Hello Maeve! Thank you for being a Premiere Sponsor for the Avi Choice Awards!
Q: When did you arrive in SL the first time and what brought you to Second Life?
A: I first logged in on Oct 18th, 2006. I was a single mother of 2 young children at the time, and wanted to find a creative and social outlet that I could engage in while they were sleeping.
Q: Can you tell us a bit about how you’ve spent your Second Life? Hobbies, interests.. things you’ve learned along the way ?
A: I’ve been fortunate to try and experience a lot of different things. I’ve been a model, a jewelry designer, a performer and am now currently a writer for an online publication, the SLInsider, in addition to the work I do with Magic Moments. Throughout the long journey and all the skills I’ve had the opportunity to learn, the lesson that has blessed me most is that moments of magic, beauty and kindness are just as present in SL as can be found in the real world. That’s what touches me the most.
Q: Tell us about your business. When was it founded? How many organizers/founders? How many SLers do you staff, etc?
A: Magic Moments opened in Aug of 2024. I had been designing for a few years before that, but wanted to gain more experience before forming an official brand. While it was initially opened by just myself, My best friend in all worlds, Sinister Witch, has always been my biggest supporter and member of staff and we’ve loved working together so much, that we’re now equal business partners and are excited to unveil an entire sim dedicated to providing magic moments to everyone in such a few more weeks.
Q: Was there a special reason you chose to sponsor the Avi Choice Awards?
A: What grabbed me the most was the conversation I had with the founder, Nikki Mathieson. I had asked her what made her create the Avi-Choice Awards, and her response was centered around a very selfless desire to show not only her appreciation for the creativity and innovation of artists, creators and entertainers, but also to give them a chance to be seen and appreciated by all of SL. To remind them that they come from and have a community behind them. My immediate response was, “Sign me up!” lol
Q: Do you have any specific charities you support in SL? If so, who and why?
A: Magic Moments is always seeking ways to give to established charities and causes whenever possible. Some of those contributions have been to provide set design and sponsorship to the SLEA3 project, “Winds of Change”, which was geared towards environmental awareness as well as providing support for the arts such as booking them for performances and hosting gallery showings. We’ve also donated event packages and funds towards Relay For Life and Doctors Without Borders. We do this because while we understand we don’t have the power to change the whole world, we can at least do our best to try and help in our own small way.
Q: Do you want to share a look at your life outside of SL with us? What do you or did you do for a living? Does your family support your SL aspirations?
A: In real life, I’m a single woman and a more importantly mother; which for me,is the best thing I ever did in my life. I work as a forensic investigator within the financial and health care spectrums. When I’m not working or involved in my online creative endeavors, I spend the bulk of my RL with my family or working on something creative; usually musical in nature.
Q: Second Life is full of creative, talented, inspirational, kind and diverse people. Tell us about some of your biggest inspirations in SL? .. a memory or happening that stands out as inspirational, mind-blowing or heart-felt? Who has impressed you in your Second Life journey?
A: In the almost 20 years I have spent in this incredible place called Second Life, I have been blessed to know and be touched by the friendship, care and sometimes even love of others that has both inspired and empowered me in a way I don’t even have the words to properly express. Has there been pain and disappointment mixed in there a bit as well? Yes, sure, but nothing is ever perfect and I would not trade those truly golden moments for anything.
Q: Anything else you’d like us to know about you, a special mentor, friends or your business?
A: More than anything, I’d just like to take this question as an opportunity to say a deep and heartfelt “thank you” to everyone who has ever made time for me, encouraged me, believed in me or took a chance on me to book an event that meant everything to them. To anyone reading this, if you ever have a moment in your SL where you want to feel seen, celebrated and have a team that gets excited right along with you and treats all of it with the same value and importance as you would have, please contact us; because when it all comes together and we can make your dream into a tangible experience just for you, for us that’s just pure magic, and that’s how we became Magic Moments. We’re right here waiting for you!
Thank you so much for giving us a look at all you do in our Virtual World. Thank you for being so supportive to the Avi Choice Awards and its mission to applaud and support those who make our Second Life so perfectly special.