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Image: J. Marahuyo by Sherbet Birdie team
J. Marahuyo is a neurodivergent Filipino-Australian poet residing on Dharug Country. She was shortlisted for the Newcastle Poetry Prize 2024, won the Writing NSW- Varuna Fellowship 2024 and won the Living Stories Prize 2024. She explores themes of identity, mental health and the power of vulnerability.
Her debut collection crying gorgeously; 4:37am is out now, published by WestWords Books.
Her poems have been recognised and have received accolades in a humble number of competitions. Her work can be found in national and international journals and anthologies such as Cordite Poetry Review, FemAsia magazine and The Suburban Review; Rabbit Poetry and Gems Zine. She has been described as an original and compelling storyteller who pulls at heartstrings with her amazing stage presence and superb delivery. She was the recipient of the WestWords-Varuna Emerging Writers Residency 2022, Varuna's The Writers Space online residency 2024 and was chosen for the innovative program Testing Ground 2023. Her Instagram is @j_marahuyo
When she's not writing she is an office-goer at an NFP. She likes to bake sweet things, reads fantasy and sci-fi and is often found at karaoke.
Awards, Residencies & Events
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Awards
Dark Poets Prize IV, Honorable Mention, 2025
Aesthetica Creative Writing Prize, Shortlisted, 2025
Katrina Collins Poetry Prize, Shortlisted, 2025
ZineWest, Editor's Choice Award, 2024​
The Newcastle Poetry Prize, shortlisted, 2024​
The Living Stories Western Sydney Writing Prize Winner, 2024
​Mayoral Creative Writing Prize, Winner, 2023
​The Living Stories Western Sydney Writing Prize Winner, LGA region, 2023
​ZineWest, Highly Commended, 2022
​Alice Sinclair Writing Competition Out of the Shadows, Shortlisted, 2022
Short Stories Unlimited Winter Poetry Prize, Highly Commended, 2022
Born Writers Award, Shortlisted, 2022
​The Living Stories Western Sydney Writing Prize Winner, LGA region, 2022
Highly Commended, Adult's category, 2022
The Kyogle Poetry Prize, Highly Commended, 2022
Short Stories Unlimited Summer Poetry Prize, Highly Commended, 2022
Fellowships & Residencies
Writing NSW - Varuna Fellowship 2024
Varuna The Writers Space online Fellowship 2024
Lighthouse Arts Writer and Artist residency 2024
WestWords - Varuna Emerging Writers residency 2022
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Events
Feature Poet and Panelist, Mudgee Readers Festival, 2025
Feature Poet, Illuminated Ink: Queer Readers and Writers Night, 2025
Feature Poet, Petersham Bowlo, 2025
Feature Poet, Westside Poetry Hybrid Slam, 2025
Feature Poet, W'SUP Poetry Workshop, 2025
Panelist, Stones in Strange Waters Panel, Addi Road Writers' Festival 2024
Panelist, Diversity Day, WSU and WestWords 2024
Feature Poet and emcee, July WestWords Academy Live! 2024
Feature Poet and emcee, Granville Nights 2023
Feature Poet for After Dark at Police & Justice Museum 2023
Feature Poet for Being Differently at WestWords 2023
Feature Poet for Slam Messiah at Riverside Theatre 2022
Panelist for Emerging Voices: the new writers of Western Sydney at the Art Gallery of NSW 2022
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is, at once, both an unravelling and the composition of personhood.