Former beauty queen an OFW in Dubai

Binibining Pilipinas International 2007 Nadia Lee Cien Shami said living in the UAE was not planned at all. It started when she was offered a job abroad in 2016.

“It was a tough decision because I’ve been three years with my job and they offered me a higher position. I just got promoted then. They gave me a PR job for the entire Philippines but then also getting an opportunity outside the country with a bigger salary is also a big deal.”

Shami has been living in Dubai for two years and works as a marketing executive. Her stable life in the Philippines made going abroad a difficult position, reported Gulf News.

“It was a family decision and I took a lot of prayer and everything like fell into place.”

When asked about how she feels about moving, she said that her life in Dubai so far is a mixture of everything.

“First of all, overwhelming. Your first two months in Dubai, maybe it felt like you’re only a tourist. You know, going around, your friends, like greeting you and showing you places.”

However, playing tourist can only amuse Nadia so much. Soon enough, she started missing her family.

“On your third month, that’s where all the hardships, you know, step in. Cause you’re on your own, you cook your own food, you prepare your own clothes. Although I do that, but it’s very different because you’re far from your family.”

What surprised her the most was the thousands of Filipinos working in the UAE. She recalled her first metro ride and encountering fellow Filipinos.

“I was shocked. Oh my gosh, movies didn’t show this.”

She said people do not recognize her much except for those who are really pageant enthusiasts.

The last Binibining Pilipinas International from the Visayas is 2012's Nicole Schmitz. The last Mindanaoan is 2007's Nadia Shami. Nicole is from Cebu while Nadia is from Cotabato. For the past thirty years there have only been 1 other Visayan BBP-International (1996 Yedda Mendoza Kittilsvedt) and 3 other Mindanaoans (1997 Susan Ritter, 1995 Gladys Dueñas, 1989 Lilia Andanar.) The last three Filipina Miss Internationals were all crowned in the past thirty years and were all from Luzon. It really seems that Binibining Pilipinas has not been too geographically balanced in their crowns. Is it high time for another Visayan or Mindanoan Binibining Pilipinas International? Who would you bet for it? #BinibiningPilipinas #BinibiningPilipinas2018 #Philippines

A post shared by Binibining Pilipinas 2018 (@bb.pilipinas2018) on Jan 5, 2018 at 12:59am PST

“They just tease me for being a beauty queen.” Nadia said, referring to her officemates.

The beauty queen is proud of her work; she believes that being an OFW is noble.

“I’m excited to always share my life as an OFW to the Filipinos in the Philippines or anywhere to show them that, hey actually you know what, it’s actually a good and noble job because you’re not only helping your family but also you’re presenting yourself to the world as a Filipino.”