From a childhood marked by abandonment to her consecration on the New York stage, Maya Lygya presents in Show de Vida – Os segredos da brasileira sem pena ou por favor que conquista Nova York e palestrando a estaba-nos como os mais famosos coach ino es mundo (Show of Life – The Secrets of the Brazilian Without Money or Luck Who Conquered New York and Lectured on the Stages of the World’s Most Famous Coach) a powerful narrative of resilience and transformation. The work blends personal memories, therapeutic lessons, and self-development tools to inspire the reader to take charge of their own story. Recalling moments such as her backstage appearance at events with La Toya Jackson, the opening of Vanity Fair Magazine’s 5th anniversary, and her lectures at Tony Robbins’ seminars, Maya offers a provocative reflection on how it’s possible to reinvent yourself, even in the most adverse circumstances, and transform life into a true spectacle.
Maya, your journey has been described as “a movie script.” Looking back, what was the most unlikely moment when you truly thought, “My life would make a movie”?
It was when I spoke in Australia, at the Tony Robbins post-event. An audience that had just watched the world’s most famous speaker for three days, and yet I managed to tear them from their seats with warm applause and laughter. At that moment, a Brazilian woman without a “big gun” was winning hearts that seemed impossible to touch. There I understood that our origins never define our destiny: the abandoned girl who became a star on the stage of dreams.
Your book speaks of abandonment, survival, and reinvention. Which of these phases was the most difficult to revisit and transform into literature without losing its emotional power?
My father’s abandonment was the deepest wound to write about. He was my absolute hero, and when he promised to visit me every two weeks after the separation, I believed him with all the innocence of a child. He never returned. My mother and I were left homeless, carrying not only the lack of money but the weight of abandonment. Turning this pain into words was like having heart surgery without anesthesia—necessary, but devastating.
You’ve lived through extreme situations and reached prestigious stages in New York. What was it like dealing with the insecurity of “not having the money or the clout” and still believing you deserved to be in these spaces?
When passion burns brighter than fear, the word “impossible” disappears from your vocabulary. I never thought “I can’t”—I always asked, “How can I do this?” The difference between those who give up and those who succeed lies in the question we ask ourselves. I had neither money nor connections, but I had something more powerful: an absolute refusal to accept external limitations as internal truths. Vision guided me; action took control of destiny.
The Life Show is more than a biography; it aims to be a guide to transformation. How did you balance your personal story with therapeutic tools and practical lessons for the reader?
When we discover our life mission on this planet, the message becomes infinitely greater than our personal lives. Balance came through curiosity about my own emotional pain. I decided to study my inner world with the same dedication I would any important subject. When I was able to transform experiences into victories and knowledge into wisdom, I realized that my story could be the key to freeing others from their own mental prisons.
In your view, what does it mean to “turn any life into a spectacular show”? Is it more about external change or about reconfiguring the internal perspective?
Transforming any life into a Spectacular Show means overcoming any challenge using mental mastery combined with emotional knowledge. It’s about reconfiguring our inner perspective so that it’s reflected in extraordinary external results. It’s not about pretending everything is fine, but about developing the ability to find opportunities where others see only obstacles. It’s about transforming your own existence into a work of art that inspires, moves, and transforms.
You’ve been backstage with names like La Toya Jackson and even attended Tony Robbins’ post-seminars. What lessons from these grand settings do you carry with you today—and what pitfalls do they hide?
Lessons: Never stop learning, personally and professionally. Life always offers opportunities to thrive, but we need to be prepared to shine at the right moment. Pitfall: Uncontrolled ego. I’ve seen brilliant people miss incredible opportunities because they let their antipathy overflow. Success can be a subtle poison—it tests your character more than failure. Maintaining humility and gratitude is what separates those who achieve from those who merely pass through life’s stages.
The book’s title is “secrets of the Brazilian woman who conquered New York.” If you could sum up the essence of this conquest in a single “secret,” what would it be?
The unwavering pride in my Brazilian roots. I never tried to be American or hide my origins. On the contrary: I made my Brazilianness my greatest strength. In a world that tries to standardize us, being authentically yourself is the greatest act of rebellion and, paradoxically, the key to standing out. New York didn’t conquer me—I conquered it by being exactly who I was: a bold, stubborn, curious, and unstoppable Brazilian.
For those who feel trapped by their circumstances and see their story as something distant, what would be the first simple and possible step to taking the lead in their own journey?
Start by consciously practicing the four pillars I outlined in the book “Show de Vida”: be bold (dare to dream big), be stubborn (don’t take “no” for a final answer), be curious (question your limitations), and be unstoppable (turn obstacles into stepping stones). The book isn’t just my story—it’s a practical guide for anyone who wants to overcome mental and emotional limitations. Your extraordinary journey begins with the decision to stop being a spectator and become the protagonist of your own life.
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