Current Miss Israel, Melanie Shiraz, is facing widespread criticism after publicly revealing details of a private conversation she had with New York City First Lady Rama Duwaji. Shiraz claimed she encountered Duwaji because of the First Lady’s outspoken anti-Israel views.
Rama Duwaji is the wife of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. A professional artist and painter, Duwaji has long been known on social media for her pro-Palestinian activism and criticism of Israeli policies. Her outspoken humanitarian and political views regarding the Israel-Palestine conflict have drawn public attention in the past as well.
According to Shiraz, the encounter took place at a café in New York shortly before she attended an Israeli Consulate Independence Day celebration.
Shiraz said, “A few hours before the event, I was having coffee at a café when Rama Duwaji walked in and sat at the table next to me. I had already seen many of her anti-Israel statements online, so I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to speak with her directly.”
She added that at first she introduced herself only as “Melanie” without revealing her identity. According to Shiraz, Duwaji spoke politely and even agreed to take a photo with her. However, she claimed the atmosphere changed after she revealed that she was Israeli and the current Miss Israel.
“Even then,” Shiraz said, “as First Lady, she remained polite and respectful in her behavior.”
Shiraz stated that she attempted to begin what she described as a “productive discussion.” She reportedly told Duwaji, “I was disappointed by the anti-Israel messages you promote online. As a representative of Israel, my role is to engage in constructive dialogue even with people who hold opposing views.”
However, according to Shiraz, Duwaji did not appear interested in continuing the conversation and responded somewhat dismissively. Shiraz said she asked whether Duwaji had ever spoken with an Israeli before. Duwaji allegedly replied, “Yes,” in a somewhat sarcastic tone and mentioned that she has many Israeli friends.
After Shiraz shared details of the encounter on social media, the incident quickly sparked controversy online. Many critics argued that publicly disclosing a private interaction violated the First Lady’s privacy and unnecessarily intensified tensions.
One user on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) commented, “She behaved politely. She isn’t obligated to talk to anyone, so why is there so much outrage?”
It is worth noting that Rama Duwaji has previously faced criticism over her strong anti-Israel comments. However, in April 2026, she expressed regret over some of her earlier remarks and acknowledged that they had been hurtful to many people.
