Miss Israel (also referred to as , , ) was a national beauty pageant in

Israel Israel, officially the State of Israel, is a country in West Asia. It Borders of Israel, shares borders with Lebanon to the north, Syria to the north-east, Jordan to the east, Egypt to the south-west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the west. Isr ...

. The pageant was founded in 1950, where the winners were sent to

Miss Universe Miss Universe is an annual international major beauty pageant that is run by a Thailand and Mexican-based Miss Universe Organization.Natalie Tadena (July 2, 2015"Donald Trump's Miss USA Pageant Lands on Reelz Cable Channel". ''The Wall Stree ...

History

In the late 1920s, a " Queen Esther Beauty Pageant" was held in

Tel Aviv Tel Aviv-Yafo ( or , ; ), sometimes rendered as Tel Aviv-Jaffa, and usually referred to as just Tel Aviv, is the most populous city in the Gush Dan metropolitan area of Israel. Located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline and with a popula ...

, centred on the holiday of

Purim Purim (; , ) is a Jewish holidays, Jewish holiday that commemorates the saving of the Jews, Jewish people from Genocide, annihilation at the hands of an official of the Achaemenid Empire named Haman, as it is recounted in the Book of Esther (u ...

. The first Miss Israel took place in 1950, two years after Israel's independence.Miss Israel 2017, The social media beauty queen
/ref> From then onwards, Miss Israel was the national franchise holder for

Miss World Miss World is the oldest existing international beauty pageant. It was created in the United Kingdom by Eric Morley in 1951. Since his death in 2000, Morley's widow, Julia Morley, has co-chaired the pageant. Along with Miss Universe, Mi ...

, and

Miss International Miss International (''Miss International Beauty'' or ''The International Beauty Pageant'') is a Japan-based international major beauty pageant organized by the International Culture Association. First held in 1960, it is the fourth largest page ...

. The pageant's official winner represented Israel at Miss Universe and the runners-up at Miss World, Miss International, and

Miss Europe Miss Europe is a beauty pageant for women from all over Europe. It was established in February 1927 by , the European distributor of Paramount, as a one-off event where the winner was to star in a film directed by Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau. A ...

. The winner also occasionally competed at other international pageants, such as Miss World in 1953, 1968, 1992, 1996–1998; Miss International in 1963;

Miss Asia Pacific International Miss Asia Pacific International is one of the oldest international beauty pageants, based in Manila, Philippines. It was founded in 1965 as Miss Asia and later renamed Miss Asia Pacific in 1984, followed by Miss Asia Pacific Quest in 1985 when L ...

; and

Miss Earth Miss Earth is an annual international major beauty pageant based in the Philippines that advocates for environmental awareness, conservation and social responsibility. Along with Miss World, Miss Universe, and Miss International, it is one ...

. In 2022, the pageant was cancelled amid controversies over its relevance to modern social standards.

Pageant rules

All contestants were required to be female, 170 centimetres or taller, between 18 and 24 years old, never married, and with no children.

International crowns

* One –

Rina Mor Rina Mor-Goder (; née Messinger; February 16, 1956) is an Israeli lawyer, writer and beauty queen who was crowned Miss Universe 1976. Biography Rina Goder (née Messinger) was born in Kiryat Tiv'on, near Haifa. Her father was a mechanic and pil ...

(winner,

Miss Universe 1976 Miss Universe 1976 was the 25th Miss Universe pageant, held on 11 July 1976 at the Lee Theatre in British Hong Kong, Hong Kong. Rina Messinger of Israel was crowned by Anne Marie Pohtamo of Finland. This was the first and only time that an Israel ...

) * One –

Linor Abargil Linor Abargil (, sometimes spelled ''Linor Aberjil''; born February 17, 1980) is an Israeli attorney, actress, model and beauty queen who won the Miss World 1998, shortly after being raped. Since then, she has become a global advocate in the figh ...

(winner,

Miss World 1998 Miss World 1998, the 48th edition of the Miss World pageant, was held on 26 November 1998 at the Lake Berjaya Mahé Resort in Mahé, Seychelles, Mahé Island, Seychelles. 86 delegates from around the world competed for the crown. Ronan Keating ...

) * One – Lilach Ben-Simon (winner, Miss Europe 1994) * Two –

: **Nurit Mizrachi (winner, 1985) **Tali Ben-Harush (winner, 1992)

Grand slam franchise holders

(1952–2021) — Edgar Saakyan (2024—present) *

(1952–2017) *

(1960–2005) *

(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 Eilat ( , ; ; ) is Israel's southernmost city, with a population of , a busy port of Eilat, port and popular resort at the northern tip of the Red Sea, on what is known in Israel as the Gulf of Eilat and in Jordan as the Gulf of Aqaba. The c ...

in December 2021.

Winners

*1951 – Michal Harʾel, former honorary president of the

Women's International Zionist Organization The Women's International Zionist Organization (WIZO; ') is a volunteer organization dedicated to social welfare in all sectors of Israeli society, the advancement of the status of women, and Jewish education in Israel and the Diaspora. Histor ...

and member of the

World Jewish Congress The World Jewish Congress (WJC) is an international federation of Jewish communities and organizations, founded in Geneva, Switzerland, in August 1936. According to its mission statement, the World Jewish Congress's main purpose is to act as ...

