Image by Instagram

Contestants at the Miss Universe beauty pageant say they want one thing and one thing only: world peace.

And on Monday, Adar Gandelsman of Israel and Sarah Idan of Iraq took to Instagram to make a surprisingly radical statement about world peace and the power of images. Gandelsman, representing Israel at the Miss Universe pageant in Las Vegas, and Idan, representing Iraq, posted the picture to their respective Instagram accounts. “Peace and love from Miss Iraq and Miss Israel,” Idan captioned her pic. “Get to know, this is Miss Iraq and she’s amazing,” Gandelsman said. In collared blue dresses and sashes, with hair styled in shiny ringlets, the competitors looked like sisters.

Get to know, this is Miss Iraq and she’s amazing❤️

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

A post shared by Miss Universe Israel?? (@adar_gandelsman) on Nov 13, 2017 at 4:47pm PST

Gandelsman, the 19-year-old runner-up in the Miss Israel competition (first-place winners go on to compete, nonsensically, in the Miss World competition), is representing her country by way of her hometown Ashkelon. Gandelsman is a current Israel Defense Forces soldier in the second year of her service. She volunteers with disabled Israeli children through the Israeli nor-for-profit Varaity. Idan, a 27-year-old musician, lives in America and does volunteer work with refugees and immigrants in U.S.-Arab communities.

The competition will air live from Las Vegas on November 26 on Fox. Unlikely friend to world peace Steve Harvey will host.

Jenny Singer is a writer for the Forward. You can reach her at singer@forward.com or on Twitter, @jeanvaljenny

A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

With your support, we’ll be ready for whatever 2025 brings.

$36 $500

$120 $180 Other amount