<p id="yui_patched_v3_11_0_1_1490689689298_528"><img alt="Former Miss Universe Natalie Glebova has called Thailand home for over 10 years" class="wp-image-61507" id="yui_patched_v3_11_0_1_1490689689298_742" src="/documents/10184/10911/7464154107795067722A65R5566-copy-crop-2-1024x655.jpg/be14ec5f-2567-47ed-8d9b-af4ca5b0c850?t=1489746611578" style="width: 740px; height: 473px;" /></p> <p id="yui_patched_v3_11_0_1_1491299819705_1030">When the scepter has been put down, when the crown has been handed over, when the final walk has been walked, a Miss Universe contemplates life unlike anyone. The world's most coveted beauty pageant title subjects its holders through a whirlwind year of travels and oft-gainful contracts, and it is a maelstrom&nbsp;that promises no soft landing. Beauty queens eventually face a crossroads leading stateside or home, bright lights all.</p> But those crossroads have turned out to be home itself for <a href="http://facebook.com/missuniverse2005" id="yui_patched_v3_11_0_1_1491280054365_1049" target="_blank">Miss Universe 2005 Natalie Glebova</a>. After flying the flag high for Canada that year, the pageant monarch found herself in a series of serendipitous return trips to then Miss Universe host country Thailand. By the end of her reign, Natalie had received an offer from Thai lager maker Singha to be their brand ambassador.<br /> <br /> More than 10 years later, the Russian-Canadian model and television personality still calls the Southeast Asian nation her base, with husband, 2001 Mister Panamá Dean Kelly, and their daughter Maya. Locals have grown endeared to the lanky expatriate, nicknamed Fah ("blue" in Thai) for her steely eye colour.<br /> <br /> In 2014, she bought a three-bedroom, 180-square-metre condominium unit near&nbsp;Bangkok's plush Thonglor neighbourhood. She also owns two condos by the beach, one in Na Jomtien, near Pattaya, and the other in Rayong.<br /> <br /> Her feet firmly planted in Asia, Natalie sounds proud of her decision to stay and explore the region's real estate offerings&nbsp;— make no <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/20/us/miss-universe-wrong-contestant-crowned" id="yui_patched_v3_11_0_1_1491280054365_942" target="_blank">Steve-Harvey-sized mistake</a> about it.<br /> &nbsp; <h4>What made your decision to move to Thailand?</h4> <p>The country and the people gave us such a warm welcome; it was hard not to fall in love with it. I felt so comfortable in Thailand and the Thais have even given me a local nickname, Fah. I'm very happy with my decision to settle here, because so many wonderful and amazing things have happened to me to make this a very special place in my heart.</p> <h4>Tell us more about your Thai condo. What drew you to it?</h4> <p>I loved the fact that it has only seven&nbsp;floors and doesn't have too many units. I prefer to stay close to the ground — I don't like to live in high-rises up in the sky — and also fewer units, so it's quieter and not so crowded.</p> <a href="http://www.property-report.com/exclusive-interview-drive-ace-trump/" target="_blank"><strong>More: Asia Property Report speaks with Donald Trump</strong></a><br /> &nbsp; <h4>What drew you to Thonglor? What's so great about the area?</h4> <p><img alt="View from the top of the Octave bar in the Thong Lor district of Bangkok." class="wp-image-61532" src="/documents/10184/10911/-2583248229275167129shutterstock_227919067.jpg/65778819-81ab-4a8c-8684-6bff66d8d6b5?t=1489746612239" /></p> <p>Ever since I started living in Thailand, I have loved coming to Thonglor to hang out with friends, go to restaurants and shopping plazas, and get all my beauty services. So when I decided to buy a condo, I looked very closely at properties in this area, not only because I was familiar with it, but also because it's clean, has a lot of variety, and quite international with people from all over the world living in this area. Now I like it also for the fact that there are a lot of schools and kids' facilities around here.</p> <a href="http://www.property-report.com/why-thonglor-remains-bangkoks-epicenter-of-cool/" target="_blank"><strong>More: Why Thonglor remains Bangkok's epicenter of cool</strong></a><br /> &nbsp; <h4>How great is Thailand, or Asia for that matter, in raising a family?</h4> <p><img alt="Natalie and husband Dean run a travel startup called Travelbook" class="wp-image-61508 size-large" src="/documents/10184/10911/-6546111590600929482A65R5208-copy-crop-1024x841.jpg/dc195653-c558-472e-918c-f4e64c7062ce?t=1489746612442" /></p> <p>Thailand is fantastic for raising a family simply because of ease of lifestyle and affordability. It's easy to hire help and the schools are of very high international standards. There's always something to do and places to go in Thailand, and we personally love to travel together as a family all over the region. Our favorite destinations are Phi Phi Islands, Bali, and Hong Kong.</p> <h4>Are you thinking of buying more houses in Thailand or Asia?</h4> <p>Sure, I'd love to own more property in Asia. I would love to have another condo in the south of Thailand like Krabi or Trat.</p> <h4>Which other countries in Asia would you like to live in someday?</h4> <p>I'd love to live in Bali, Indonesia one day. It has such a lovely charm and atmosphere, and the food there is just as good as Thailand. I could also see myself living in Hong Kong, as it reminds me of New York City in some ways, and I love NYC!</p> <img class="aligncenter wp-image-61516" src="/documents/10184/10911/-2823565100371111792A65R5726-copy-crop-1.jpg/5b3785a2-d9c0-4da3-a243-7edbe3ef09ab?t=1489746612664" /><br /> &nbsp; <h4>What is your current relationship with real estate developers?