Miss Israel

 ( Miss Israel ) 

Miss Israel (also referred to as , , ) was a national beauty pageant in Israel. The pageant was founded in 1950, where the winners were sent to Miss Universe.

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History In the late 1920s, a "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 Universe, Miss World, and Miss International. The pageant's official winner represented Israel at Miss Universe and the runners-up at Miss World, Miss International, and Miss Europe. 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; and Miss Earth.

In 2022, the original organizers (LaIsha) cancelled the pageant amid controversies over its relevance to modern social standards.

In 2024, Armenian entrepreneur and organizer of Miss Armenia, Edgar Saakyan, acquired the franchise license for Israel at Miss Universe, organizing the Miss Israel pageant for 2024 and 2025 under his company, Edgar Entertainment. In July 2025, Saakyan acquired the franchise license for Israel at Miss Cosmo selecting a Miss Cosmo Israel as well.

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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. Having a criminal record or possessing erotic photos or videos rendered contestant ineligible.

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International crowns

• One – Rina Mor (winner, Miss Universe 1976)
• One – Linor Abargil (winner, Miss World 1998)
• One – Lilach Ben-Simon (winner, Miss Europe 1994)
• Two – Miss Asia Pacific International:
• Nurit Mizrachi (winner, 1985)
• Tali Ben-Harush (winner, 1992)

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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)

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Track records

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Miss Universe

On 20 July 2021, Miss Universe confirmed that the competition would be held in the Israeli city of Eilat in December 2021.

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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 Beta Israel to win the title

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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

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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)

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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)

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Venue

• International Convention Center
• Menora Mivtachim Arena
• Cinerama theater
• Haifa International Convention Center

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Titleholders

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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

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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.

1950	Miriam Yaron	Carmela Fargi	Yaffa Schpitzer
1951	Michal Har'el	colspan="2"
1952	Ora Vered	colspan="2"
1953	Chavatzelet Dror	Miriam Gershoni	Viorika Artzman
1954	Aviva Pe'er	colspan="2"
1955	Ilana Carmel	Miriam Kotler	Varda Cohen
1956	Sara Tal	Rina Weiss	Tzipora A’haronovitz
1957	Corinne Ben-Ami	Sara Elimor	Yaffa Raich
1958	Miriam Hadar	Ilana Shani	Dafna Adir
1959	Rina Yitzchakov	Ziva Shomrat	Diana Gubernik

