A Family Fun Day Fundraiser supporting the LSPCA animal shelter in Woodlands-Lilongwe, Malawi on June 8th, 2024, has sparked outrage after a Facebook post showcased pictures from a fancy dress competition for dogs. The controversy stems from one of the winning photos, which shows a young boy dressed as a pilot walking his dog, who is wearing an Emirates Airline Flight Stewardess hat and scarf.
What some saw as an adorable image has been interpreted by others as a blatant insult to the dignity of the profession. The Emirates Airline flight attendant uniform, particularly the iconic red hat, has been a symbol of pride for thousands of women from over 160 countries since the airline’s founding in 1985. Many believe reducing such a prestigious role to a dog costume is disrespectful, diminishing the hard-earned reputation of the profession and those who don the uniform daily.
We seek to request Emirates Airline for their comments and views regarding this incident.
