The strange (and luxurious) mix of music, politics and beauty pageants
Omar Harfouch, the Lebanese pianist, did not play anywhere. He did it at Mar-a-Lago, the exclusive club in Palm Beach. The official reason: to celebrate the first year of former President Donald Trump’s ‘global peace mission’. With that you have the tone of the event.
The night began with Katie Zacharia, spokesperson for the US government, giving the introductory speech. Then, Harfouch and the Béziers Mediterranean Orchestra took the stage in front of a very select audience.
“…showed that music can also be part of diplomacy,” says the statement about his performance.
A cast worthy of a satirical series
Who was among those more than 100 VIP guests? The list is a surreal collage of today’s world. There were billionaires, financial leaders and entertainment moguls. But also global influencers and… beauty queens.
Among the chairs were Sahar Biniaz (Miss Universe Persia), Michaela Tomanová (Miss Universe Czech Republic) and Nawat Itsaragrisil, president of Miss Universe Asia. They shared space with the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Thailand, the socialite Caitlyn Jenner and the artist Romero Britto.
Britto, by the way, designed a special pin for the occasion: a heart on the American flag. A detail that perfectly summarizes the aesthetics of the event.
Gospel singer Jimi Levy also had his moment, singing a cappella and setting the rhythm by tapping his knee. He shared it all, as it could not be otherwise, in an Instagram story.
A reunion between past controversies
The juicy fact for those of us who follow these circuits: this concert reunited Harfouch and Britto after their controversial departure as judges of Miss Universe last November.
At that time, Harfouch left the contest stating that it was ‘fixed’ and not knowing the Mexican winner, Fátima Bosch. Now, months later, they met again between canapés and chords for peace.
The image that remains is powerful: a Lebanese pianist playing in Trump’s political sanctuary, surrounded by beauty queens and art collectors. It’s the kind of event that can only happen in our era, where genres—musical and social—blend unabashedly.
Real diplomacy or pure spectacle for elites? The music sounded the same to everyone in the room.