*1958 – Miriam Hadar, finalist at Miss Universe *1999 –

Rana Raslan Rana Raslan (; ; born ) is an Israeli former model who won Miss Israel in 1999. With the cancellation of the pageant in 2022, she remains the only Arab and Muslim to have won the title. Following her crowning as national beauty queen, Raslan r ...

, first

Arab Arabs (, , ; , , ) are an ethnic group mainly inhabiting the Arab world in West Asia and North Africa. A significant Arab diaspora is present in various parts of the world. Arabs have been in the Fertile Crescent for thousands of years ...

and

Muslim Muslims () are people who adhere to Islam, a Monotheism, monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God ...

to win the title *2004 –

Gal Gadot Gal Gadot (; born 30 April 1985) is an Israeli actress. She gained recognition for portraying Wonder Woman in the DC Extended Universe films (2016–2023). In 2018, Gadot was named one of ''Time''s 100 most influential people and ranked by ''F ...

, actress *2005 –

Elena Ralph Elena Ralph (, ; born November 27, 1983) is an Israeli actress, model and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Israel 2005 and represented her country at Miss Universe 2005 where placed Top 10. Ralph was born in Donetsk, Soviet Ukrai ...

, first winner to be placed at

since 2001 *2013 –

Yityish Titi Aynaw Yityish "Titi" Aynaw (; ; born 23 June 1991) is an Israeli model, television personality, and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Israel 2013. She is the first Ethiopian Jew and Israeli of African heritage to win the contest. As Miss ...

, first

Ethiopian Jew The history of the Jews in Ethiopia dates back millennia. The largest Jewish group in Ethiopia is the Beta Israel. Offshoots of the Beta Israel include the Beta Abraham and the Falash Mura, Ethiopian Jews who were converted to Christianity, some ...

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 Shaike Ophir (; 4 November 1928 – 17 August 1987) was an Israeli film and theater actor, comedian, playwright, screenwriter, director, and the country's first mime. Early life Yeshayahu (Shaike) Goldstein-Ophir was born in Jerusalem. His famil ...

(1954) * Alexander Yahalomi (1957) *

Uri Zohar Uri Zohar ( ; 4 November 1935 – 2 June 2022) was an Israeli film director, actor and comedian who left the entertainment world to become an orthodox rabbi. Biography Uri Zohar was born in Tel Aviv. His parents were History of the Jews, Polis ...

(1960) *

Rivka Michaeli Rivka Michaeli (; born 14 April 1938) is an Israeli actress, comedian and television presenter. Early life Michaeli was born in Jerusalem, British Mandate of Palestine (now Israel). Her father's family is of Georgian-Jewish descent, whereas h ...

(1963, 1965, 1989) * Meni Peer (1972, 1973) *

Dudu Topaz Dudu Topaz (; September 20, 1946 – August 20, 2009) (born David Goldenberg) was an Israeli TV personality, comedian, actor, screenwriter, playwright, author and radio and television host. In August 2009 he died by suicide while incarcerated, ha ...

(1991) *

Hanny Nahmias Hanny Nahmias (; born 9 April 1959) is an Israeli actress, voice actress, comedian, television presenter, singer, children's entertainer and author. She served as a member of the Ramat Gan City Council from 2008 to 2012. Biography Nachmias ...

(1992, 1993) *

Mike Burstyn Michael Burstein (; born July 1, 1945) is an Israeli-American actor known onstage as Mike Burstyn. He was born in New York City to the late Yiddish-language actors, Pesach Burstein and Lillian Lux. His first cousin was Borsch Belt comedian, ...

(1992) * Sapir Koffman (1993) * Miki Kam (1994) * Gilat Ankori (1996) *

Noa Tishby Noa Tohar Tishby (; ; born May 1975)) is an Israeli actress and activist. She appeared in a variety of American television shows and movies, including '' The Affair'', '' The Island'', ''Nip/Tuck'', ''Big Love'', ''NCIS'', and others. She is th ...

(1997, 1998) * Alon Reinhorn (1998) * Lion Rosenberg (1999) *

Yael Abecassis Yael Abecassis (; born 19 July 1967) is an Israeli actress and model. Biography Yael Abecassis was born in Ashkelon, Israel, to parents of Moroccan Jewish descent. Abecassis married Israeli actor Lior Miller in 1996 and has one child. They ...

(2000) *

Aki Avni Yitzhak "Aki" Avni (; born ), is an Israeli actor, entertainer and television host. He appeared in the movie '' Free Zone'' (2005). He also played the character Mohsen in the second season of the television series '' 24''. Early life and marriage ...

(2001, 2002) *

Yael Bar Zohar Yael Bar Zohar (; ) is an Israeli television host, model, singer and actress. Early life and career Bar Zohar was born in Tel Aviv, Israel, to a Jewish family. Her Polish-born father Menachem Bar Zohar immigrated to Israel, and he is of Ashkenazi ...

