Super Nanny Fabiana Madeira, known as Fabi, has been recognised for her community work in her local London community as part of a nationwide competition by the Oral Health Foundation. The competition, which ran as part of the charity’s National Smile Month campaign (17 May – 17 June), aimed to find hidden heroes in communities up and down the country.

Brazil-born Fabi Madeira (35) came to the UK as a nanny while also setting up her own mentoring business.  However, it is not Fabi’s impressive nannying skills that warranted her being chosen as a Nominate a Smile winner. Instead, it was her selflessness and dedication to helping those in her local community and abroad.

Coming from humble beginnings, the 35-year-old, who now lives in Islington, North London, says she learned to value everything she had from a young age.

Fabi (pictured left) says: “I was helped a lot as a child, I was always fascinated with the people who were giving support and I would say to myself that one day, if I had the opportunity, I would help as much as I can too.”

Fabi was true to her word. As well as providing free mentoring courses for young nannies through her Instagram, including providing free English lessons, workshops, and advice, Fabi also volunteers her time with Help on Your Doorstep. The initiative aims to help vulnerable members of the local community who may be struggling. Through Help on Your Doorstep Fabi has regularly made social visits to local isolated and vulnerable residents who have benefitted hugely from having someone to talk to face-to-face. She has carried on with this virtually since the pandemic struck and has provided invaluable lifelines for so many in her community.

Her partner Stephen illustrates her selflessness best, when describing what Fabi did for her birthday last year.

Stephen says: “On her last birthday, she enlisted the help of friends to find two children in her home country of Brazil who shared her birthday but were far less fortunate than herself, living in poverty. She gifted a special surprise of a birthday cake and a brand-new mountain bike for each of them.”

We thought it was time that Fabi enjoyed a gift for herself which is why Fabi now has a top-of-the-range Oral B electric toothbrush on her way to her, thanks to our competition sponsors Oral-B.

Stephen is really pleased that Fabi’s hard work as paid off and believes she is an inspiration for others looking for better lives abroad.

He says: “Fabi also has a deeply entrenched sense of fairness and justice, using her social media channels to campaign for equality in society, and is always looking for ways to raise a smile in others.

“Fabiana is a true inspiration for anyone wanting to create a better life for themselves and others in a new country and to top it off, she has an incredible smile!”

Dr Nigel Carter OBE, chief executive of the Oral Health Foundation, is delighted to be able to recognise Fabi for the great work she’s done and her passion for helping others.

He says: “Local community heroes like Fabi are exactly who we want to be able

 to shout about through our Nominate a Smile competition.

“We hope Fabi enjoys the top-of-the-range Oral-B electric toothbrush she’s won and uses it to keep that wonderful smile of hers, that so many in her community enjoy, clean and healthy.”

If anyone would like to find out more information about Nominate a Smile and the National Smile Month campaign head to www.smilemonth.org.