Miss Israel 2025 denounces cheating in the Miss Israel selection process for Miss Universe; the organization disqualifies her

Q: Melanie Shiraz defends her credibility

In an interview with The Algemeiner, Melanie Shiraz stated that she will not back down in the face of legal threats or attacks on her credibility. She said she has submitted a body of evidence to support her accusations regarding the pageant's operations. According to her, her warnings were not met with transparency, but with pressure and intimidation: "Throughout my reign, my concerns have often been met not with transparency or accountability, but with pressure, intimidation, and attempts to control the narrative. Therefore, seeing legal threats now seems less like a genuine desire to establish the truth than a continuation of the very behavior that led me to speak out publicly."

The crisis surrounding the Miss Israel 2026 pageant is deepening. Melanie Shiraz, Miss Israel 2025, has been officially removed from her position by the Miss Israel Organization after denouncing a lack of transparency in the selection process for the next Israeli representative, who is slated to represent Israel at Miss Universe. In a statement released Friday, the organization asserted that Melanie Shiraz is no longer authorized to represent it, speak on its behalf, or act in any official capacity for it. This announcement comes as Shiraz accuses the organizers of having implemented a process she considers manipulated and predetermined.

In his statement, Miss Israel Organization indicated "Effective June 5, 2026, Melanie Shiraz is no longer authorized to represent, speak on behalf of, or act in an official capacity for the Miss Israel Organization. The Miss Israel Organization remains focused on its mission: to empower women, promote Israeli excellence on the international stage, and select representatives who embody professionalism, integrity, leadership, and respect for others. We remain proud of the work accomplished to restore Israel's presence in the Miss Universe system and are excited to continue building the future of the organization. The organization considers this matter closed and will remain focused on supporting the next generation of Israeli representatives, rather than engaging in prolonged public disputes."

Melanie Shiraz defends her credibility

In an interview with The AlgemeinerMelanie Shiraz asserts that she will not back down in the face of legal threats or attacks on her credibility. She says she has submitted a body of evidence to support her accusations regarding the competition's operations. According to her, her warnings were not met with transparency, but with pressure and intimidation. “Throughout my reign, my concerns have often been met not with transparency or accountability, but with pressure, intimidation, and attempts to control the narrative. Seeing legal threats today therefore seems less like a sincere desire to establish the truth than a continuation of the very behavior that prompted me to speak out publicly.”

Accusations that she says she can prove

Melanie Shiraz asserts that her statements are not based on rumors. She claims to possess documents, written messages, recordings, correspondence, and direct communications with the organizers. "My accusations have never been based on rumors or speculation. They are based on documents, written messages, recordings, correspondence, and direct communications from the organizers themselves, which I am able to substantiate."

A contested 2026 competition

At the heart of her accusations is the selection of Miss Israel 2026. Melanie Shiraz claims there is no genuine national competition to choose the next Miss Israel, who is supposed to represent the country at Miss Universe. According to her, the process is being manipulated by the organizers, who have also exerted pressure, made threats, and attempted to extort money from her. She maintains that some candidates were pre-selected and that the winner was chosen in advance, while being presented to the public as a traditional pageant.

Edgar Entertainment at the center of the controversy

Miami-based Edgar Entertainment, headed by Edgar Saakyan, is at the center of the case. The company claims to have held the Miss Universe license for Israel in 2024 and 2025, before transferring the franchise to Miss Israel LLC in January 2026 under a multi-year agreement. The Algemeiner The media outlet reports having asked Edgar Entertainment to provide documents confirming this version of events, but received no response. It also claims that public documents filed in Florida in March 2026 list Edgar Entertainment LLC as the authorized manager of Miss Israel LLC, suggesting that the company retains a controlling role in the franchise.

Two irreconcilable versions

The Miss Israel Organization claims the matter is closed and accuses Melanie Shiraz of damaging the franchise's reputation. Melanie Shiraz, however, maintains her accusations and asserts she has evidence to support them. The crisis now centers on two issues: the transparency of the Miss Israel 2026 selection process and the actual oversight of the franchise responsible for representing Israel in the Miss Universe system.