(2004) * Orna Datz (2005) *

Raz Meirman Raz Meirman (; born August 15, 1977) is an Israeli model, best known as the former host of '' HaMerotz LaMillion'', the Israeli version of the American reality show, ''The Amazing Race'', which first aired on CBS in 2001. Raz Meirman became famo ...

(2005) * Orna Datz (2006) *

Galit Gutmann Galit Gutman (; born September 23, 1972) is an Israeli actress, television host and fashion model. Biography Galit Gutmman is married to photojournalist Ziv Koren and the mother of two daughters. She began her modeling career after winning the t ...

(2007, 2008, 2009) *

Guy Zu-Aretz Guy Yaakov Zu-Aretz (or Zoaretz, ; ) is an Israeli television host, actor, musician, and director. Early life Zu-Aretz was born in Tel Aviv, Israel, to a Judaeo-Spanish, Ladino-speaking family of Sephardic Jewish of Libyan Jews, Libyan-Jewish, T ...

(2009 *

Hilla Nachshon Hilla Nachshon (or Hila, ; born ) is an Israeli television host, actress, and former model. Early life Nachshon was born in Kiryat Bialik, Israel, to a family of Ashkenazi Jewish (Polish-Jewish) descent. Her father is Yosef Nahshon (originally ...

(2010, 2011) * Ilanit Levi (2014) * Titi Aynaw (2016) *

Shani Hazan Shani Hazan (; born ) is an Israeli model, singer and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Israel 2012 and subsequently competed in the Miss World 2012 pageant representing her homeland. She also represented Israel at Miss International ...

(2017) * Reef Neeman (2021)

Judges

Binyamin Gibli Binyamin Gibli (; 1919 – August 19, 2008) was the head of Israeli Military Intelligence from June 1950 to March 1955. Shabtai Teveth (1996) ''Ben-Gurion's Spy: The Story of the Political Scandal That Shaped Modern Israel'' Columbia University pr ...

(1973) *

Lea Gottlieb Lea Gottlieb (; 17 September 1918 – 17 November 2012) was an Israeli fashion designer and businesswoman. She aliyah, immigrated to Israel from Hungary after World War II, and founded the Gottex company. Biography Lea Lenke Roth was born in Sa ...

(1973) *

Ora Namir Ora Namir (; 1 September 1930 – 7 July 2019) was an Israeli politician and diplomat who served as a member of the Knesset from 1974 until 1996, as well as holding the posts of Minister of the Environment and Minister of Labour and Social Welfa ...

(1989) * Rina Mor (1989, 2004)) * Dorit Jellinek (1997) * Galit Gutmann (2001) *

Judy Shalom Nir-Mozes Judy Shalom Nir-Mozes (; born 14 August 1958) is an Israeli socialite, investor and talk show host. Early life Judy (Judith) Mozes was born in Ramat Gan to Paula and Noah Mozes, owners of the ''Yedioth Ahronoth'' newspaper, their third child afte ...

(2003) * Ronit Yudkevitz (2005) * Judy Shalom Nir-Mozes (2005) *

Michal Yannai Michal Yannai-Muskal (or Yanai, ; born 18 June 1972) is an Israeli actress and children's television host. Early and personal life Yannai was born and raised in Ramat Gan to a family of Jewish background. In 2003, Yanai married Israeli busine ...

(2007) *

Yael Goldman Yael Goldman-Pfeffer (; born 24 September 1978) is an Israeli television host, actress, and model. Early life Yael Goldman was born in Kiryat Ono, Israel. Both her parents Dan Goldman and Idit ( Fishler) are of Ashkenazi Jewish descent. She serv ...

(2008) * Sivan Klein (2008) *

(2011) *

Michaela Bercu Michaela Bercu (; born ) is an Israeli model and actress. Early life Bercu was born in Tel Aviv, Israel, to Ashkenazi Jewish parents who immigrated to Israel from Romania. She is an only child. Her father Armand (1925-2007) hailed from Buchares ...

(2012) * Sivan Klein (2012)

Venue

* International Convention Center *

Menora Mivtachim Arena Yad Eliyahu Arena, , known as the Menora Mivtachim Arena () and formerly as the Nokia Arena () for commercial reasons, is a large multi-purpose sports indoor arena that is located in southeast Tel Aviv, Israel. The arena is primarily used to host ...

* Cinerama theater * Haifa International Convention Center

Titleholders

Titleholders under Miss Israel org.

Miss Universe Israel

::''Since 1952, Israel competes at major international pageants. Israel has three international winners namely;

and Miss Europe 1994 According to the Miss Israel Organization, traditionally Miss Israel represents the country at

. In 2006 Miss Israel changed format with the grand winner competing in the

competition and second place automatically declared "Miss Universe Israel." In 2013, the winner competed in Miss Universe 2013 in

Russia Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia. It is the list of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the world, and extends across Time in Russia, eleven time zones, sharing Borders ...

. Began in 2018 the format was back to past era; the main winner goes to Miss Universe.''

Rankings in Miss Universe

References

External links

missisrael.ynet.co.il
{{Authority control Miss Israel 1950 establishments in Israel Annual events in Israel Beauty pageants in Israel Israeli awards Israeli television shows

Recurring events established in 1950