Support Giana Alzein's Miss Arab USA Journey!

My name is Giana Alzein, and I am a proud Palestinian-American woman whose journey has taken me from the culturally rich streets of Abu Dhabi to the research labs of the University of Iowa... and now to the stage as a Miss Arab USA 2025 finalist!

Growing up Palestinian in the UAE, I was surrounded by community, heritage, and an unshakeable pride in who I am. In Abu Dhabi, my identity felt natural—I was among people who understood, who shared similar histories, who didn't require explanations for the weight we carry or the resilience we've inherited. But when I arrived in America for college, I encountered a different reality. It was rarely overtly aggressive hostility , but something more subtle and perhaps more isolating: the gentle suggestions to keep certain parts of myself quiet, the awkward silences or sudden conversation shifts that followed when Palestine was mentioned. It was in this careful dance of navigating these different spaces where I began to understand what it meant to live between worlds... and that those moments of discomfort weren't obstacles to avoid, but invitations to create the conversations that needed to happen.

I graduated from the University of Iowa with my Bachelors in Psychology, and currently work in Clinical Research with families navigating Autism evaluations. The most difficult part of a diagnosis is always the parent's reactions: some express their fears of the world defining their child by their diagnosis, some wrestle with their own misconceptions about what autism entailed. It was important to create a space for parents to express these concerns, and showing up with empathy and compassion is how the real healing begins. It reminded me of my own experience facing assumptions being Arab and Palestinian, and the process of reclaiming your power in a world full of misinformation.

This is why representation matters so deeply; when we don't see ourselves reflected anywhere, we start to believe that our experiences are abnormal rather than valid ways of being human.

That's exactly why I applied to Miss Arab USA 2025.

It's about visibility—standing proudly as a daughter of Palestine, as a study-abroad independent student, and as an Arab woman who refuses to be reduced to one thing. It's about representing not just where we come from, but what we're capable of building when we're given the chance to be seen.

As a finalist, I have the extraordinary opportunity to support The Arab American Organization (AAO), founded by Ashraf Elgamal, a Phoenix-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that has been preserving our culture and empowering our communities since 2008

Your donation means you are investing in programs that translate documents for families who don't speak English yet, funding arts programs that help young Arab-Americans celebrate their heritage, and supporting advocacy that ensures our civil rights are protected.

Most of all, you're helping prove that one voice, when amplified by a community that believes in its power, can create change that matters.

To remain eligible for the $10,000 conditional prize, each finalist must raise at least $1,000 for AAO by July 13. Every single dollar you contribute will be forwarded directly to AAO—no administrative fees, no deductions. While GoFundMe donations aren't automatically tax-deductible, they are tax-deductible through AAO's 501(c)(3) status.

I will share every update, every receipt, and keep this campaign completely transparent. Because that's what we do when we're building something bigger than ourselves—we do it in the light, with integrity, with pride.

Thank you for seeing me. Thank you for believing in what's possible when we refuse to make ourselves smaller.

With gratitude,

Giana Alzein

Miss Arab USA 2025 Finalist