San Giljan, MALTA- The 03th of June 2018 was reserved for the opening of Miss Universe Malta 2018 which takes place at the Cavalieri Art Hotel in St Julian's, Malta. I had opportunity for the first time to see all the candidates in live and try to make a final cut and give my winning tip for this year for winning the contest, and I must say that there is a couple of girls that leave me a really nice impression that I will blog for it very soon also.
Marilena Gauci representing Mellieha photographed by Benjamin Sant
Born on 20th October 1991, Marilena is a singer and all-round performer whose career in music took off with the winning of the Malta Junior Eurovision Song Contest way back in 2004. Along her childhood years, Marilena accomplished several winnings of talent contests and performed at leading venues both national and international. With her singing setting off in earnest at the age of five, Marilena soon became a regular on local children television shows and theatre arts fora.
Following the continuous support and coaching of her local and foreign tutors in singing, piano, dancing and acting, Marilena went on to taking her studies in music and arts very seriously, furthering to graduate levels and their continuance ever since. For the past two years, Marilena has received vocal tuition and classical training from Lydia Caruana, one of Malta’s most renowned operatic soprano who has partnered Jose Carreras and Andrea Bocelli, and sung in Carmelo Pace’s I Martiri and Nicolo Isouard’s Jeannot et Colin, amongst others. Earlier, Marilena trained at the Malta Academy of Performing Arts where she studied vocals, stage performance and song-writing with London-based SLS (Speech Level Singing) vocal instructor Joshua Alamu and attended the Bodywork Performing Arts Cambridge where she studied professional dance and musical theatre, after which she went on to train under the tuition of Kledi Kadiu, Anbeta Toromani, Leon Cino and Ilir Shaqiri, all of whom at the time where resident dancers and choreographers of Italy’ popular TV programme Amici.
Most recently, Marilena has started attending VocalBooth Studios in Malta where she receives vocal tuition by speech & language pathologist Norma Camilleri, President of Malta’s Association of Speech-Language Pathologists. With Ms Camilleri’s specialisation in voice and coaching, Marilena aims to be sitting for internationally recognised vocal examinations from Trinity College London. Owing to constant education and training, Marilena has seen to a number of winnings, including the 2004 Malta Junior Eurovision Song Contest, 2007 Malta Youths Ghanja tal-Poplu and 2009 Alexandria Music & Song Festival in Egypt; as well as several attainments, some of which include 2007 CHOGM (Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting) performer, 2009 Maltese Film Maltageddon leading actress , 2011 & 2013 Malta Eurovision Song Contest finalist and 2012 & 2014 Festival Kanzunetta Indipendenza first runner-up. Her two foremost idols are all-time jazz favourite Peggy Lee and one of the world’s most creative musical figures and multi-instrumentalist Stevie Wonder. Other contemporary influences and inspirations are the two fearless and re-inventive females Christina Aguilera and Beyoncé. As for her image and style, Marilena credits Hollywood actress Marilyn Monroe for her ability to evoke natural confidence and sensuality with sheer class. Beyond music and entertainment, Marilena is a full-time economist, currently employed at the University of Malta and under way with studies leading up to a Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Economics. With voluntary work being such a prominent part of her day-to-day life, Marilena is an activist at both national and international fundraising activities and campaigns. Some of her involvements include missionary in Peru’, Inspire Foundation Malta's El Camino De Santiago Trekker in Spain, protagonist of The President's Solidarity Fun Run 2015 and Hospice Malta Runner at the 2016 Vodafone Malta Half Marathon. Some of her latest contributions include PR & Marketing Officer at the MCCF (Malta Community Chest Fund) – Solidarjeta’ bl-Isports Initiative and at Malta’s Dr Klown, where she has also trained to become a certified Clown Doctor. Marilena, together with other certified Clown Doctors, visits children suffering chronic or very serious illnesses at Mater Dei Hospital where she goes by the name ‘Dr DoReMi’.
At present, Marilena has embarked on further developing her music career and a rebranding which calls for new material and online content, targeting the international scene.
I
had the opportunity to meet this girl in person and I can say that her energy is something crazy, unusual and she is so original for this kind of contest. She has everything from talent to charisma and everywhere she appears she is leaving impression of natural beauty, power and honesty. Taking the fact that this year’s contest will take place in USA is very important to choose talented girls that have ability to speak as without those skills it’s impossible to make anything. She has everything one girl should have to represent a country on Miss Universe and the most important is that she is so real and try to make a big success and she is on right track to become a big star.
From the name of my blog I wish Marilena the best of luck and my blog will follow her even on the journey in America if she wins the Maltese contest.
Marilena you rock girl!!
With love
Denis xxx