ROYAL RAPPER HOW I FOUND MY STRENGTH

Having overcome many challenges, talented Queen Shirl'e is helping young people thrive

- Cloe Willetts

South Auckland hip-hop entrepreneur Shirl'e Fruean has fond memories of her childhood in Samoa, roaming through untouched rainforest and picking fresh island fruit.

Cared for by her beloved great-grandmother Lakena Fruean, the MC and songwriter was given freedom and love. But when Shirl'e was suddenly uplifted to New Zealand as a young girl, her life drastically changed.

As well as struggling with a new language, she was bullied at school. Eventually ending up in an abusive relationship, the talented rapper almost lost everything.

"Throughout it all, the memory of my great-grandmother, who I called Mama, was my source of strength," says the mum-of-three, who is known as Queen Shirl'e. "She supported my passion for performing arts from the beginning and her memory reminds me to stay grounded, and the importance of kindness and helping others." Today, Shirl'e, 44, is a youth mentor, using her past challenges to help others through creativity, faith and hip-hop.

It was at six years old, after a surprise visit from her New Zealand-based birth mother, Shirl'e learnt she was leaving Samoa. As well as feeling excited, she was heartbroken.

"I asked God to protect Mama," she recalls. "I knew praying gave her peace, so I prayed I'd never forget her and everything she did for me."

Shirl'e moved into her grandparents' house in Mangere, South Auckland, alongside her uncles, who were successful kickboxer, rugby players and boxers.

"I looked up to them and they pushed me to be better," says Shirl'e, whose cousin is boxing champ Joseph Parker.

"They helped me get into sports, which I was good at. While I loved my grandparents dearly, they were super-strict and we were always on edge. Coming to New Zealand shaped me into a resilient and courageous individual."

When her older sister brought home a book one day containing rap stars like Salt-N-Pepa and LL Cool J, Shirl'e was curious.