3. How did/does Maman inspire you?      

Maman always had my back, and supported me, believed in me, more than I did in myself, even if I failed in something.

She taught us great values. Most weekends she would take my sister Elisia and me to the RSPCA in Suva, to help out, take care of the animals.  That has had a continuing influence on me, I live with those values of respecting animals and people. 

     

She also sacrificed a lot for us, I saw it, her time, energy and wellbeing to create a safe space and environment for us. Home was always full of colours, full of music, full of plants, sculptures. I personally didn’t lack anything, even though we didn’t have our dad around. We were also able to paint, play music, dance, read books and just be kids in Fiji.

Isabelle was a social butterfly, with friends who adored her and were around all the time, so many became family, all artistic and creative people as well.

 

Yes, she was always creating something, always learning, always taking photos with her Canon.

She loved to paint and draw and create something crafty. She loved to travel for her work. She also loved to cook for us. She was super curious about everything,loved learning, studied psychology in her younger days in London, kept learning, was always in the process to be and do better.    

 

She loved to take walks in nature, always bringing her camera of course. She loved to camp and hike. She was a gymnast when she was younger so she encouraged physical activity and she taught me about Yoga from very young. I still practise Yoga today.  

I remember my mum coming to Suva Primary School and teaching us about art and then teaching art classes. She clearly knew what she was doing, she was a natural teacher, I was very proud of her. 

I got bullied a lot in school and she showed up for me in school and it was just priceless. I remember saying “that’s my Mama”, with stars in my eyes. She was on a pedestal for me.

 

5. Do you feel her passions have influenced your interests and passions?    

Definitely. I also love to paint and draw, super relaxing and a great way of bringing yourself back into the present moment. I’ve always felt different and that I was meant for more especially when you grow up watching your mother work hard and make waves in Creative industries.

I just feel super blessed growing up with adults who knew what they wanted and went for it.  I also feel a pull towards entrepreneurship and creating my own vision. Still working on that.

 

I have always loved to model and have had the chance to model since I was young.  Maman was established, she kind of put me in the limelight and started giving me experiences in the industry and I learned a lot just from watching everyone around me. I remember you (Sandhya) being my mum’s model, all these beautiful photos of you and the fashion shows in Fiji. Not a lot of kids have this kind of luck, to have access to such a fun and glamourous world and I felt very blessed. 

I like taking photos but I don’t think I have an eye. I work better in front of a camera 🙂 

I write a lot. My mum encouraged me to create the habit of writing everyday, writing about anything and everything, how I felt that day, what kind of day I had etc. To express it all.