Amelie Botbol | JNS
Raised in a Hasidic home in Jerusalem, Ayelet Raymond was taught that women’s beauty should be concealed “like a precious diamond kept inside its box.”
Life, she explained, centered on good deeds and prayer, with no exposure to television or fashion. “Pageants were foreign to me — I never imagined stepping on a stage,” she told JNS.
Raymond was recently crowned Miss World Influencer 2025, competing against contestants from 71 countries. She described the pageant as an “incredible experience” spanning five days, with intense photoshoots that formed part of the scoring process and ultimately led to her victory.
“It really projects who you are, and I think it’s a big deal for the Jewish people,” she said, noting that pro-Israel Instagram accounts are often blocked or suspended. “For me to stand out among so many influencers as an Israeli is really a big deal.”
Her self-designed “Jerusalem of Gold” costume — featuring a golden Menorah, a large Star of David and olive leaves — left a lasting impression on the judges.
“I’m proud to show my Jewish identity on a global stage,” she said. “The golden Menorah represents our eternal connection to the Holy Temple. … The olive leaves honor the timeless Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, where Israelis and rabbis are buried, and the big golden Star of David shines as a symbol of devotion to my faith.”
Raymond goes by the nickname “Kosher Barbie.” After moving from Israel to the United States, people often struggled to pronounce her name. “Once, at the New York Film Academy in a ballet class, the teacher looked at me and said I looked like Barbie. The name stuck,” she recalled.
Though she had no background in pageants, Raymond competed in Miss Universe Israel 2024 and holds the title of Miss Netanya 2024. She has since used her platform to advocate for Israel — a mission she says will take on new significance now that she has been crowned Miss World Influencer 2025.
“I walk with the Kosher Barbie dress in New York City, connecting with people on a personal level,” she said. “Muslim kids run toward me asking for pictures. People look at me almost as if I were a Disney princess. I bring a smile to people’s faces.”
