DUBAI // Dressed in colourful and fashionable costumes, 11 Filipina domestic workers proudly showed off dancing, singing and acting skills yesterday.
The women took time off from their daily chores to try to win a free round-trip ticket from Dubai to Manila and the Miss Kabayan Kapit Basig (KKB) Dubai 2013 title.
The contest was organised by the KKB Foundation, a charity that looks after the welfare of Filipino workers in the UAE.
For many, it was a chance to show that their lives were not solely about doing chores.
"People often look down on housemaids," said Mary Grace Juaress, 37, who was wearing a white, two-piece Hawaiian dress decorated with plastic flowers.
"These events see us as beautiful people with talents."
Ms Juaress, who has worked in Dubai for 10 months for an Iranian sponsor, danced to Pearly Shells, a popular Hawaiian song, to impress the panel of five judges.
"I didn't practise much. I learnt to dance for the number by watching the song on YouTube several times," she said.
Maricel Constantine, 26, performed a belly dance infused with hip-hop steps to an encouraging crowd.
"I have been practising for a week now," said Ms Constantine, who has worked for an Indian family for four years. "This is a very nice experience for me. I want to show people that housemaids have talent and dancing is my talent."
Yesterday's contest at the Manila 365 Disco at the Ramee Guestline Deira Hotel took months to put together.
KKB taught the women how to walk down a catwalk, trained them to speak to judges and helped boost their morale.
"Some people think because they are housemaids, they don't know anything and do not treat them well," said Zussie Palconit, KKB's president. "We don't want to even call them housemaids. They are household workers who have beauty and so much talent.
"We want people to respect them and not think of them as worthless."
Ms Palconit said another purpose of the show was to raise funds to repatriate abused workers.
"We will do this again next year," she said.
The contestants were marked on their fashion sense, talent, confidence and ability to answer questions from judges during the four-hour pageant.
Not everyone danced or sang.
"I am doing a monologue in English from a French drama," said Jimmabelle, 27. "I have rehearsed the piece for a week. I didn't tell my sponsor that I am performing in a contest because I am shy. I hope I will win."
Other prizes on offer included a 32-inch television, Samsung mobile phone, a tablet and a dhow cruise.
pkannan@thenational.ae
Filipina domestic workers compete for Miss KKB title
A charity that looks after the welfare of Filipino workers in the UAE organised a beauty contest yesterday. Eleven domestic workers showed off their skills - from dancing to singing to reciting monologues - in order to walk away with the title of Miss Kabayan Kapit Basig 2013.
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