Miss Israel Says Encounter With NYC Mayor’s Wife Turned Tense at Brooklyn Café

NEW YORK — Israel’s current beauty queen said an unexpected meeting with the wife of New York City’s mayor at a Brooklyn café ended awkwardly after an initially friendly exchange.

Melanie Shiraz said she briefly interacted with Rama Duwaji during a weekend visit to the city, describing the encounter as cordial at first before the tone shifted.

According to Shiraz, the interaction changed after she identified herself, and the conversation ended shortly afterward. She said she had hoped for a more substantive exchange.

Duwaji did not publicly comment on the encounter, and the office of Mayor Zohran Mamdani declined to address the report.

The account comes amid ongoing scrutiny of past social media activity linked to the mayor’s wife, which previously drew criticism and prompted a public apology.

Shiraz, who has been traveling in the United States for events and speaking engagements, said she advocates for dialogue despite disagreements.