A Different world, a different life.

A different world, a different life: one spirit.

In the MuslimModelShow2016 (MMS2016) lessons come in the strangest ways.

On audition day, the programme founder met an Indonesian cleaner at the venue. He felt that she had the potential of being a MuslimModel. She was invited to join in and after some persuasion she accepted.

Her audition went well, surprising the jury with her dancing talent. Turns out, she was a traditional dancer back home but for economic reasons had to drop that career and ventured out to be a cleaner here miles away from her home and family.

She was selected to be in the Top20 and in the first photography challenge, she emerged the winner with the award of IMMUNITY to be used in following weeks.
In the 3rd week alas, she dropped to be Bottom3 and in the list to be eliminated.

She remain composed as she stepped out to be announced for elimination. She had the choice of using her IMMUNITY award.

The room was silent as we watched her tears flow and with the microphone in her hands. She announced to the room that she WOULD NOT use her immunity. The whole room was stunned.

We remained silent with tears in our eyes waiting to know why.

"I am only a cleaner. Even just to reach this stage doing photoshoot with all these professional equipment is a dream come true. However, Im no where close in standing with all these great people. Im only a cleaner with children and a family in Indonesia.This is not my world.

Even coming here today is a challenge and at this late hour going home is an even bigger problem.

I have made many new friends and learnt a lot but the truth is, this is not my world. I must face reality."

There was not a single dry eye in the room. Rustling of plastic was the only sound heard as everyone reached for a tissue.

Who would have thought that we would be coming face to face with the deep lesson of life. We must be grateful for what little we have. There are many who can only dream because the reality in their life cannot make their dream real.

It takes great faith to accept God's will even though it does appear as being unfair. It takes courage to share the truth of your life with others even though it makes you look small.

But Fitriyah, small as she may be had the courage and the heart of a saint. Her parting act was to give her unused IMMUNITY to her newly found best friend and team mate.

They hug and cried the tears of sisterhood and of unity.

Im sure we will all be looking at our cleaners with a different set of eyes.
MMS2016 united us as a family and brought two nations together.

This is only Week3.

The best of MMS2016 is yet to come.