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