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1960–2021

1960	Aliza Gur	Shulamit Shavit	rowspan="3"	rowspan="11"	rowspan="19"
1961	Dalia Lion	Rina Kishon
1962	Jehudit Mazor	Nurit Ne’eman
1963	Ester Kfir	Sherin Ibrahim	Sara Talmi
1964	Ronit Rinat	Ofira Margalit	Jehudit Peri
1965	Aliza Sadeh	Iris Bar-Or	Shlomit Gat
1966	Aviva Israeli	Yaffa Sharir	Segula Gohr
1967	Batia Kabiri	Dalia Regev	Daniela Hod
1968	Miri Zamir	Miriam Peri	Sara Dvir
1969	Chava Levy	Tehila Selah	Orit Peleg
1970	Moshit Tsiporin	Irit Lavi	Miri Katz
1971	Ester Orgad	Miri Ben-David	Pnina Alon	Orly Goren
1972	Ilana Goren	Hanna Urdan	Ronit Gafni	Shoshi Mazor
1973	Limor Schreibman-Sharir	Chaja Katzir	Aviva Magor	Elina Paz
1974	Edna Levy	Lea Keinan	Nurit Bar	Eva Adar
1975	Orit Cooper	Atida Mor	Pazit Li’ad	Pazit Eran
1976	Rina Mor Miss Universe 1976	Levana Abarbanel	Yif’at Netzer	Nurit Amir
1977	Zehava Vardi	Ya’el Hovav	Ronit Makover	Sara Hen
1978	Dorit Jellinek	Sari Alon	Lea Avgi	Tammy (Tamar) Liebermann
1979	Vered Polgar	Dana Peler	Helly Ben-David	Ronit Ben-Bassat	Racheli Aizenshtadt
1980	Illana Diamant	Anat Zamir	Irit Altmann	Lea Barkai	Nira Ferder
1981	Dana Wexler	Ninnette Assur	Li’ora Akoka	Sarit Agiv
1982	Deborah Hess	Anat Kerem	Nava Hen	Rinat Eldar	Ya’el Milo
1983	Shim'ona Hollander	Yif’at Schechter	Sigal Fogel	Dorit Farkash	Anat Tzachor
1984	Sapir Koffmann	Iris Look	Pazit Cohen	Li’at Cohen	Rinat Hadashi
1985	Hilla Kelmann	Maja Wechtenhaim	Avivit Nachmany	Nurit Mizrachi Miss Asia Pacific 1985
1986	Nilly Drucker	Osnat Mo’as	Chava Distenfeld		Ester Sarid
1987	Yamit Noy	Ya’el Gertler	Ofir Alony	Dafna Ben-Yitzchak	Nirit Elyovich
1988	Shirley Ben-Mordechai	Dganit Cohen	Galit Aharoni	Limor Magen	Revital Mor
1989	Nicole Halperin	Ronit Siton	Limor Fishel		Galit Farber
1990	Yvonna Krugliak	Ari’ela Tessler	Ravit Lichtenberg	Miriam Aharonson	Dafna Shahar
1991	Miri Goldfarb	Li’at Ditkovsky	Julia Stern	Orly Al’aluf	Efrat Bruner
1992	Ravit Asaf	Einat Zmora	Sarit Afangar	Ravit Kanfi
1993	Jana Khodirker	Tamara Porat	Anat Elimelech	Dana Avrish	Keren Levy
1994	Ravit Yarkoni	Shirley Schwartzberg	Nitzan Kirshenboim	Lilach Ben-Simon Miss Europe 1994	Natalie Cohen
1995	Jana Kalmann	Miri Bohadana	Michal Shtibel	Ilona Katz	Anat Bibi
1996	Taly Lewenthal	Liraz Mesilaty	Ann Konopny	Kim Roslikov	Keren Schechter
1997	Mirit Greenberg	Dikla Hamdi	Lital Shapira	Alexandra Schwartztokh	Chajki Oster
1998	Linor Abargil Miss World 1998	Hagit Raz	Galia Abramov	Ya’arit Barzilay	Milana Reznikov
1999	Rana Raslan	Jenny Chervony	Nofit Shevach	Galy Raz	Hen Talala
2000	Nirit Bakshi	Dana Dantes	Dana Farkash	Jasmine Lachovitz	rowspan="10"
2001	Ilanit Levi	Keren Schlimovitz	Dikla Elkabetz	Hanni Mayers
2002	Yamit Har-Noy	Karol Lowenstein	Shelly Dina’i	Dina Serby
2003	Sivan Klein	Miri Levy	Stavit Budin	Shahar Nehorai
2004	Gal Gadot	Rita Lukin	Li'or Keren	Helen Masala
2005	Elena Ralph	Keren Shacham	Moran Gerbi	Rinat Dukarker
2006	Yael Nizri	Anastasya Yentin	Tehila Mor	Hila Eran
2007	Liran Kohener	Sharon Kenent	Tal Gonen	Meital Sadon
2008	Tamar Ziskind	Shunit Faragi	No'a Avrahami	Linn Mor
2009	Adi Rodnitzky	Yulia Dyment	Noy Michaelov	Gal Erez
2010	Shavit Wiesel	Bat-El Jobi	Adaya Zeidman	Adi Sasi	Eden Shukrun
2011	Ella Ran	Kim Edri	Bar Marom	Kim Akafi	Hani Maccabi
2012	Shani Hazan	Lina Machola	May Yoshia	Noy Abner	Suf Azulai
2013	Yityish Titi Aynaw	Bar Hefer	Sabina Yusupova	Hila Balilti	Ofir Kapach
2014	Mor Maman	Doron Matalon	Tamar Skorsirb	Sasha Alexsandra Shuturov	Natalie Prepelitzki
2015	Maayan Keren	Avigail Alfatov	Victoria Khersonsky	Itay Barash	rowspan="7"
2016	Karin Alia	Yam Kaspers Anshel	Naama Deutsch	Shay Berkovich
2017	Rotem Rabi	Adar Gandelsman	Noya Ariely	Dana Solomon
2018	Nikol Reznikov	Michal Mordov	Emma Eytan	Talleen Abu Hanna
2019	Sella Sharlin	Uliana Fridrih	Lior Cohen	Inbar Moscovici
2020	Tehila Levi	Tali Krasnopolski	Noa Teomi	Chen Shaul
2021	Noa Cochva	Yarin Buzaglo	Alin Gurevich	Ofir Korsia

