CRI听力:Maria Kargbo – from Miss World to Philanthropist

Today, our ongoing series on expats living in China features the story of former Miss Sierra Leone Maria Kargbo, who's now a well-known name among many Chinese. The entertainer has become deeply involved in charity work in recent years.

Jonathan Alpart reports.

"I love music, so I always listen to my song while I drive."

It was 2004 when Maria arrived in China from Sierra Leone, and with having had no long-term plans, you could say she's doing pretty well for herself.

Maria first arrived in China to take part in a beauty pageant, and 10 years later she's won two Miss World awards, placing her in the Guiness Book of World Records.

With a successful career in beauty competitions, and a long running music-career, how does she describe herself?

"I'm a black Chinese, I'm an African Chinese now. And I'm trying to bring the African and Chinese culture together and bring it outside the international world."

But Maria's very modest, and it's her philanthropy that really makes her stand out.

Very soon she'll be taking kids from Beijing to be her band members for a concert in Hong Kong. The kids have been taught to play their instruments, and they sound pretty good!

"I said let me give these kids this opportunity. I gave them my CD, let them learn the music and try the beat, so since that time we becoming like a family."

This is the tip of the iceberg for her charity work. Shortly after the 2008 Sichuan earthquake, Maria headed for the province to assist with the rescue operations. This brought her a lot of media attention, and it's a cause she still helps out with today.

"Actually those kids, I gave them 450,000 yuan for 10 years. And every month all of them I gave them 700 yuan and they are doing very very good which makes me feel proud."

But it wasn't a straightforward journey. When she first arrived in the country, Maria fell ill. And it was the help of a good samaritan that solidified her love for China.

When I arrived in China, I was having something very painful and there was a Chinese lady, she's like my mum now. I was like sick. Who take care of me? Don't know me? Do everything for me? To the hospital and back to my normal life."

Maria feels that it was her destiny to come to China and do great things. It's plain to see her Chinese dream has come true.

For CRI, I'm Jonathan Alpart.