Melanie Shiraz, a former Miss Israel, is extending another invitation to New York City first lady Rama Duwaji after their uncomfortable Brooklyn cafe encounter went viral in May. This time, Shiraz says she’ll pick up the coffee tab.
Shiraz publicly challenged Duwaji, the wife of Mayor Zohran Mamdani, to sit down with her for a second conversation after the two crossed paths at a Brooklyn coffee shop.
The former beauty queen said she is prepared to discuss difficult subjects, including Duwaji’s outspoken pro-Palestinian views and criticism of Israel.
“The last time I was here, you may remember that so-called Mayor Mamdani’s wife wasn’t especially interested in speaking with me,” Shiraz said in an Instagram video posted Tuesday. “Because I believe in building bridges, I wanted to extend a personal invitation. Rama, coffee is on me.”
“We can talk about Israel, the Middle East, or anything else you want,” she continued while walking through New York City. “And that invitation is open to anyone who has an issue with me or my beliefs. I don’t bite, although I might ask questions you’d rather not answer.”
Shiraz told The Post that she wanted to give Duwaji “another chance to do the right thing.”
“It seems that speaking about Israelis is much easier than actually listening to one,” Shiraz said.
She said she would ask Duwaji to explain in person how she reconciles her public statements and reported associations with accounts from survivors of Hamas’ atrocities.
Duwaji has faced scrutiny over anti-Israel views, including a series of old social media posts that resurfaced and sparked controversy. One post said Tel Aviv “shouldn’t exist in the first place.”
Shiraz accused Duwaji and Mamdani of making New York City, home to the largest Jewish population outside Israel, feel more hostile and unsafe for Jewish residents.
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“So congratulations,” she added sarcastically. “That’s quite an achievement.”
Mamdani has described his wife as a “private person” who held no official role in either his campaign or City Hall.
The Miss Israel organization cut ties with Shiraz, who held the 2025-2026 title, during the summer after she alleged that the pageant had been rigged. She studied at UC Berkeley and previously worked in Silicon Valley’s technology sector before moving back to Tel Aviv.
In May, the 27-year-old told The Post that Duwaji “brushed me off” after discovering she was Israeli. Shiraz said their interaction initially seemed friendly and that she began recording a selfie video with Duwaji.
Duwaji, who has also faced criticism over reports that she once liked posts appearing to celebrate the Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist massacre in Israel, initially smiled at the camera. She then appeared to move out of the frame while speaking to Shiraz.
According to Shiraz, Duwaji’s “tone changed” after learning her identity, and she “couldn’t allow herself to engage with me.”
Shiraz made headlines earlier this year after confronting what she called “hateful” protesters at Stanford University, where one demonstrator grabbed a sign from her.
She said she has continued traveling across the United States since that incident.
A spokesperson for the mayor did not respond to a request for comment.
