Manja was born in Ermelo (the Netherlands) and moved to Haarlem (the Netherlands) within a few months.

She grew up at the Leidsebuurt in Haarlem. As a child she already proved to be very creative. Always playing dress up and playing with mom’s make up. She sews Barbie clothes and eventually her own clothes. Sometimes going to elementary school wearing those home made outfits. Her parents always made it possible for her to be creative in any way.

It was no big surprise that she eventually went to fashion school (Kennermerpoort College). With a diploma in the bag she decided to learn more about a different aspect of fashion, which is make up. She studied make up and grime at the beauty school (Haarlemse academy). This period left her with a desire to create, not only make up but also the fashion styling and the photography became more and more important.

Manja had the strong desire to become a fashion model, and so she started to do amateur and semi professional photo shoots. Her role model always was fashion model Kate Moss. Kate Moss had more or les the same height as herself. At a certain point she was invited to model professionally in fashion city Milan in Italy. After which she modelled all over the world for numerous magazines and fashion shows. The years had pass and Manja her passion started to shift back towards photography, she watched and learned from the best in the business.

She started her photography (Mavano) in 2006 with active periods off and on. Her passion for photography is always an important factor in her wicked live. Manja works out doors on location or inside in her own photo studio. Direction fashion/portrait photography, travel photography and artwork she made off her own photographs. She focuses on photography but also loves to do fashion styling/make up. Mavano photography is her personal development into adulthood.