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.
Halata ang ilonggo.Damu gd man na d para lng nga makapadayaw sa pilipinas sng post nila nga mala reyna ah..Hhahaa
Agree aki sa iyo.
Mga sosyal dapat para lang may e post sa fb nila na sumalu cla ng beauty contest dito sa singapor..
Ung mga iba di pa tapos ang laban may nanalo na kunwari may mahurado pa pero nakalista na ung mga nanalo .. registration nila 300 tapos ung ticket pag di mo nabenta babayan pa nila…Ung gown ..Sports attire..Casual wear lahat sa kandita..ubus ang sahod nila may utang pa….Inabut ni kuyang nga mga .Hahaha
Lv Kaur gus2 kasi nila ate na mging famous sa larangan ng modelling ???????????? kumbaga upgrade themselves tz sbhn nila dami nating bash sa kanila ???????? then sbhn nila ms confident sila kasi nga komo mga models na sila..orayt rock n roll..
trying hard to be sexy kahit nakakasuka na hitsura. Pakita na ang pwet na nakafoundation ng black.
Ang iba dyan sa kama nila pinaghirapan o pinagkasarapan kaya ok lang madali ang pera. Katulad ni Nornaly Mesina aakyat yan ng may bahay para magpabayad then sasali sa beauty pageant na yan.
????
Sonia A Columna yan pinili nila eh.. basta ako trabaho muna..ipon2 tz saka na mag enjoy ng buhay..
Rősë Pèñasçøsa yan nga sis eh d naman sa pakikialam dahil pera nila yun pero para sa akin lang,kapag wla din lang maidudulot na maganda kundi malubog lang sa gastos,hwag na ipunin na nila..baka cguro mga sumasali ay mga nasa elementary pa lang ang mga anak pero kapag napunta sa high school lalo na college ewanko lang kung maisip pa ang sasali ng beauty contest na yan????????????
Sonia A Columna gusto din kasi lumipad ng mataas. Imbes na pamilya sa pinas isipin mas binigyan importansya ung pageant. At xempre my maipost sa fb at maipakita na mga model sila ???????????????? instant peymus.
Immang Tabangcura …Hi may offer na free financial literacy na knaconduct minsan sa St.Bernadette compound ay sa FAST ang venue…pls let me know kng interesado kayo maam pra sa ating mga ofw ito pwede ka magdala ng mga friends mo its totally free of charge.
Rősë Pèñasçøsa tama ka sis hahaha…d na inisip na masakit amh likod sa trabaho dun pala sa pageant mapupunta ang pera nila????????????
Agree…upgrading skills can help us to build our own business someday when the time we go home for good..
Some employers not follow the rules about the salary 400 US$ for Filipino maid. And some maid no day off. Why it’s so difficult for Malaysian employers to give day off every Sunday to thier maid?
Saan po pwede mag enroll? Free po talaga?
Negosyo posible! Sana mag organize sila yon makakatulong hindi yon maeestress sa pagbenta ng tickets….
Yes true some organizer ..they using beauty pageant for their extra income
shortage of maids?no doubt for your salaries are cheap anyway ????????????
Mas mukha pa palang amo kun pumorma ???????????????? bilib tlga ako sa mga kabayan natin d2 sa sg.. kht day off pormang pngkasal at png club.. juskolord