Kenya is holding a ground-breaking albino beauty pageant to encourage inclusion for those who suffer from the condition.

The first Mr. and Miss Albinism East Africa pageant began Friday in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi, with participants from Tanzania and Uganda as well.

In Africa, people with albinism — born with extremely pale skin and hair — are stigmatized and have been attacked.

Event organizer Isaac Mwaura, Kenya’s first albino legislator, called the pageant a way to build self-esteem.

“People with albinism are people like any other, and for sure we are also beautiful,” he said.