</h4> <p>I did an endorsement for Henderson Land a while ago. I am interested in exploring <a href="http://ysisentertainment.com" id="yui_patched_v3_11_0_1_1491280054365_1170" target="_blank">more real estate deals</a>. I am urbanised and love to travel so I'm looking for properties that match my lifestyle.</p> <h4>What's a great final question you would really like to answer?</h4> <p>How do you define success? This was actually a question I asked one of the finalists in Miss Universe 2006 when I was passing on the title. I like this question because there are many ways to answer as success means different things to different people. For me, success has always been about reaching your personal goals, being satisfied with your life and what you've achieved, and having an inner happiness that doesn't come from material things or possessions but from wealth of experience, love, and personal development.&nbsp;</p> <a href="http://www.property-report.com/special-report-ivanka-trump-scion-of-brand-sophistication/" target="_blank"><strong>Read next: Ivanka Trump, scion of brand sophistication</strong></a>
Why this Miss Universe prefers to live in Thai property
When the scepter has been put down, when the crown has been handed over, when the final walk has been walked, a Miss Universe contemplates life unlike anyone. The world's most coveted beauty pageant title subjects its holders through a whirlwind year of travels and oft-gainful contracts, and it is a maelstrom that promises no soft landing. Beauty queens eventually face a crossroads leading stateside or home, bright lights all.
But those crossroads have turned out to be home itself for Miss Universe 2005 Natalie Glebova. After flying the flag high for Canada that year, the pageant monarch found herself in a series of serendipitous return trips to then Miss Universe host country Thailand. By the end of her reign, Natalie had received an offer from Thai lager maker Singha to be their brand ambassador.
More than 10 years later, the Russian-Canadian model and television personality still calls the Southeast Asian nation her base, with husband, 2001 Mister Panamá Dean Kelly, and their daughter Maya. Locals have grown endeared to the lanky expatriate, nicknamed Fah ("blue" in Thai) for her steely eye colour.
In 2014, she bought a three-bedroom, 180-square-metre condominium unit near Bangkok's plush Thonglor neighbourhood. She also owns two condos by the beach, one in Na Jomtien, near Pattaya, and the other in Rayong.
Her feet firmly planted in Asia, Natalie sounds proud of her decision to stay and explore the region's real estate offerings — make no Steve-Harvey-sized mistake about it.
What made your decision to move to Thailand?
The country and the people gave us such a warm welcome; it was hard not to fall in love with it. I felt so comfortable in Thailand and the Thais have even given me a local nickname, Fah. I'm very happy with my decision to settle here, because so many wonderful and amazing things have happened to me to make this a very special place in my heart.
Tell us more about your Thai condo. What drew you to it?
I loved the fact that it has only seven floors and doesn't have too many units. I prefer to stay close to the ground — I don't like to live in high-rises up in the sky — and also fewer units, so it's quieter and not so crowded.
More: Asia Property Report speaks with Donald Trump
What drew you to Thonglor? What's so great about the area?
Ever since I started living in Thailand, I have loved coming to Thonglor to hang out with friends, go to restaurants and shopping plazas, and get all my beauty services. So when I decided to buy a condo, I looked very closely at properties in this area, not only because I was familiar with it, but also because it's clean, has a lot of variety, and quite international with people from all over the world living in this area. Now I like it also for the fact that there are a lot of schools and kids' facilities around here.
More: Why Thonglor remains Bangkok's epicenter of cool
How great is Thailand, or Asia for that matter, in raising a family?
Thailand is fantastic for raising a family simply because of ease of lifestyle and affordability. It's easy to hire help and the schools are of very high international standards. There's always something to do and places to go in Thailand, and we personally love to travel together as a family all over the region. Our favorite destinations are Phi Phi Islands, Bali, and Hong Kong.
Are you thinking of buying more houses in Thailand or Asia?
Sure, I'd love to own more property in Asia. I would love to have another condo in the south of Thailand like Krabi or Trat.
Which other countries in Asia would you like to live in someday?
I'd love to live in Bali, Indonesia one day. It has such a lovely charm and atmosphere, and the food there is just as good as Thailand. I could also see myself living in Hong Kong, as it reminds me of New York City in some ways, and I love NYC!
What is your current relationship with real estate developers?
I did an endorsement for Henderson Land a while ago. I am interested in exploring more real estate deals. I am urbanised and love to travel so I'm looking for properties that match my lifestyle.
What's a great final question you would really like to answer?
How do you define success? This was actually a question I asked one of the finalists in Miss Universe 2006 when I was passing on the title. I like this question because there are many ways to answer as success means different things to different people. For me, success has always been about reaching your personal goals, being satisfied with your life and what you've achieved, and having an inner happiness that doesn't come from material things or possessions but from wealth of experience, love, and personal development.
Read next: Ivanka Trump, scion of brand sophistication
By Property Report 09 Mar 2017 SHARE