When Emilia Dobreva was crowned Miss Universe UAE in October after a private, closed-door audition, her initial joy quickly turned to concern. The 27-year-old had to make the difficult choice to leave her six-month-old twins and two-year-old son behind for three weeks to represent the UAE at the international pageant in Mexico. However, this was a dream she had nurtured for two decades, and she was ready to make the sacrifice.

"It was the hardest decision I've ever had to make," she confided in an exclusive interview with Khaleej Times following a homecoming dinner at a Downtown Dubai restaurant on Wednesday. "This is something I've wanted for so long, and I was on the brink of making it a reality. Yet, leaving my children was incredibly tough. I'm fortunate to have the support of my husband, my mother, and my grandmother, who took care of my babies while I was away."

For three weeks, the ballet teacher endured 10-12 hour days in Mexico, representing the UAE for the first time at the Miss Universe pageant. "We had to wake up at 4am every day," she recounted. "Breakfast was at 6:30am and it was mandatory. With media everywhere, our attire and makeup had to be flawless."

Throughout the day, the contestants underwent rigorous training on poise, stage presence, and more. "It was intense work, but I learned so much during those three weeks," she said. "Those lessons are something I'll always carry with me."

She noted that finding time to sleep was the most challenging part. "When it was night in Mexico, it was morning in Dubai," she explained. "I spent most of the night on video calls with my children. My twins were too young to understand, but my son missed me dearly. I had a special suction on my phone that I used to stick to the mirror while doing my makeup, so I could stay connected with my family."

Emilia's journey to the Miss Universe UAE crown began in 2003 when, at just six years old, she participated in a talent-based pageant called Little Miss Universe. "I was very young, but I loved every moment of it. The glitz, the glamour, and dressing up were so exciting," she reminisced.

Originally from Kosovo, Emilia has lived in the UAE for three generations of her family. She grew up in Sharjah's suburbs with mostly Emirati friends. "As an only child, my Emirati neighbors were my only friends," she said. "I wanted to join their games, so I quickly picked up Khaleeji Arabic."

In 2021, Emilia received the news she had been waiting for—UAE would have representation at the Miss Universe competition. However, the rules at the time required contestants to be unmarried, so she postponed her marriage and focused on her dream. Despite making it to the top three, the UAE's representation was canceled that year due to technical reasons. "I was devastated," she admitted. "I decided it was time to let go of my dream and focus on my family. I got married soon after and started a ballet school to teach children."

But in 2024, Emilia received an invitation to participate in the Miss Universe UAE competition. By then, the pageant had removed all restrictions related to age, height, weight, and marital status. "My babies were four months old when I entered the pageant," she chuckled. "I just wanted to be around adults and talk about normal adult things. I didn't even think about winning."

Her 21-year dream finally came true when she was crowned Miss Universe. "That moment was everything," she said. "I sometimes pinch myself to see if it's real. I'm living my dream now. I want to tell all women to never give up on their dreams. I'm proof that if you keep your dream alive, it can come true."

Emilia's biggest takeaway from the competition was the remarkable women she met. "Every woman there deserved a crown," she said. "Miss Spain was a refugee who grew up in a camp, Miss USA was a US military pilot, and Miss Somalia was the first hijabi contestant in Miss Universe history. They were all so inspiring."

She became close friends with many contestants, including her roommate, Miss Suriname. "We became like sisters," she said. "She's visiting Dubai this month."

Emilia's secret weapon for bonding with fellow contestants? Dubai chocolate. "Most of the food in Mexico was salads," she said. "I brought a cabin bag full of Dubai chocolate. Between rehearsals, we'd share it for a boost of energy and to strengthen our bonds."

Her exercise routine involves chasing her children. "I carry my twins and run after my toddler," she laughed. "That's my strength and cardio combined. As a ballet teacher, I also make time for stretching and other exercises to maintain my flexibility."

One of her most memorable moments was walking the ramp in her abaya and seeing the UAE flag in the audience. "It was very emotional," she said. "I was proud to represent the UAE culture. But being far from home and family, seeing the flag brought tears to my eyes. I'm grateful for this opportunity to represent the country that has given me everything."

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