Danielle Yablonka was crowned Miss Universe Israel 2026 by the Miss Israel Organization on Friday, after the pageant has recently been marred by controversy over the competition's legitimacy.
The crowning ceremony took place at the FIU Jewish Museum of Florida and was attended by the president of the Miss Israel Organization, Joseph Shine, and Miss Universe Israel 2024 Ofir Korsia.
Yablonka previously competed in the Miss Universe Israel 2025 pageant and was crowned First Runner-Up.
In a statement regarding Yablonka’s crowning, the Miss Israel Organization explained that due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, the Miss Israel pageant was not held.
Instead, the Miss Israel Selection Committee appointed Yablonka to serve as their 2026 representative for the upcoming Miss Universe competition in Puerto Rico.
“The Miss Israel Organization remains steadfast in its mission to celebrate the strength, diversity, and resilience of Israeli women,” said Joseph Shine, president of the Miss Israel Organization. “While this year’s circumstances required an exceptional process, our commitment to representing Israel on the global stage has never wavered. Danielle Yablonka embodies the values, grace, and determination that define our nation, and we are very proud to have her represent Israel at Miss Universe.
Next Miss Israel may not be Israeli, 2025 winner warns 'Post' about rigged pageant
The next Miss Israel may not be Israeli and may be part of a rigged competition, according to Miss Israel 2025 Melanie Shiraz, who warned that the same franchise holder that had allegedly subjected her to threats and extortion was stripping the institution of its Israeli character.
From the small pool of preselected candidates, only one had recently acquired Israeli citizenship. Shiraz understood that the new Miss Israel would be asked by the franchise owner, Edgar Entertainment, to apply for Israeli citizenship before the Miss Universe competition.
“I represented Israel during one of the most difficult periods in our country’s history. That’s why it has been deeply upsetting to watch the title become increasingly disconnected from Israel itself,” said Shiraz. “A title called Miss Israel should belong to Israelis and give voice to the people whose story it is supposed to tell. If it no longer does, then what exactly does Miss Israel mean anymore?”
Michael Starr contributed to this report.