“Born and bred in Macau”, is how Mariana Sá proudly describes herself. With a Portuguese father and Chinese mother, she very much embodies the cultural heritage that is so celebrated in the territory, and this is also one of the reasons she was chosen to front the 2013 Macau Shopping Festival 2013.
While this may be her first job in Macau, Mariana has been active in the modeling industry for three years, and has fronted some very high profile campaigns including Nivea for China and Thailand, and Darlie toothpaste for Malaysia. She is also the Herbalife spokesperson in China, a position which recently saw her being interviewed on stage in front of a massive audience of 11,000 people in Qingdao. And there are even talks of an advertising campaign next year, alongside her international male Herbalife counterpart, none other than footballer Cristiano Ronaldo. Not bad for someone who considers modeling a part-time venture.
Looking at her modeling work, it would be easy to imagine that being in front of a camera is something Mariana envisioned for herself from an early age. However her intentions were always far more modest.
“I always had an idea of being an extra in a TV series, or an extra in a movie, but not a lead actress,” the model tells CLOSER.
But it seems life had other plans for her. On her seventeenth birthday, Mariana’s father offered her a photo shoot session. Pleased with the results, she sent the photos to Elite modeling agency (now called Primo Management) in Hong Kong, where she was signed up on the spot for a three-year contract. The rest, as they say, is history.
From the very start Mariana enjoyed modeling, seeing it as “a fun experience”, but she always viewed it as just a part-time job, preferring instead to concentrate on her Politics and International Relations degree at the University of Bath in the UK, which she will complete around May next year. Fortunately her agency has always been supportive and respected her need to focus on her studies.
And now with her degree nearly complete, the future certainly looks bright.
“Right now I have quite a few projects for myself, which is good”, she says.
Modeling is of course an option, but Mariana has a range of other interests too – she also really enjoys writing and has started a lifestyle blog, that she modestly describes as “quite amateur”, where she reflects on travel, fashion and food (salookout.com).
Fluent in English, Mandarin, Cantonese and Portuguese, Mariana is considering doing a Master’s abroad and then returning to Macau, or perhaps just starting to work immediately. One thing she is decided on is the idea that she wants to return to Macau. All the rapid development and opportunities here is something she finds deeply alluring.
“Macau is the perfect place if someone wants to develop things [from media, to journalism to social work] I’m interested in a lot of things,” she explains.
Another of her interests is travel. Mariana has spent a lot of time exploring India, as well as traveling around Brazil, South Africa and Cambodia. Recent trips include South Korea and New Zealand, where a love of snowboarding came courtesy of her boyfriend, Joe.
“New Zealand is one of the most amazing places I have ever been to.”
No stranger to adventure and exploring the unknown, in March this year Mariana packed up at short notice to spend three weeks in Ghana with the NGO Thrive Africa, where, along with 20 other volunteers, she worked in small villages helping to re-build libraries for the local communities.
“I’ve always wanted to volunteer abroad”, she says of her experience, describing it as “very rewarding but very saddening”. Seeing abandoned children is something she found difficult, but it “makes you want to do more” she says, and the drive and passion she gained in Africa is something she wants to apply in Asia.
The idea of working with NGOs closer to home is something the soon-to-be graduate foresees. Victims of human trafficking are a cause close to her heart, as is anything that can help people and be of “social benefit”.
Mariana has the courage to experience the world, travel it wide and far, and the intelligence to apply what she learns in a constructive manner, but the world cannot keep her away forever. “Macau is home,” she says, with a knowing smile.
