Inside the New York Senate Visit: Miss Universe Israel 2024 and Cultural Engagement

By: UFIRST Production

On a winter morning in New York, the grandeur of state governance met the modern power of global pageantry. Miss Universe Israel 2024, Ofir Korsia, walked through the historic halls of the New York Senate—not in a gown, but as a symbol. Accompanied by a delegation of organizers, sponsors, and cultural ambassadors, her presence was not ceremonial. It was intentional.

The invitation, extended by Brooklyn Senator Michael Novakhov, marked a significant cultural moment: a formal acknowledgment of the evolving role beauty pageants can play in shaping diplomacy, identity, and leadership on an international scale.

With her stood Edgar Saakyan, founder of Edgar Entertainment and national director of Miss Universe Israel. Saakyan is no stranger to the intersections of glamour and meaning. His vision has long challenged the traditional perception of pageantry as a mere contest of aesthetics. Under his leadership, Miss Universe Israel has become a platform for public engagement, cultural pride, and global presence.

“Miss Universe is no longer just about the crown,” Saakyan told us. “It’s about connection. It’s about showing the world that women can lead, represent, and inspire far beyond the runway. This Senate visit suggests that what we’re doing resonates—even at the highest levels of governance.”

He’s not wrong. The day was filled with conversations not just about dresses, but about diplomacy. About young women navigating platforms that have traditionally limited them, now using those platforms to advocate for education, inclusion, and global cooperation.

Also present was Joseph Shine, vice president and investor, whose company Blue Ocean Venture Funds co-sponsors the pageant. Shine, a quiet force behind much of the organization’s global infrastructure, views the project as a cultural investment.

“This isn’t just a beauty contest,” he said. “It’s soft power. It’s international engagement. It’s a stage that reaches across borders.”

Few embody that spirit more than Ofir Korsia herself. The 23-year-old actress and model from Rishon LeZion is fluent in Spanish, active in diplomacy, and already building a career that blends public presence with private purpose. In the weeks leading up to this visit, she participated in Beverly Hills Fashion Week, attended diplomatic events with the Israeli Consulate in Miami, and was featured by Telemundo.

Yet, standing in the halls of the New York Senate, her posture was not that of a model. It was that of a delegate.

“I came to this title knowing I had a responsibility,” Korsia said. “To my culture, my country, and young women watching. I’m not here just to wear a sash—I’m here to open doors.”

Doors were indeed opened—both literally and figuratively. Joining her was Miss Jerusalem 2024 Mina Levitis, another standout from the national competition. Levitis, whose grace and voice have made her a favorite among audiences, spoke to the deep symbolism of being in such a space.

“It’s more than personal,” she said. “To represent Jerusalem in a place like this—it means a lot. We’re showing that modern Israeli women are proud, capable, and ready to engage with the world.”

The moment wasn’t lost on Michael Levitis, ambassador of the Miss Universe Israel project. A longtime supporter of cultural initiatives, Levitis viewed the visit as important validation—not only of the organization’s growth, but of its purpose.

“We’re bridging continents, narratives, and generations,” he said. “This isn’t a vanity project. It’s a statement about what representation can look like in the 21st century.”

And perhaps most notably, the visit also revealed how far the conversation around pageantry has come. Where critics once dismissed such events as outdated or performative, the Miss Universe Israel delegation stood as evidence of transformation. The participants were not just beautiful—they were articulate, diplomatic, and purposeful.

Published by Joseph T.