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2024-2025

: The winner of Miss Universe Israel represents her country at Miss Universe. On occasion, when the winner does not qualify (due to age) a runner-up is sent.

2024	Ofir Korsia	Abigail Kikirov	September 2024	Florida, United States
2025	Melanie Shiraz	Danielle Yablonka	July 2025	Florida, United States

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Titleholders under Miss Israel org.

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Miss Universe Israel

: Since 1952, Israel competes at major international pageants. Israel has three international winners namely; Miss Universe 1976, Miss World 1998 and Miss Europe According to the Miss Israel Organization, traditionally Miss Israel represents the country at Miss Universe. In 2006 Miss Israel changed format with the grand winner competing in the Miss World competition and second place automatically declared "Miss Universe Israel." In 2013, the winner competed in Miss Universe 2013 in Russia. Began in 2018 the format was back to past era; the main winner goes to Miss Universe.

2025	Central	Melanie Shiraz	מלאני שירז	Unplaced
2024	Central	Ofir Korsia	אופיר קורסיה	Unplaced
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2021	Central	Noa Cochva	נועה כוכבה	Unplaced
2020	Tel Aviv	Tehila Levi	תהילה לוי	Unplaced
2019	Northern	Sella Sharlin	סלה שרלין	Unplaced
2018	Central	Nikol Reznikov	ניקול רזניקוב	Unplaced
2017	Southern	Adar Gandelsman	אדר גנדלמן	Unplaced
2016	Tel Aviv	Yam Kaspers Anshel	ים קספר אנשל	Unplaced
2015	Northern	Avigail Alfatov	אביגיל אלפתוב	Unplaced
2014	Judea and Samaria Area	Doron Matalon	דורון מטלון	Unplaced
2013	Haifa	Yityish Titi Aynaw	ייתייש טיטי איינאו	Unplaced
2012		Lina Makhuli	לינה מחולי	Unplaced
2011	Southern	Kim Edri	קים אדרי	Unplaced
2010	Tel Aviv	Bat-el Jobi	בת-אל ג'ובי	Unplaced
2009	Haifa District	Julia Dyment	ג'וליה דימנט	Unplaced
2008	Haifa District	Shunit Faragi	שונית פרגי	Unplaced
2007	Tel Aviv	Sharon Kenett	שרון קנט	Unplaced
2006	Haifa District	Anastacia Entin	אנסטסיה אנטין	Unplaced
2005	Tel Aviv	Elena Ralph	אלנה ראלף	Top 10
2004	Haifa	Gal Gadot	גל גדות	Unplaced
2003		Sivan Klein	סיון קליין	Unplaced
2002	Judea and Samaria Area	Yamit Har-Noy	ימית הר נוי	Unplaced
2001	Haifa District	Ilanit Levi	אילנית לוי	Top 10
2000	Southern	Nirit Bakshi	נירית בקשי	Unplaced
1999	Haifa District	Rana Raslan	רנה רסלאן	Unplaced
1998	Tel Aviv	Hagit Raz	חגית רז	Unplaced
1997	Southern	Dikla Hamdi	דקלה חמדי	Unplaced
1996	Southern	Liraz Mesilaty	לירז מסילטי	Unplaced
1995	Tel Aviv	Jana Kalmann	יאנה קלמן	Unplaced
1994	Tel Aviv	Ravit Yarkoni	רוית ירקוני	Unplaced
1993	Central	Jana Khodirker	יאנה חודירקר	Unplaced
1992	Haifa District	Einat Zmora	עינת זמורה	Unplaced
1991	Central	Miri Goldfarb	מירי גולדפרב	Unplaced
1990	Tel Aviv	Yvonna Krugliak	איבונה קרוגליאק	Unplaced
