This Palestinian Woman Can Really Pump Iron

Image by Anoush Belian’s Facebook

By Lior Zaltzman September 3, 2015

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

Lior Zaltzman was the Forward’s Digital Fellow. Follow her on twitter @liorca.

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