Wyndham’s Macarena Donato is an education support worker and Instagrammer. She is featuring in Pacific Werribee’s Our Style, Our Way campaign, celebrating the fashion of the local community. She chats with Alesha Capone.
Can you tell me a bit about yourself?
I am a Melbourne mum to three amazing children. I lived half my childhood in Chile so I can speak Spanish fluently. I started my Ig (Instagram) account in late 2016 sharing lifestyle events, that moved to what my accounts looks like today, sharing size inclusive brands, promoting self love and recently after my son’s diagnosis, spread awareness on Type 1 diabetes.
What are you enjoying about participating in the Our Style, Our Way campaign?
With COVID and our lockdowns it didn’t quite go as planned, initially we had photo shoots set up but with restrictions and curfew we did our own mini-shoots at home and collaborated with a few retailers, then once restrictions eased we had a fun-filled day exploring Pacific Werribee trying on the latest fashion trends and getting to know retailers which was so much fun. Having had this great experience, I was able to share with my followers.
Is there anything you really like about living in the Wyndham area?
No need to travel into the city or other areas as we have everything we need right here.
I also wanted to ask what you enjoy about working as an education support worker?
Working as an education support worker is extremely rewarding. When you see how far they go with our support is priceless.
When you started your Instagram, did you ever imagine you would have more than 30,000 followers?
No I didn’t, I am so incredibly humbled and grateful for my followers and support. Especially when my son was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, the amount of people reaching out with support was just amazing. I am so thankful.
What do you enjoy most running your Instagram account?
I love how I have connected with so many amazing people and have given confidence to so many on their body so that they feel great wearing “them shorts”, “that dress”, “those bikinis”.
Would you like to add anything else?
I am so grateful for this experience, never in a million years would I have thought a person like me could run a campaign with my favourite shopping centre. It just means times are changing which I love.
