Who is the Vietnamese male model who returned to practice after being fired from an airline and in debt?

Fired by the airline

- Returning to the screen with the movie "The Heir of Tam Duc" which will air on May 26, as a flight attendant, how do you arrange your work to film?

In the film, I play Gia Huy - the director of a jewelry company. The character has a sincere, warm personality, loves the female lead but is not reciprocated.

I quit my job as a flight attendant, or more accurately, I was fired. Currently, I focus on acting, filming commercials, taking lookbooks...

Duong Mac Anh Quan in the upcoming movie "The Heir to Tam Duc". Photo: FBNV

- Fired? What was the reason?

In 2019, I passed the exam and became a flight attendant. After the arrest of the chairman, the airline I worked for faced many difficulties.

In the last months of working, I remember the number of flights was decreasing. The company tended to cut down, only keeping key people, so they organized a competition to re-evaluate human resources capacity.

Due to sleep disorder, I was not in good health, leading to my absence from the final exam despite having passed the previous tests.

Around August-September 2023, I was fired. Until now, it is still a pain that I have not dared to face.

- After being fired, why didn't you apply to be a flight attendant for another airline?

I was always happy and proud to be a flight attendant but I felt I had flown enough and everything happened for a reason. After four years of working hard, I had no time left for my family or to develop myself. So I took a break to figure out what I wanted.

Even though he is no longer a flight attendant, he still remembers the 4-year journey with many beautiful memories. Photo: FBNV

Stay at the plumber's house

- What do you do in your spare time?

During those 6 months, I made the biggest mistake of my life. Following a friend's recommendation, I downloaded an online Sic Bo game app. Then, the "bookmaker" (the betting business organization - PV) added me to a Zalo chat group to place bets every day.

At first, I made money quite easily, "earning" a few million dong every day. Because I was excited, I spent all my money "playing big". The result was...

What a pain! I had to borrow 200 million VND from my friends to pay. The amount may not be anything to others but it is a huge number to me.

Because I could no longer pay the rent, I was asked by the landlord to move out. At my most helpless, I was taken in by the electrician whose service I had called.

His name is Phung Quang Hai. Once, he came to my house to fix the water pipe, when he came back he found out that my car was broken. I sent him 300 thousand VND to fix the car, unexpectedly he remembered that and reached out when I had nowhere else to go.

His house is on Chu Van An street, Binh Thanh district. The old, patched-up house has 10 newly born puppies.

Duong Mac Anh Quan revisits Mr. Hai and the house that once sheltered him when he was most helpless. Photo: NVCC

The first night I woke up, I looked up at the ceiling and wondered: "Quan, where are you? What are you doing here?". All I saw was blackness, so negative that I wanted to give up everything. After 3 days, I pulled myself together and accepted reality.

During more than a month at Hai's house, my life was not easy. Hai lost his wife and lived alone, so he was stubborn. Many times I had to stop him from wanting to fight with other people.

He was good to me. One day, with only 50 thousand dong left in his pocket, he still bought me pho. The broken phone I kept as a souvenir was also his.

With the belief that everything would pass, I reconnected with fashion stores and found a new place to rent without a deposit. When I moved out, he said, "With you gone, I don't know who to talk to."

Duong Mac Anh Quan at "Golden Swallow" 2024

- Flight attendant salary is so high, where did the money you saved for 4 years of working go?

My salary at that time was only 30-35 million/month at most. Not to mention, I worked for 4 years, 2 years of Covid-19 pandemic ended, the actual accumulated amount was not much.

Family ostracized

- Why don't you ask your family for help?

My parents were living in Germany with my sister at the time, so they were almost the last to know about me. They were angry and had lost all faith in me, and wanted to disown me.

- Even if you are in debt because of gambling, it's not enough to disown me?

My mother was scammed out of 400 million VND. My sister even suspected that I had conspired to steal her money. But thanks to the loss of money, my parents and I reconciled. A long time later, one morning I woke up and suddenly missed my sister so much, I called her and unexpectedly she picked up the phone. (crying) During the whole conversation, I cried like rain.

Duong Mac Anh Quan courageously shared with reporters about the tearful hidden corners during his years away from showbiz. Photo: FBNV

- So no one helped you in your time of need?

I asked my older siblings for help but they all refused. However, I encountered many strange fates. One day when I went out, I accidentally mentioned a person whose shoelace had come loose and he lent me some money after the conversation.

- At that time, did you accept any "trade" offers and how did you deal with them?

Since I started my career, I have received many invitations like that. At some point, I was hesitant because I had lost everything, what's the point of being proud?

Thinking of my family, I had the courage to ignore those offers. I was an unfilial son, unable to help and should not bring more shame to my family.

Shameful age of U40

- How did you get through the dark days?

I have received the harshest words, insults and threats. For a long time, I did not dare to post anything on social media because of fear and self-consciousness. Even now, when I no longer receive messages demanding money, I still rarely update social media because of my inferiority complex towards the "creditors".

Male model overcomes difficult period thanks to Buddhism. Photo: FBNV

I dare not say that I am "practicing" but I have overcome everything thanks to Buddhism. To this day, I still maintain waking up early to meditate, read sutras and practice gratitude.

Over the past four years, I have written thank you notes for all the good and bad things, and have now filled nearly 20 notebooks. At first, I found it both embarrassing and dogmatic, but after writing it down, I got used to it.

I follow the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh, and from there I practice mindfulness in my life. That is to be aware of living in the present moment and accept whatever happens, without judging, evaluating, positivizing or trying to push it away.

I am also grateful for the job opportunities. The casting invitation for the movie Nguoi hei he Tam Duc was like a lifeboat. It has been a long time since I felt I was truly "living" every moment.

Duong Mac Anh Quan has never regretted his decision to move to the South. Photo: FBNV

- U40 is still unstable, are you ashamed?

Regularly. My fellow models who are not successful, have already got married and bought houses and cars. In a few years, if I don't work hard, my situation will probably be worse.

However, I have my own path. I want to share and spread more good spiritual values ​​and positive energy to others even though this does not bring material benefits.

- What do you want to do in the future?

Up to now, I still owe friends and acquaintances about 150 million VND; and the bank about 200 million VND.

Currently, I rent a small house, live with a cat; take a ride-hailing car to work every day. I have been single for about 5 years, in a relationship that is not yet love but makes me feel safe.

I just got a new movie offer and 2 advertising projects. An acquaintance and I are also preparing a rice ball business plan.

Model Anh Quan 'escaped' showbiz to become a flight attendant

"For me, maintaining an outstanding figure is not as difficult as maintaining a lovable demeanor and a ready-to-serve attitude as a flight attendant," Duong Mac Anh Quan shared with VietNamNet.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/duong-mac-anh-quan-bi-hang-bay-sa-thai-roi-vao-canh-no-nan-cung-kho-vi-co-bac-2402644.html