Maria Mormile Abaa

Photography by Joseph Matchado

"My name is Clare bear and my face and body art journey began in the far north of Western Australia 4 years ago.
Pregnant with bubs no. 4, my family and I were living our dream of travelling around Australia and I fell in love with face painting at a children’s birthday party.
Since then, I have lived and breathed this amazing art, sharing colour with family, friends and the wonderful people who support my little business, “Roaming Rainbows.”
Challenging myself for a second time, this year I entered The Australian Body Art Awards competition with my sister Hans, aka Chooky, as my model.
We both walked away in amazement from winning the Brush and Sponge Category as well as being named Body Artist of the Year.
Now we are making our way over to Austria to compete at the World Body Painting Festival.
As a stay at home Mum, it feels as if I am in a dream. Four years ago, I never would have believed that through practice and determination I could make this possible.
I’m so grateful to everyone who has helped me on my journey and look forward to sharing with everyone my next body painting at The Worlds."

Felt at a bit of a loss, my mum helped me and said to speak from my heart. 🌸

Info on The Australian Body Art Awards

The Australian Body Art Awards has become Australia's Face & Body Painting event of the year!!! It is the premier annual event of the Australian Face & Body Art community. The ABAA started in 2010 and is a national face & body painting competition that is affiliated with The World Body Painting Association. This year The Australian Body Painter of the Year was Clare Auld.

The ABAA is not funded by any grants nor does it have an financial sponsorship. To honour the finest Body Painter in Australia we would like to send the winner to the World Body Painting Festival in Austria to compete in July 2018.

Photography by Matt Willis - 2010 Australian Body Art Awards

2013 Australian Body Art Awards

2014 Australian Body Art Awards

2014 Australian Body Art Awards - Competition in progress

The Australian Body Art Awards has donated all of the competition entry fees to help the ABAA Body Artist of the year get to Austria to compete at the World body painting festival.  We raised $1,750 which went towards Clares flights.  We are aiming to raise $750 through the National and International Face/Body Painting community to assist with accommodation.

Just competing is a challenge so it's really important to get good accommodation close to the World Body Painting Festival.