Noa Cochva

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Noa Cochva
נועה כוכבא
Miss Israel 2021, Noa Cochva
Born (1999-02-19) February 19, 1999
Bnei Atarot, Israel
Beauty pageant titleholder
TitleMiss Israel 2021
Hair color
Brown
Major competitions

Noa Cochva (Hebrew: נועה כוכבא; born February 19, 1999)[1] is an Israeli beauty pageant titleholder and model who was crowned Miss Israel 2021. She represented Israel at the Miss Universe 2021[2] pageant, held in Eilat. She has also received media coverage for her activities as a combat medic and public advocate.

Early life

Cochva was born in the Neve Savion neighborhood of Or Yehuda, Israel. She is of Libyan Jewish heritage through her grandmother, who was born in Tripoli and fled to Israel in the midst of the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. Noa spent her childhood and received her education in the Bnei Atarot moshav. Her father, Eyal, was a pilot and squadron commander before working as a start-up business consultant and advisor. Her mother, Yael, served in the Israeli Air Force and is now a clinical psychologist and marriage therapist. Cochva has two brothers and two half-siblings from her father's first marriage.[3]

As a child, Cochva was diagnosed with thrombocytopenia, a blood disorder affecting platelet production. This required intermittent hospitalization for a year and a half. This experience sparked her interest in medicine, leading her to pursue a career in the field.[3]

Career and public activity

Following her studies, Cochva served in the Israel Defense Forces as a medic, later becoming an instructor and commander in a medical course. After completing her military service, she spent eight months studying at the baking and pastry school of chef and television presenter Estella Moshkovich-Belfer.[4] She then worked as a pastry chef in a Yehud-Monosson restaurant until the COVID-19 pandemic forced its closure.[5]

In 2021, Cochva was crowned Miss Israel. She represented Israel at the Miss Universe 2021 pageant, which was held in Eilat, Israel.[6]

During the Gaza war, she served as a combat medic for about 150 days and then engaged in advocacy for the State of Israel voluntarily mainly in the United States and Canada.[5]

She was featured in The Jerusalem Post as part of a list recognizing influential young individuals with a Zionist vision.[7]

Cochva has also participated in public discussions and events addressing Israeli society and international perception.[8]

References

  1. "Miss Israel champion Noa Cochva hit on the face during a pro-Palestine rally in New York, says 'They came to me and…'". First Post. 22 April 2024. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  2. "Miss Israel beauty pageant canceled after more than 70 years". Times of Israel. 13 November 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  3. מנהרדט, יפעת (31 October 2021). "נועה כוכבא: "בבית החולים קראו לי 'מלכת היופי של המחלקה'"". YNet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  4. מנהרדט, יפעת (21 October 2021). "מלכת היופי לשנת 2021: נועה כוכבא, בת 22, מבני עטרות". Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  5. חלוץ, דינה (6 May 2024). "מאז תחילת המלחמה הפכה כוכבא את עמוד האינסטגרם שלה למערך הסברה". YNet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  6. "Người mẫu 22 tuổi đăng quang Hoa hậu Israel". VN Express (in Vietnamese). Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  7. "25 ViZionaries: Noa Cochva - No. 19". The Jerusalem Post. 21 September 2025.
  8. Sadikman, Ruby (20 July 2025). "Noa Cochva: 'Death to the IDF' chant feels like personal threat". The Jerusalem Post.