This Palestinian Woman Can Really Pump Iron

Image by Anoush Belian’s Facebook
This is pretty cool!
, an Armenian-Palestinian from Jerusalem, became the first Palestinian female bodybuilder to participate and win a competition in Israel. She won “Miss Fitness” at a competition organized by the National Amateur Bodybuilders Association, also known as NABBA.
The Arab Christian contestant beat 4 other Israeli bodybuilders for the title, after only one year of intense training.
In 2005, Anoush also participated in a peace-themed beauty pageant that had both Palestinians and Jewish participants.

Image by Getty Images
From beauty pageants to body-building contests? We dig it. Congratulations, Anoush!
This Palestinian is Israel’s New Miss Fitness
Meet Israel’s new bodybuilding champion…a Palestinian.
Posted by AJ+ on Thursday, September 3, 2015
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