Mia Schem, a 24-year-old French-Israeli former tattoo artist, has embarked on a new chapter as a model after her harrowing experience as a hostage during the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel. She spent 54 days in captivity in Gaza.
Schem was 21 when she was abducted from the Nova Music Festival. She sustained a gunshot wound to the arm during the attack and was dragged into Gaza. She has recounted undergoing surgery for the injury without adequate pain relief and being left to manage her own wound care, as well as experiencing emotional abuse from her captors.
Upon her release in late November 2023, Schem became a vocal advocate for the remaining hostages, participating in UN events and attending White House functions. She has used her platform to share her story and advocate for the release of others still held captive.
Mia Schem has gained a significant following on social media, where she shares updates on her advocacy work and her new modeling career. She has styled herself for international holidays, red carpet appearances, and photoshoots, while also continuing to speak about the atrocities she endured. Her Instagram bio reads, "Turning stories into impact. From darkness to purpose – with light."
In recent social media posts, Schem has showcased her resilience, including a striking image where she displayed the scars on her arm. These appearances have drawn widespread support from admirers who have praised her strength and transformation.
Schem was one of the first Israeli captives to be shown in video footage released from Gaza in October 2023. In one clip, she stated that she had received medical treatment for her injuries and pleaded for her release. She later spoke out against Hamas, describing her time in captivity as a "holocaust" and stating that "everyone over there is a terrorist."
Her family had expressed concerns about her treatment during captivity, with her aunt noting that Schem was weak and that her arm surgery had been performed by a veterinarian, with no physiotherapy provided.
Schem was seized along with her friend Elia Toledano at the Nova music festival. Their car crashed and burned after coming under fire, at which point Schem was shot in the arm. Toledano's body was later recovered from Gaza.
Over 240 hostages were taken into Gaza during the October 7 assault, which resulted in more than 1,200 deaths in Israel. A temporary truce in November led to the release of over 100 hostages, primarily women and children.