1/3 Miss Norway does the make-up of a young resident of the azc in Budel (Photo: Alice van der Plas)
In 2015 they still participated in the Miss Universe pageant, but on Sunday afternoon the women visited the asylum seekers’ center (azc) in Budel. Although the nine former masses had never heard of Budel before. All publicity surrounding the asylum seekers’ center has therefore completely passed them by. “In fact,” says Miss Singapore Lisa White. “We are not familiar with the refugee phenomenon. We don’t have them.”
Nevertheless, she hopes to encourage a group of about forty teenage girls who live at the azc in Budel.
“We want to convey that if you work hard, you can make a life for yourself.”
“Many women in our group also come from difficult backgrounds. There’s no comparison, but I’d like to bring them some hope. And we like to promote diversity. We want to convey that if you work hard, you can make a life for yourself.”
The nine masses are of course not without reason. They get along well and therefore hold a reunion every year with a social theme. “We like to keep in touch with each other and to travel to a new country.”
This year the Netherlands was on the program, but miss the Netherlands from that time are missing. The women from Indonesia, El Salvador, Portugal, Guyana, Mauritius, Croatia, Norway, Singapore and Belgium are there.
“We are a rich country, but we can’t take care of them properly.”
“We participated in Las Vegas,” says Miss Belgium, Annelies Törös. “A very well-known edition, because the presenter then called out the wrong miss, so maybe you can still remember it.” Annelies lives the closest of all misses. “But I’ve never actually been to this area.”
She sees the same issues here at the azc as in Belgium. “All the asylum seekers’ centers there are full,” she says. “We are a rich country, but we can’t really take care of them. We have to do that better. Invest more and hire more staff.”
“I always feel confident when I put on makeup. It helps with your confidence.”
The masses are all socially involved, but it should also be a fun and festive afternoon. First there is therefore a pleasant dance with even a polonaise. “We do this first to loosen up the kids,” says Lisa. Then the makeup brushes come out and outfits are picked out. To end the afternoon with a real fashion show.
“We are going to teach them how to apply beautiful make-up,” says Lisa. “I always feel very confident when I have make-up on. It helps with your confidence. The girls can take time for themselves. I will mainly listen to them instead of talking myself. I want to give them the chance to tell their story.”
“It’s nice that the masses are here. They are so beautiful!”
The masses look admiringly at the long black hair that emerges from under the headscarf of a Syrian girl. She says that she has been living at the azc for 19 months. “But now we finally have a view of a house. Luckily I wasn’t very bored. I just went to school. But I am very happy if we can go to a house.”
She hasn’t had any make-up or clothing tips yet. “But it is very nice that the masses are here. They are so beautiful.” She smiles after a compliment from Miss Belgium. “Your clothes and make-up are already so nice, you don’t have to do anything about that.”