President Obama’s team made sure that when the president arrives at a gala dinner hosted by Israel’s President Shimon Peres, the first black Ms. Israel, Yityish Aynaw, would be in attendance. Aynaw, who is of Ethiopian origin, is the first black woman to win the Israeli pageant.
She told a local newspaper that she was inspired by President Obama becoming the first American black president and even made him the topic of her high school essay.
“For me, he is a role model who broke down barriers, a source of inspiration that proves that every person really can reach any height, regardless of their religion, race or gender,” she said.
Aynaw’s win was symbolically important for Ethiopian Israelis considering how many of them have been harassed and mistreated by both Israeli citizens and officials in recent months.
Many Israelis took to the streets last year to demand that African Israelis be deported. After that, news broke that Israeli health officials had been giving Ethiopian women contraception injections without their knowledge. The Israeli government initially denied this charge, but later admitted to the practice.
Unity in diversity irrespective of colour.