Mahara McKay

Mahara McKay (born 20 March 1981 in New Zealand) is a Swiss model, DJ, producer, teacher and beauty pageant titleholder. she won Miss World Switzerland 2000.^[1] Today, she travels the world teaching at Tantra festivals, Healing, Dance and Yoga Festivals, sharing transformative "Tantra Energy" workshops and intensive trainings for anyone ready for change, truth and love.

Mahara McKay has a Swiss mother and a father from New Zealand of Maori descent. She grew up in New Zealand until she was ten years old. In 1991, she moved to Switzerland. After mandatory school, McKay attended art school and started an apprenticeship as an interior decorator in the city of Zurich, Switzerland.^[2]

In 2000, McKay won the beauty pageant Miss Switzerland.^[3] After her term as Miss Switzerland, McKay worked independently as a model, presenter, DJ and music producer. In this period, she also lived some time in Los Angeles and Berlin until she moved back to New Zealand in 2014, where she opened two yoga studios in Dunedin called 2nd Floor Yoga. There she facilitated Tantric Hatha, Yin Yoga, Pregnancy Yoga, Meditation,^[4] Pranayama, Yoga Nidra and Ecstatic Dances. Since 2017 she is holding spaces all around the world for people to transform into the best version of themselves through Tantric & Shamanic Arts. In 2021 she came back to Switzerland and since then built up a thriving community. She focusses on group sessions and also gives private sessions. She has her own studio and gives weekly Tantra Meditations in Zürich. Check her Website www.maharamckay.info or her Instagram www.instagram.com/maharamckay for her upcoming events.

Starting in 2002, McKay worked as a DJ at different events. She produced several songs for compilations such as the chill-out compilation Café del Mar.^{[citation needed]} Starting with a focus on chill out music, McKay added different music genres to her palette over the years. From 2006 onwards, McKay also used the pseudonym DJ Rocksy under which she worked at different open-air festivals as well as skate, surf and snowboard events.^[5][6] Based on her success as a DJ, McKay was chosen to be the ambassador of Quiksilver Women in 2009.^{[citation needed]} Consequently, she worked at different Quiksilver events as DJ.^{[citation needed]} Apart from this, she opened several shows, such as, The X-Games, Pro France, King of the Groms, Roxy Chicken, as well as the 2009 Tony Hawk Show at the Grand Palais in Paris, France.^{[citation needed]} Her music style was a mixture of different genres.^{[citation needed]} McKay worked as a DJ in various cities in and around Switzerland as well as in New York,^[7] Los Angeles, Beijing,^[8] Singapore^[9] and Tunis.^{[10][failed verification]}

Since her term as Miss Switzerland, McKay worked regularly as a photo and runway model for different Swiss and international brands, such as, Swarovski,^{[citation needed]} Coca-Cola,^[11] Beldona (Swiss lingerie store),^[12] and Vögele Shoes (Swiss shoe brand).^{[citation needed]} In 2005, she became the Swiss ambassador of the car manufacturer Ford which named a Ford Fiesta car series after her, the “Mahara Edition”.^[13] McKay was also the ambassador of other international as well as Swiss brands, such as, Onitsuka Tiger (2002–2009), Eve Cardinal (Swiss brewery, 2007–2011),^[14] Quiksilver Women (2009–2012),^[15] Walterli Freaks (Swiss fashion store),^[16] Dove Chocolate (2006–2008)^[17] and Harley Davidson (2009–2011).^[18]

Besides her engagement as a fashion model, McKay organised different fashion shows, produced photo shootings, and worked as a stylist on set.^[19] For over ten years, McKay designed most of her red carpet gowns herself. In 2011, she was chosen to be one of the designers of the contestants’ evening dresses at the Miss Switzerland pageant.^[20]

• 2001: Moana I - My selection (Universal Music 2001)
• 2003: Moana II - My selection (Universal Music 2003)^[21]
• 2004: More Moana Dreams (TBA Music 2004)

Written & composed/produced:

• 2005: One Life, Sampler Café del Mar Vol. 12
• 2005: Feel Free, Sampler La Maison de l'Elephant Vol. 3
• 2005: Feel Free, Sampler Bolero Lifestyle Club
• 2006: Waterlove, SoundOasis List Vol. 1
• 2007: Soulsmooth, Sampler Café del Mar Vol. 14
• 2009: He's Looking At You, Science Fiction Jazz Vol. 12
• 2010: Trust Me, EVE of the Cardinal Summer Session CD
• 2010: Ko Tahi Te Oranga, EVE of the Cardinal Summer Session CD
• 2010: Shake It, EVE Cardinal Summer Session CD^[22]
• 2011: Beautiful Day, Sampler Café del Mar Vol. 17
• 2012: Tiger Beer, for the Swiss/German film Summer Outside [de]
• 2013: Holes In My Pockets

• maharamckay.info (official website)
• www.youtube.com/user/mahara808 (YouTube)
• https://www.instagram.com/maharamckay/ (Instagram)