The Queen of Hearts with a Healing Touch

posted on: Jul 1, 2026

Photo Credits: Lana Abugharbieh

By Jahnvi Chopra / Arab America Contributing Writer

Introducing Lana Abugharbieh

Lana Abugharbieha, an emergency and trauma RN, medical mission volunteer and mother, won the Mrs. Arab USA title on June twentieth of this year. She was selected as the winner for her outstanding dedication to her work in the medical field, serving patients domestically and abroad, and for her contributions to global awareness of the ongoing genocide in Palestine. 

Especially notable is her Instagram page, @nurse_lana, which she uses to highlight the resulting deaths and human rights violations by Israel’s sustained siege on cities in Palestine and surrounding countries. Abugharbieh took her activism to the site of the humanitarian crisis, having travelled to Rafah, Gaza, multiple times to administer aid to communities in critical need. With twenty years of nursing experience under her belt, she was able to treat countless patients with limited resources and little to no stability in the hospitals she operated in.

Her Journey in Gaza

Her medical missions were perhaps some of her most formative experiences as a nurse, as expressed in her two interviews with the Institute for Palestine Studies. There, she goes into detail about her time treating people with injuries she had never seen before in the U.S. Abugharbieh describes the vast majority of people she saw suffering from malnutrition, people dead with sniper bullets in all parts of their bodies and children with burns that made them unrecognizable. She notes that her difficulties helping patients were exacerbated by the inaccessibility to adequate resources, specifically mentioning antibiotics, bandages or gauze, paper for EKG machines, antipsychotic medications, and much more.¹

Another obstacle that hindered her ability to care for her patients during this time was the frequent bombings. In a journal entry, Abugharbieh records bombings and drone strikes occurring at all times of the day or night. “It was torturous,” she states, recounting a story about a patient of hers who was targeted, attacked, and left with numerous deadly wounds by Israeli soldiers.²

The Award

Winning this award was also an act of acknowledgment and celebration of her Palestinian heritage. Her identity has long dealt with erasure, and the state of Palestine itself functions as a country, yet still lacks full international recognition. Through a pageant lens, not only were her contributions spotlighted, but her elegance, beauty and ability to speak in front of an audience and a panel of judges were as well. Winning this contest allowed her to elevate her platform further and spread her message.

Since the titles were awarded, some controversies have surfaced related to sexual harassment and assault perpetrated by the founder of the Miss and Mrs. Arab USA pageant, Ashraf Elgamal.³ Many of the contestants have publicly spoken out about their experiences, and some of the awardees have relinquished their titles, including Abugharbieh. 

On her Instagram page, she made a post regarding her status as the winner of Mrs. Arab USA, stating, “After careful reflection over the past week, I have made the decision to step down and formally relinquish the title. My commitment to my platform, my community, and the advocacy work close to my heart remains entirely unchanged. I will continue to champion these causes independently, with the same passion and integrity I have always maintained.” 

Her Impact

Though her association with the Mrs. Arab USA pageant is no longer pertinent, it is clear that her ability to win underscores her immense impact on the political activism, medical and humanitarian sectors. Evidently, Abugharbieh shines even without this award, notable for her in-depth interviews with news organizations, medical research, and continued patronage of her Palestinian community.

In addition to those accomplishments, Abugharbieh founded the Vital Wellness Group, where she now focuses on aesthetic and cosmetic treatments. She recently published a book, Healing Under Fire, on her experience treating patients in Gaza, and helped form “Healthcare Workers for Humanity,” which raises awareness about the importance of medical aid in Palestine. She also partnered with Citizens for Just Policy and made a documentary regarding her service at the European Gaza Hospital.⁴

Abugharbieh shares her passion for this issue by speaking at events and giving talks at schools. She continues to be a proud and diligent advocate of a permanent ceasefire in Gaza so that the people can receive the care they need.⁵

Photo Credits: Lana Abugharbieh

1. Institute for Palestine Studies ↩︎
2. Institute for Palestine Studies ↩︎
3. Instagram ↩︎
4. Instagram ↩︎
5. Institute for Palestine Studies ↩︎

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