Marissa Postre in her recycled gown at the Dubai Vibes Eminent Awards on April 29, 2023. EXPAT MEDIA

Filipina nanny in Dubai named Best Dressed at Dubai Vibes Eminent Awards

A 66-year-old Filipina nanny in Dubai won the Best Dressed award at the Dubai Vibes Eminent Awards with her eye-catching gown made from recycled plastic water bottles. Marissa Postre made the stunning Filipiniana gown for Saturday’s awards, which saw a dozen exemplary UAE residents win awards for their contributions to society. But it was Nanay Marissa, as she is fondly called, who took the limelight and drew dozens of fans who stopped to get a photo with her. Postre’s gown with traditional butterfly sleeves featured the colours of the Philippine flag. “It took me a week to create this,” Postre said, beaming. What exactly did she use to create the head-turning gown? “Arwa, Mai Dubai,” she said with a laugh as she enumerated the names of the plastic water bottles that she used. This is not the first time that the Filipina nanny has turned up at events with her recycled gowns. The long-time Dubai resident, who is originally from Camarines Sur in the Philippines, was also spotted in a Christmas tree-inspired gown with a star-mounted headdress at a Filipino event last December. The outfit, which she put together using plastic bags and plastic water bottles, won her the Recycling Queen for 2022 award. In a previous interview with Expatmedia.net, Postre said she gets a lot of support for her craft from her friends and employers in Dubai. She said she considers it as her outlet to express her creativity while also promoting recycling. The Filipina said she loves turning discarded items into wearable art. Her creations are put together using plastic wrappers, shopping bags, sachets, and other materials that people throw away. Postre said she developed her newfound skill in dressmaking after her Filipino employer gave her a sewing machine. She learned dress making through a free course from the Philippine Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). The Filipina said she works on her gowns during her free time. The hardworking nanny takes care of her employer's three children most of the day. She has served the same family for nearly 40 years, earning her the Gawad Kasambahay award for domestic workers in 2019. ICA/Expat Media
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