Israel will be represented at Miss Universe 2026 in Puerto Rico, United States by Danielle Yablonka, 25, a granddaughter of Holocaust survivors. It is the 75th edition of the international beauty pageant currently based in Samut Prakan, Thailand and New York City, New York, USA.
Danielle Yablonka
Based in Miami, Florida, USA, Yablonka is a Jewish activist, artist and model. She studied fine arts, studio arts and fashion design at Design and Architecture Senior High School in Miami from 2015 to 2019.
From 2019 to 2020, Yablonka studied community art at the California College of the Arts San Francisco, California, USA. After encountering antisemitism on campus, she began her public advocacy for Israel.
From 2020 to 2023, Yablonka attended Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida where she earned a bachelor’s degree in communication studies with a minor in Jewish studies. In 2025, she founded her jewelry brand DY Judaica.
Miss Universe Israel 2025
Herzliya is a city at the northern part of the Tel Aviv District of Israel. The city was named after Theodor Herzl, the founder of modern Zionism.
At Miss Universe Israel 2025, Herzliya was represented by Yablonka. On July 17, 2025, she and 10 other candidates competed for the title at Hilton Miami Aventura in Aventura, Florida.
It was the second edition of the national beauty pageant that selects Israel’s Miss Universe candidate. These were the results:
- Miss Universe Israel 2025: Melanie Shiraz (Caesarea)
- 1st runner-up: Danielle Yablonka (Herzliya)
- 2nd runner-up: Adela Cojab (Tel Aviv)
- Top 6: Alexandra Gerchik (Haifa), Maia-Gili Arava (Holon), Kessem Abergel (Ramat Hasharon)
- Top 11: Leehee Mintz (Be’er Sheva), Meitav Wortman (Eilat), Tali Matoko (Gedera), Hila Netaneli (Jerusalem), Hana Revivo (Kiryat Gat)
On November 21, 2025, Shiraz represented Israel at Miss Universe 2025 and competed against 119 other candidates at the Impact Challenger Hall in Pak Kret, Nonthaburi, Thailand. She was unplaced.
Miss Universe 2026
On December 3, 2025, Yablonka turned 25. On July 3, 2026, she was officially appointed Miss Universe Israel 2026 and crowned at the Jewish Museum of Florida of Florida International University in Miami Beach, Florida.
Miss Israel Organization president Joseph Shine and Miss Universe Israel 2024 Ofir Korsia attended the crowning ceremony. Shine stated, “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.”
In November 2026, Yablonka will represent Israel at Miss Universe 2026 at the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She will compete against more than 120 other candidates including the following:
- Jogersa Beqiri, 24, Albania
- Wanderleia Rodrigues, 23, Angola
- Tamara Rogouski, 28, Argentina
- Caroline Porras, 24, Bonaire
- Dabilo Moses, 26, Botswana
- Audrey Black, 30, Cameroon
- Weiyi Chen, 22, China
- Mariale Acosta, 24, Costa Rica
- Antea Mršić, 24, Croatia
- Sophia Osako, 22, Czech Republic
- Jessi Kalambayi, 27, Democratic Republic
- Sofia Cordova, 27, El Salvador
- Chloé Deher, 31, Guadeloupe
- Kiss Kamila, 25, Hungary
- Sigríður Hrafnkelsdóttir, 27, Iceland
- Aideen Howard, 22, Ireland
- Sayuki Ito, 26, Japan
- Alina Ekaterinecheva, 22, Kazakhstan
- Evisa Pacolli, 21, Kosovo
- Medina Ermekova, 24, Kyrgyzstan
- Aminath Yuin Mohamed, 18, Maldives
- Maëva Toumbou Dani, 33, Mayotte
- Aleksandra Ivezaj, 22, Montenegro
- May Grace Parry, 31, Myanmar
- Melissa Bottema, 26, Netherlands
- Gretha Matiauda, 25, Paraguay
- Luren Leticia Márquez Canales, 27, Peru
- Beatrice Rebecca “Bea” Millan Windorski, 24, Philippines
- Jennifer Barretto, 27, Puerto Rico
- Bernella Velinor, 33, Saint Lucia
- Katti Fofanah, Sierra Leone
- Anna Lickova, 25, Slovakia
- Nimhara Sasindi, 25, Sri Lanka
- Sarrah Brahmi, 33, Tunisia
- Anna Nikonova, 22, Ukraine
- Jenna-Monét Queeley, 21, United States Virgin Islands
- Lucía Piñeyro, 35, Uruguay
- Clara Federica Vegas Goetz, 23, Venezuela
- Mubanga Hatyoka, 24, Zambia
- Roseanna Hall, 34, Zimbabwe
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