Winny Marango was recently awarded as the 2018 Highly Commended Runner Up for the Queens Young Leaders Award. A single mother who works for CARE International, runs her own online fashion shop and has aspirations to one day set up her own NGO, this island queen is slaying and manifesting all kinds of magic in her life. Shooting at Ramada Resort, we are pleased to celebrate this natural beauty and capture her at this exciting stage in her life.

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Name:

Winny Marango, but my friends call me Nasha.

Age:

I’m in my Mid 20’s.

Occupation:

I am the Senior Officer for Program Quality at CARE, an international humanitarian aid organization that focuses on working with women and girls in Vanuatu to create sustainable change in the community.

Besides my job, I am also a volunteer youth worker at Ola Fou Vanuatu and run my own online fashion shop (FashionHER Bag and Manymore). I basically order men and women accessories and sell it in Port Vila and Santo. We also sell services for hair extensions and crochet too.

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Where are you from?

I am from Tongoa, Shefa nomo.

Tell us about your family?

I have 5 brothers and I am the only girl in the family. I am a single mother to a beautiful girl name Shivanji Prema Kewal.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I like reading magazines and hanging out with other young girls in my settlement. I love meeting new people, learning new things and travelling. I also enjoy taking my daughter out to the playground.

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What do you study?

I am currently taking a course in Leading Change with Cambridge University and also a Cert IV in project Management at USP. In addition, I am taking an online disability course at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and one day, I hope to do a Bachelor of Social Work.

What do you aspire to do in the future?

I have big dreams ahead. I would like to start a local NGO/Youth Centre Association for young people with the purpose of creating a space where young boys and girls can drop in and we can support them to achieve their career in life.

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What are your achievements?

I was recently awarded as the 2018 Highly Commended Runner Up for the Queens Young Leaders Award and will receive a unique package of training, resources, mentoring and networking, from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth ll and the acclaimed University of Cambridge.

In 2012, I was selected as the 15 best participants for the Future leaders program. In 2013, I received an Australian Aid Scholarship to do Cert IV in Youth Work in Fiji with APTC-TAFE University. In 2015, I received a sponsorship by the PRAXIS NZ to study Pasifika Youth Development Sponsor in Fiji and Solomon Islands. In 2018, I was awarded with a US Aid scholarship to study Project Management at USP.

How would you describe your style?

When I chose my clothes, I am interested in the colors rather than the style, and prefer dark plain colors such as black or grey. I don’t wear a lot of jewelry and love to match the clothes I am wearing with the right shoes.

Why do you like fashion?

I love fashion because it shows the beauty of a women or a girl. Most people think girls dressed up to impress someone but NO we dress up because we are confident about ourselves.

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Where do you buy your clothes from?

Outside of Vanuatu, I love Crossroad boutique and Kmart. Locally I buy from the second hand shops such as M&M second shop opposite Municipal workshop, JCK second hand and Stret Price. It takes time to stand there and find good clothes, but when you do find something nice, they last long and are good quality.

Who influences your style?

Seriously I think no one influences my style, I love being me and that’s it.

What beauty products do you use?

I don’t wear too much makeup and never go a day without my rusty red mast lipstick and my eyebrow liner just to make my eyebrows look neat haha. I do love being natural though.

I use coconut oil a lot and only use vitamin E cream when I feel my skin is dry. My favorite perfumes are Fantasy by Britney Spears and imitation Victoria Secret perfumes, especially coconut vanilla. I get my pedicures at Beauty Spa and Eden Beauty, it is affordable and they do a good job.

I like changing my hairstyles and when my hair is long, I usually get crochet done and do it myself. I have a hidden talent of doing braids extensions and crochet too.

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Any fashion advice?

You are unique and beautiful the way you are and be confident about your style everyday.

Any life advice for young girls?

Whatever your background, rich or poor, you have the right and choice about how you want your life to be. I would like to encourage especially single mothers, that ITS NOT yet the end of life when you have a child. You still have the chance to do something, there is a lot of opportunities out there, grab it and make use of it.


Photography: Nicky Kuautonga

Hair, beauty and nails: Body and Soul 


This article was originally published in the April edition of the Vanuatu Daily Post Life and Style magazine