"Miss Trans Israel 2016" beauty pageant begins Friday and it will be the first of its kind in the Middle East country.
The competition in Tel Aviv brings together Jews, Christians and Muslims in a region known more for its deep divisions, NBC News reported.
"Here I don't feel Muslim, Jewish, Christian," Caroline Khouri, an Arab, said. "All of the people are together and the transsexual [people], they love together."
Pageant judge Efrat Tilma agrees that the event is "bonding people."
"We can show the world that we are really for peace, this competition is for peace," the 70-year-old added.