Selina
“Being a woman means you’re capable of anything. You can literally bring life in to the world, and you can change the world. Women have strength.”
Selina is a determined go-getter and creative entrepreneur. She is always keen to try new things. Selina endured a two-year infection that fed on her energy and took a serious toll on her mental health. But the advice of a loving friend and her own creative spirit led her to pick up a craft that brought her out the other side. Selina uncovered her passion for weaving which led her to set up her own business Bee Weave - a turning point in her healing journey. Now she weaves and weaves, and also donates a fraction of her profits to help save the bees. Meet Selina. This is her story.
Selina @bee.weave, weaving (her happy place)
P: Introduce yourself.
S: Talofa lava I’m Selina Faimalo a laughing Samoan with an English accent.
Born and raised in Northern England and lived in Aotearoa for the past 10 years close to my large Samoan aiga.
P: Describe or define yourself in your own words.
S: I would call myself a multi-potentialite, which is a person who has many different interests and creative pursuits in life. This sums me up to a tee, as I wouldn’t say I am a pro in anything I just like to have a go at a bit of everything, LOL if that makes sense? I love having multiple tasks on the go and living my life at a million miles an hour.
P: What is your favourite thing about yourself?
S: Favourite thing would be my ability to make sh*t happen. So I’d say the favourite thing I like about myself would be my drive. “go hard or go home right?” I LOOOOVE bringing ideas into action.
P: Tell us a story. Have you had an experience that’s defined you or made you stronger?
S: Well that's a pretty hard one, I’ve had my fair share of challenges growing up, but probably in 2017 when I went overseas to Indonesia and caught a nasty recurring infection that only cleared in 2019 after being hospitalised.
It was a hard 2 years, the infection took all my energy, it drained me physically and mentally. I had to quit my job as I needed to focus on getting better. This was a huge challenge for me, mentally I’d had enough, I was severely depressed and at one point had suicidal thoughts.
A friend of mine came over from Germany and stayed with me for a few weeks, and I hadn’t seen her in years, she was my light in a dark room. She reminded me of who I was and everything I was capable of. I had a conversation with her about how I wanted to give weaving a go.
She was like you can do it “you can do anything” that day we went and bought a mini loom and some wool and we learnt to weave on YouTube, I had nothing but time, I was unemployed, sick and depressed.
So I weaved and I weaved until I had no more wall space at home and that is when Bee Weave was born.
I sold my weaves in markets and got back in to society and made friends again. Crafting was a huge part of my healing and I am so thankful.
P: What is one piece of advice you’d give to your younger self?
S: Eat your vegetables! They might smell a bit funny, but they are so good for you, health is better than wealth. Also don’t play rugby, you’ll hurt your knee and it comes back to bite you in your twenties.
P: What does being a woman mean to you?
S: Being a woman means you’re capable of anything. You can literally bring life in to the world, and you can change the world. Women have strength.
P: Who is one woman that inspires you? What would you say to her if she were here now?
S: Probably my mother, her heart has no limits, it does not judge it just forgive and helps. She would do anything for my sister and I no questions asked. Well if she were here now I would probably just say thank you. You'll never know how much I appreciate your support.