I wonder what Miss Teen South Carolina would have to say about this?

Beauty pageant contestants often talk about solving world hunger and bringing about world peace, but I guess it really all starts with a selfie.

In the lead-up to the Miss Universe pageant in Las Vegas, Miss Iraq, Sarah Eedan, posted a selfie with fellow contestant Miss Israel, Adar Gandelsman [above].

It’s just a picture, you know, but the reaction on social media was rather mixed.

Here’s the picture Sarah shared:

And Adar shared a similar snap on her Instagram account:

Cool, and everyone moved on.

Except of course there was bickering on social media. Here’s the BBC:

Given there are no diplomatic relations between Israel and Iraq, it was pointed out by some, including YouTuber Sabrina Bennoui, posting a photo of the two of them together was “not to everyone’s taste.”

Some in the Arab world who accuse Israel of abuses reacted angrily.

Asaad Abukhalil, a professor based in the US, tweeted: “The beauty queen of Iraq is happily posing with the beauty queen of occupation and brutality.”

There really is no chill, is there?

As the backlash grew, Eedan issued an official statement, because that’s where we’re at in the world:

[She said] Miss Israel had approached her at a photo shoot and expressed her hope for peace between their two peoples.

“She asked if I would like to take a picture together. I told her I would be glad to help spread the message. The aim of the photo was an expression of hope for world peace.”

She went on to say the photo did not show support for Israel.

“I would like to apologise to anyone who considered the photo to be offensive to the Palestinian cause as this was not the aim behind the post, it was merely a call to peace and hope for a solution to the crisis.”

Israeli news site, Ynet, praised Ms Gendelsman for trying to “bring hearts closer”… [and] The Times of Israel described the post as “an unusual display of coexistence emanating from a divided Middle East”…

If anyone utters the words ‘faith in humanity restored’ I will go Liam Neeson on you.

[source:bbc]