our strengths together in the comments!