Stewardess Mandy fights against bullying in Miss World pageant
Every week we dive into the lives of three of our colleagues who share a special passion for Transavia. Each with their own unique story. This week we would like you to meet our Stewardess Mandy. As an 11-year-old girl, Mandy was bullied because of her looks. She was such an eager child, but she soon became the black sheep. Luckily she was able to overcome this. "It's important to be yourself, because that's the only way you can make your dreams come true." And she did. She fulfilled her dream of being a stewardess, she is in the race for Miss World and she is advocating for anti-bullying programmes in schools. Curious about her story? You can read it below.
I was bullied
“When I was an 11-year-old girl, I went from primary school to secondary school. Like everyone else, I wanted to make friends. Unfortunately, I was soon left out of the group. Children are always looking for a black sheep. I was told every day that I was ugly and they called me anorexic. When I got my growth spurt and puberty began, they called me fat. It seemed as if I was never good enough and that hurt me a lot. I'm glad I never let anything or anyone change me. I've never been afraid to be different, but I've always been afraid to be like just like everyone else. That's why I started thinking: I'm not weird, I'm unique! You have to use that as your strength. It's important to be yourself, because that's the only way you'll be able to make your dreams come true”.
My dream
“To be honest, I have always wanted to be a stewardess. That dream started on board of Transavia. When I was a young girl, I went on holiday flying in one of their planes. Until that day, I was extremely afraid of flying. I had never experienced such a pleasant flight as I did that day. Everyone was so sweet! I had just graduated and ended up at this company as an insecure girl. Transavia is like a school to me, because you end up in a lot of different situations. That has helped me become more self-confident. At Transavia I really feel at home. I am very glad that I followed my dream, because now I can do what makes me happy on a daily basis”.
Hobbies
“In addition to working as a stewardess, I also enjoy travelling on my own. I think my most special trips include the one to Japan, but also the one to Lisbon, which I find an inspiring place. When I go on trips, I get to know a lot of people, make new friends and embark on exciting new experiences. I like to share these on my own blog, with which I want to inspire others to do a solo trip as well. Besides travelling I also like to share my passion for fashion, beauty and photography. Recently, I have also been writing about Miss World”.
Miss World
“I found an open application for the Miss World pageant. I was already well known in the world of pageants, but I quit a long time ago. Since I am now flying less because of the coronavirus, I thought it would be a good time to take the plunge. I am now one of the nine finalists. Participating in this worldwide pageant is a lot of fun! The journey is the most exciting part of it and, to tell you the truth, the most rewarding part of it all. And that is true not just in this case, but for a lot of other things in life. If you only focus on your end goal, you are up for disappointment if you don’t achieve it. Participating in this event is also a very valuable experience. We work together with the UN and learn about the Sustainable Development Goals”.
Anti-bullying programme
“Miss World is not just about how beautiful someone is. It's also about achieving social goals and doing your part. ‘Beauty with a purpose’ is a top priority at Miss World. I can make use of the extensive network they have and that's why I decided to work hard on the subject of bullying. I do not have the pretence of changing the whole world, but if I can inspire just one person, that is enough for me. As a young girl I would have appreciated that kind of help. I will set up an anti-bullying programme with my fellow candidate Lizzy. The programme will consist of guest lectures at schools and videos. We would like to tell our story to make people aware of what bullying does to people. It is great to be able to contribute to society. That's where my passion lies!”
Want to hear more stories from our colleagues?
Our colleagues get to experience a lot of impressive things on a daily basis. During a flight, upon arriving at a destination, but also in their everyday lives. What drives our colleagues and what makes them so special? We would like to give you a glimpse into our world. Because the truth is, our staff make Transavia special. Are you curious about all the stories we have in store for you?