A Dubai-based TV presenter from Leeds has spoken out about her portrayal in a recent BBC documentary about life in Dubai.
Amy Kitchingman, 34, featured in the series 'Inside Dubai: Playground of the Rich' which explored life in the city for British expats like Amy in its third episode.
However, Amy felt the series 'only focused on a small part' of Dubai that doesn't represent her experience in the city.
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Amy, originally from Birstall, told LeedsLive: "I've worked really hard to be here and I was a bit upset that that seemed to get lost in the show. It made it seem like I was struggling out here, which isn't my situation at all.
"It made me look like a washed-up, struggling, old model."
Amy was just 23 in 2010 when she came to Dubai for New Year's Eve and fell in love with the city.
She had previously worked as a model and won Miss Bikini World Great Britain in 2007, but moved into TV presenting and news in Dubai after she had completed her broadcasting degree in London.
Since then, she has worked on various news and TV programmes in Dubai. Currently, she presents children's cooking show Foodshala Kids, as well as working for streaming platform Vuuzle TV and The Crypto Thing, while also working as an Emcee.
Day to day, Amy said she feels very safe in Dubai, often accidentally leaving her handbag in her shopping trolley. She also said some of the strict rules that were in place when she arrived have eased during her time there.
In the BBC documentary, Amy is introduced as a model who has to prove she's in work yearly to qualify for her Visa.
However, Amy said she has not 'worked as a model for 15 years'. She posts photo shoots on her Instagram with brands, but says these are collaborations and endorsements rather than modelling.
"They mentioned something about me being worried lots of younger models were coming in and taking work," she said.
"And I thought 'there might as well be a lot of young dentists coming in because it would make as much difference for my job'."
While she does renew her work Visa every three years, Amy said this is an easy process for her that all expats have to complete.
The BBC show sought to explore the "luxury and excess" of Dubai.
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But Amy felt it missed some of the reality of living in the city.
She said: "I think the documentary made it look like the people who live here are shallow and materialistic - but when I was filming with the production team, that was the kind of thing they were encouraging. They would ask us to say things again or be like 'gosh, is it really like that?' So they encouraged that view of Dubai.
"I wouldn't say it was like real life. We were asked to organise dinners and activities, I suppose to make our lives look more exciting.
"The vast majority of expats out here are just living normal lives. Not everything on the documentary is a true portrayal - they've taken it to the extreme and fluffed it out.
"There's a real side to Dubai that really got lost in there."
Day to day, Amy said she isn't "flying around in helicopters", and spends a lot of her time doing normal things like watching Netflix.
However, through her work - she has got to meet several of the celebrities that frequent Dubai, including infamous former US president Donald Trump.
"You know what, he was very nice," she said.
"Regardless of what you might think of him as a president, he's got a very likeable way about him that doesn't come across online or on television."
While she loves Dubai, Amy said she tries to come back to see her family in Leeds every few months.
She told LeedsLive: "I love Leeds and I do miss it. I used to hang out at the Wardrobe all the time.
"Walking around the market in town is still a favourite activity for me and my Dad. Leeds has changed so much since I left but I still love it and the Yorkshire countryside around it is so beautiful."
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Amy spent lockdown in Dubai, which she was glad about, saying Dubai's original lockdown was much stricter but did not go on as long as the UK's.
"I really took a chance to come to Dubai," she said.
"I've worked my a*s off to be here and make a career for myself. My parents, family and friends are really proud of me.
"I've not a special person, I was brought up in a very normal way - I've just worked hard and done well for myself out here."
A spokesperson for the producers of the programme said: "Inside Dubai is an accurate portrayal of the lives of the contributors to the series, made by an experienced documentary team."
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