Mariela Castillo is a writer, performer, visual artist, designer and entrepreneur who grew up in the barrios of the Dominican Republic. Rising from poverty, she worked her way up in the advertising world to serve more than 150 brands across 15 countries, working with several UN Agencies and humanitarian initiatives internationally. Transformation through art has always been her deepest passion. Mariela has traveled globally, exploring multiple trainings, from psychology to hypnosis, from fine arts to shamanism – all as tools to heal the traumas of her childhood and unlock her inner wisdom. She is currently writing her first novel, Rotten Apple, based on her teenage years, and the inspiration for her Rotten Apple solo performance.