Miss Universe contestants Saly Greige, Miss Lebanon, and Doron Matalon, Miss Israel, are at the center of a political firestorm, just because they took a picture together. Greige is in serious trouble, but she has since apologized and blamed Matalon for photobombing her.
Greige explained in a Facebook post that she was going to have her picture taken with Miss Japan and Miss Slovenia. However, Miss Israel, who she had been trying to avoid, jumped in and took a selfie with the trio behind her.
“I was having a photo with Miss Japan, Miss Slovenia and myself; suddenly Miss Israel jumped in, took a selfie, and put it on her social media…this is what happened and I hope to have your full support in the Miss Universe contest,” Greige wrote.
Matalon wrote that she was saddened by the reaction to the photo, especially since the two countries are neighbors.
“It doesn't surprise me, but it still makes me sad,” she wrote. “Too bad you can not put the hostility out of the game, only for three weeks of an experience of a lifetime that we can meet girls from around the world and also from the neighboring country.”
Greige has every reason to be nervous about how her government will react to the photo. As the New York Post notes, 1993 Miss Lebanon Ghada al-Turk had her title stripped after a photo of her smiling with Miss Israel was published.
The Miss Universe competition is on Jan. 25 in Miami.