1989	Tel Aviv	Nicole Halperin	ניקול הלפרין	Unplaced
1988	Tel Aviv	Shirley Ben-Mordechai	שירלי בן מרדכי	Unplaced
1987	Central	Yamit Noy	ימית נוי	Unplaced
1986	Tel Aviv	Nilly Drucker	נילי דרוקר	Unplaced
1985	Tel Aviv	Hilla Kelmann	הילה קלמן	Unplaced	Best National Costume (2nd Runner-up)
1984	Central	Sapir Koffmann	ספיר קופמן	Unplaced
1983	Tel Aviv	Shim'ona Hollander	שמעונה הולנדר	Unplaced
1982	Tel Aviv	Deborah Hess	דבורה הס	Unplaced
1981	Tel Aviv	Dana Wexler	דנה וקסלר	Unplaced
1980	Central	Illana Shoshan	אילנה שושן	Unplaced
1979	Northern	Vered Polgar	ורד פולגר	Unplaced
1978	Haifa District	Dorit Jellinek	דורית ילינק	Top 12
1977	Haifa District	Zehava Vardi	זהבה ורדי	Unplaced
1976	Haifa District	Rina Messinger	רינה מסינגר	Miss Universe 1976
1975	Tel Aviv	Orit Cooper	אורית קופר	Top 12
1974	Central	Edna Levy	עדנה לוי	Unplaced
1973	Tel Aviv	Limor Schreibman-Sharir	לימור שרייבמן-שריר
1972	Haifa District	Ilana Goren	אילנה גורן
1971	Southern	Ester Orgad	אסתר אורגד	Top 12	Best Swimsuit
1970	Central	Moshit Tsiporin	מושית ציפורין	Unplaced
1969	Haifa District	Chava Levy	חוה לוי	3rd Runner Up	Best Swimsuit
1968	Haifa District	Miriam Friedman	מרים פרידמן	Top 15	Best Swimsuit
1967	Tel Aviv	Batia Kabiri	בתיה כביר	4th Runner Up	Best Swimsuit
1966	Tel Aviv	Aviva Israeli	אביבה ישראל	4th Runner Up	Best National Costume
1965	Tel Aviv	Aliza Sadeh	עליזה שדה	Top 15
1964	Haifa District	Ronit Rinat	רונית רינת
1963	Tel Aviv	Sherin Ibrahim	שרין איברהים	Unplaced	Best National Costume
1962	Tel Aviv	Yehudit Mazor	יהודית מזור	Top 15	Best National Costume (2nd Runner-up)
1961	Haifa District	Atida Pisanti	עתידה פיזנטי	Top 15
1960	Haifa District	Aliza Gur	עליזה גור	Top 15
1959	Tel Aviv	Rina Yitzchakov	רינה יצחקוב	Top 15
1958	Tel Aviv	Miriam Hadar	מרים הדר	Top 15
1957	Tel Aviv	Corinne Ben-Ami	עטרה ברזילי	Unplaced
1956	Tel Aviv	Sara Tal	שרה טל	Top 15
1955	Tel Aviv	Ilana Carmel	אילנה קרמל	Unplaced
1954	Tel Aviv	Aviva Pe'er	אביבה פאר	Unplaced
1953	Tel Aviv	Chavatzelet Dror	חבצלת דרור	Did not compete
1952	Tel Aviv	Ora Vered	אורה ורד	Unplaced

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Rankings in Miss Universe

+ !Position !# !Year(s)
Miss Universe	1	1976
Top 5/3	6	1964, 1966, 1967, 1969, 1972, 1973
Top 10/12	5	1971, 1975, 1978, 2001, 2005
Top 15/16	8	1956, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1965, 1968

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See also

• LaIsha
• Israeli fashion
• Culture of Israel

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External links

• missisrael.ynet.co.il

Categories: Miss Israel, 1950 Establishments In Israel, Annual Events In Israel, Beauty Pageants In Israel, Israeli Awards, Israeli Television Shows, Israel, Recurring Events Established In 1950

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