Beauty contests, big or small, are available for foreign domestic helpers in Singapore almost every week, and some of them have cost the participants as much as S$1,000 (US$735) for a one-day show in hotels, dance studios or commercial office premises.
Some of contests feature grand prizes of up to S$2,000, equal to more than three months’ salary, to lure maids to sign up and compete for the crown, Shin Min Daily News reported last weekend, citing the Sunday edition of The Straits Times.
Each contest could attract around 10 to 40 participants, with each woman having to pay registration fees, costume fees, and fees for makeup and etiquette classes. Participants would also be responsible for selling raffle tickets so that the atmosphere of the contest day would be full of cheers from supporters and the general audience.
Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2), a non-profit organization in Singapore dedicated to improving conditions for low-paid migrant workers, told the Shin Min Daily News that maids had reported that they were not informed of hidden costs, such as extra charges for costumes, until they had already agreed to participate. One “winning” beauty queen said she had to pay for her own crown.
A 33-year-old Filipino named Jessica told a reporter that she paid the equivalent of a month’s salary to prepare for the show, at which she felt she was treated “like Cinderella.”
However, she regretted joining it as she was chased by the organizer, who argued that she had to pay another S$100 to cover her unsold tickets, even though Jessica had met the stated minimum sale of S$300 worth of tickets. She got rid of the organizer and the claimed outstanding fee only after TWC2’s intervention.
Some organizers said the fees they charged were all spent on renting venues, equipment for the stage, prizes and advertisements. Classes on hairstyling, makeup, catwalking and aerobic dancing were aimed at equipping maids with useful skills for their future career when they return home.
They were doing their best to seek sponsors so as to lower the costs as much as possible, the organizers claimed.
Isidro Mary Louise un na nga eh.. kun ano pinirmahan mong trabaho un na un.. d ung pageant at model2 pa silang nalalaman.. ang masahol pa eh ms mkuha pa silang amo kun pumorma.. hahaha.. d nmn sa nmbabash.. sinasabi ko lng ung totoo
Organisers gained and profited from you.
Tama ka jan sissy katatandang tao at may mga anak pa lakas magpakita ng katawan sa public mga ambisyosa nga sila eh dun nlng kaya sila sumali sa miss world or miss universe dun libre wlang bayad nakaka-stress tlga sila dinadamay tyo sa kahihiyan na ginagawa nila
Yes it’s true
Taas ambisyon kasi.. kun ngstay nlng kau ng pinas tz mgjoin ng pageant dun kesa nmn gumawa kau ng issues d2.. nakuuu.. d nmn sna sumali sa mga gnyan kaso d nmn yan nakasulat sa kontrata.. remember..SG is not our country.. we are only here as foreign workers to do as what is stated in our contract..Peace and God bless
Good grief!Even Singaporean beauty contestants used their own money just to get into the pageant,so how on earth these women who are so financially hard up got involved in such pageantry is beyond me.Even if you won the crown and a $2000 money price it has no value whatsoever when they return home and they won’t get endorsement projects or acting jobs either.So think before you ladies out there join this type of beauty contest.Being poor is already a burden but being poor and stupid is even worse.Think before you engage yourselves in something that involves money and time.
???????????? you go abroad to work, you are being treated like machines and worst than animals, then you enggage your self to those events that let you spend money you earn so hard? Think a million times, is it beneficial, is it practical? Maybe some will say, it will boost your self confidence/self esteem but with the involvement of money that you know you work so hard for, Then maybe you have to think before joining.. There are a lot of activities that help you gain your self confidence with out spending that much,, join sports activities and it will also make you healthier, no regret feelings at all
Korek ka Jan sis, tumpak na tumpak sinabi mo, ayaw ko Ng magsalita bka mparami pa…
Anu ba yan? Yan Ang makukuha Ng mga iba Jan gusto mag beauty exposed, gagasto kpa magkanda-kanda utang kpa, wala ka nang naipon dhil Jan, sakit Ng ulo Ang napala, nasabi ko ‘to kc marami akong kilalang ganyan, aaah Ewan, namuyong ka kundi mayad
Think b4 you joint this event..you working so hard everyday..tas mapupunta lng pera nya sa wala..pinapayaman ninyo ang.mga Organizer..kng binangko nyo sana yan pera nyo..di wala kayong sakit sa ulo..cgurado pa na may savings na kayo..
Lesson to be Learned Guys!!
Mabuti pa cguro nag aral na lng sila ng fFinancial literacy (free of charge)may mtutunan pa sila lalong lalo na kng paano pangangalagaan ang pinaghirapan nila dito.
Pang umuwi nga nga wala na ipon..
So you think its worth it or not?
Tis is crazy????????some ladies joined for the sake of pride…nice pictures lol!.spend ur hard earn for all of this for what?..????
Better enroll your self in those upgrading courses ..u will learn something and u will have certificate in the end as well that u maybe can use someday bck in d phils. who knws????
Kung ininvest nyo sa mutual fund na lang yan gastos ninyo di dumami pa..haisttt
Even supporters are victim of this,,,,selling tickets with the cash back money was been keep by the organizers in their pocket,, they make it as their extra income
Think 100x before you engaged to that..
What can you benefit for joining? Is it worth???? Don’t spend beyond your monthly earning.. Spend what is needed..
Be a wise spender….
Make up ,dancing etc ..Aim at equipping maid of skills when they returned home ? Huh ?
Ambisyusa kc cla kaya lhat sahod nila napupunta s pageant.
Me i regreted joining before,waste of money and time