Nearly a month after US President Donald Trump announced the appointment of Morgan Ortágus as Deputy to the Special Presidential Envoy for Middle East Peace, news and images of the former State Department spokesperson have proliferated.

Ortágus, known for her clear support for Israel and extensive background in international relations, served as the spokesperson for the US State Department from 2019 to 2021 during Trump’s first term under then–Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Prior to her role at the State Department, she worked in the Treasury Department as a financial intelligence analyst.

Born in Opoundale, Florida, Ortágus first came into the spotlight as a beauty pageant titleholder, having been crowned Miss Opoundale, Miss Teen Opoundale, and Miss Citrus of Florida in 2003.

In 2005, she graduated from Florida Southern College with a Bachelor of Science in Political Science. Originally interested in studying music, she shifted her academic focus to political science following the September 11 attacks.

During her tenure at the State Department, Ortágus was a vocal critic of Iran and China, positions that underscored her staunch support for Israel and aligned with the administration’s policies in the Middle East.

Ortágus is set to play a central role on the team led by US Middle East envoy Stephen Witkoff, one of President Trump’s close associates. The team now faces a host of urgent challenges, including managing the ongoing conflict in Gaza, negotiating prisoner exchanges and ceasefires, and addressing the Lebanon dossier—a key issue previously handled by former Special Envoy Amos Hochstein.