Miss Israel Melanie Shiraz said she had a tense encounter with Rama Duwaji, the wife of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, at a Brooklyn cafe, claiming Duwaji ended the exchange after learning Shiraz was Israeli.
Shiraz said the encounter took place Sunday at a cafe in Williamsburg, where Duwaji was seated next to her. Shiraz, 27, said she was in New York for an event at the Israeli Consulate.
“She sat right next to me. What are the odds?” Shiraz said.
According to Shiraz, the exchange began warmly. She said the two spoke briefly about political issues and began recording a video together. But Shiraz said the tone changed after she introduced herself as Miss Israel.
“I told her I was Miss Israel, and her tone changed,” Shiraz said.
“I had told her I’m Miss Israel, and then she didn’t want to engage with me anymore. Shocker,” she said.
Shiraz said Duwaji initially agreed to a photo or video, then asked not to appear once Shiraz identified herself.
“She was polite but clearly changed her tone,” Shiraz said. “As soon as I did, she said, ‘Sorry’ and asked if it was a video and said she didn’t want to anymore.”
Shiraz said she tried to continue the conversation by raising Duwaji’s past public positions on Israel and stressing the need for dialogue.
“I told her what I think about the stuff she has said online, and that I believe that it’s important to engage in dialogue in which you don’t dehumanize the other side,” Shiraz said. “And she politely brushed me off and then refused to engage anymore.”
Duwaji has faced scrutiny over past social media activity related to Israel and the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks. She previously apologized for harmful posts, saying she understood the hurt she caused and was “truly sorry.”
Shiraz said she found it difficult to reconcile that apology with Duwaji’s refusal to speak with her.
“She has publicly addressed comments she made that were sympathetic to October 7 and dehumanizing of Israelis, yet she couldn’t allow herself to engage with me,” Shiraz said.
Duwaji has not publicly responded to Shiraz’s claims. Mamdani has previously said his wife is a private person with no formal role in his campaign or City Hall.