Why I left tech world to become ‘Miss Israel’
When I graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, and later earned my MBA at Tel Aviv University, I thought my future was written in code, product launches and pitch decks. I dove into the startup world, co-founding a venture that I believed could scale and change lives.
For years, I was laser-focused on proving myself in Israel’s hyper-competitive tech ecosystem. I was an entrepreneur, a strategist, a leader.
And then, I walked away.
People often ask why. Why would anyone leave a promising startup career — backed by years of education, hard work and sacrifice — to step into the world of beauty pageants? Why exchange investor meetings for a crown and stage lights?
For me, the answer was clear: representation.
Israel’s story is not told often enough or fairly enough on the world stage. As much as I loved building a company, I realized that startups weren’t the only way to represent innovation, courage, and resilience. “Miss Israel” is not just a pageant; it’s a platform. It’s a stage where one young woman can embody the complexity and beauty of a country that is both ancient and endlessly modern.
My decision wasn’t about abandoning technology; it was about expanding my mission. Tech gave me problem-solving skills, discipline and the ability to think globally. Those are tools I now bring into every interview, appearance and interaction as “Miss Israel.”
Standing on that stage, whether in Israel or at international events like the Eurovision Song Contest, I’m carrying the story of my nation — its diversity, its innovation and its humanity — into rooms and conversations that might otherwise never hear it.
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When I take the stage — whether at home or at shows abroad, from Israel to Thailand — I represent Israel proudly. And I hope that many smart, beautiful Jewish girls around the world will join me in standing up for our people, our nation and Am Yisrael.
Yes, it’s a challenge. Startup life trained me to thrive on challenges, but this is different. The world often misunderstands or misrepresents Israel. To stand proudly as a young Israeli woman and say, “This is who we are. This is what we represent,” is to put yourself at the front lines of cultural diplomacy. And just like in tech, the stakes are high, but so is the potential for impact.
I know this role will be scrutinized. I know it will come with critics. But I also know that when an Israeli woman walks onto a stage with confidence, intellect and grace, the world sees something it cannot ignore. That is worth the risk.
Leaving entrepreneurship for “Miss Israel” was not about leaving one dream for another. It was about recognizing that sometimes the most important startup isn’t a company. It’s the mission to represent, to inspire and to stand tall for a country that has given me everything.
And that, I believe, is a challenge worth doing.
Melanie Shiraz is “Miss Israel” 2025.
Write: Columnist@TheJewishStar.com
