Mia Schem, who spent 54 days in captivity in Gaza after being taken hostage during the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, has embarked on a new path as a model. Schem, 24, was among those kidnapped from the Nova Music Festival. She was 21 at the time of her abduction, during which she was shot in the arm by a Hamas terrorist and subsequently dragged into Gaza.
During her captivity, Schem underwent surgery for her gunshot wound and has spoken about the lack of pain relief and the challenges of changing her own bandages. She has also described experiencing emotional abuse from her captors. Schem was released in late November 2023 as part of a temporary truce. Following her release, she became an advocate for the remaining hostages, speaking at events including at the United Nations and the White House.
Schem, who has amassed over 300,000 followers on Instagram, now shares glamorous photographs from international travel, red carpet events, and photoshoots on her social media. Her online bio reads, "Turning stories into impact. From darkness to purpose – with light."
She has publicly displayed the scars on her arm, often in photoshoots that highlight her resilience. In one recent post, she was photographed in lingerie-style pieces, crediting her styling team. She has also been seen wearing a luxury watch, reportedly a Rolex Day-Date. These images have garnered widespread support from admirers who praise her strength and transformation.
Schem was among the first Israeli hostages to be seen in video footage released from Gaza in October 2023. In one video, she stated that she had received medical treatment for her injuries and pleaded for her release. She was later made to film another video where she described her captors as "very good" and "very kind," and that food and treatment were "good." This account contrasted with reports from other hostages who described poor diets and inadequate medical care during captivity.
Upon her release, Schem spoke out about her experiences, stating, "I went through a holocaust. Everyone over there is a terrorist. I felt like an animal in a zoo." Her family had expressed concerns about her treatment, with her aunt noting that she was weak and that her surgery was performed by a veterinarian, with no physiotherapy received. Schem was abducted with her friend Elia Toledano, who was later confirmed to have been killed. The Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, resulted in over 1,200 deaths and the taking of approximately 240 hostages into Gaza.