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Portrait of Maju Crecencio, Brazilian changemaker

Maju Crecencio | Playing with Words

She wasn’t born to follow the world — she was born to rewrite it.

Gifted, writer, child filmmaker, and Brazilian changemaker, at just 12 years old, Maju is already a symbol of a generation that turns intelligence into poetry, pain into power, and childhood into revolution.

Author of “UJAM The Warrior”, creator of the #ReadingWithMaju project, director of the powerful short film “The Girl Who Turned Pain Into Power”, and national record holder in backward spelling on Pequenos Gênios, Maju doesn’t just break limits — she dissolves them with grace and brilliance.

A member of MENSA Brazil, honored by the Paraná State Legislative Assembly, and a standout presence on stages and screens, Maju is more than a child prodigy — she’s a language of her own, an invitation for the world to read, dream, and transform through her.

Now, Maju plays with words: she scrambles, creates, reinvents. Every sentence is a move; every story, a victory. In her voice, words stop being tools and become play, art, and transformation.

Maju is living proof that the future has a name, a face… and a voice.

My Journey

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Who is Maju?

Maju is a young Brazilian recognized for her creativity, intelligence, and social impact. At just 12 years old, she has already built a unique path as a writer, child filmmaker, and educator, admired both in Brazil and internationally.

Her passion for words and education led her to create projects that inspire other children and youth, such as #ReadingWithMaju, an initiative that promotes access to reading in a fun and inclusive way.

Maju also stands out in the audiovisual world, developing original works that explore themes of identity, resilience, and social transformation.

In addition to being a member of MENSA Brazil, an organization for individuals with exceptional intellectual abilities, Maju gained national recognition as the record holder in backward spelling and as a contestant on the TV Globo program Pequenos Gênios.

Her journey shows that Maju is not just an artistic name — she is a symbol of child and youth leadership, cultural innovation, and a commitment to education and children’s rights.

Book: “UJAM The Warrior”

Author of “UJAM The Warrior”, Maju turned her love for words into a book — a passion that ignited powerfully after her appearance on Pequenos Gênios on TV Globo, where she became the national record holder in backward spelling.

The title is a creative mirror of her own identity: UJAM is “Maju” spelled backward, symbolizing her playful relationship with language that defines her journey.

In this work, Maju takes the reader on an exciting adventure into the world of words in a unique and enchanting way. The story follows the fearless Warrior Ujam, who, after a magical event, finds herself trapped inside a Portuguese dictionary. On her quest, she explores this singular universe, uncovering the meaning and beauty of words — each revealing profound lessons about life, communication, and human emotions.

Maju’s Short Film: “The Girl Who Turned Pain Into Power”

In 2025, Maju surprised the world by releasing “The Girl Who Turned Pain Into Power” — a deeply poetic and visually striking short film, entirely conceived and produced by her: script, direction, narration, editing, and performance.

At 12 years old, Maju establishes herself as a multifaceted creator, mastering not only the written word but also cinematic language with a maturity rare for her age. The film is an artistic expression that transcends borders, inviting the audience to reflect sensitively on pain, resilience, and transformation — universal themes reimagined through the lens of a young Brazilian filmmaker.

As a Black girl and independent artist, Maju powerfully and gracefully claims a vital space: one of representation, authorship, and the affirmation of new Black narratives in childhood. Her work doesn’t just move — it inspires and expands imaginations about who gets to create, tell stories, and lead in 21st-century cinema.

“The Girl Who Turned Pain Into Power” is more than a film — it’s a quiet, intense call, inviting viewers into an intimate and unforgettable aesthetic experience. A work that isn’t explained — it’s felt. <_br>
Watching it, one can’t help but wonder: how did such a young girl transform pain into power and create, with such autonomy and beauty, a story that moves through us and changes us?

This short film solidifies Maju as one of the most promising voices of a new global generation of artists, breaking expectations and paving the way for plural, diverse, and deeply human futures.

National Record on Pequenos Gênios

At 11 years old, Maju achieved the national record by winning the iconic backward spelling challenge on the TV Globo program Pequenos Gênios, impressing the audience and judges with her speed, memory, and linguistic mastery.

Her historic performance not only established her as one of the most talented young people in the country but also boosted her national visibility, showcasing her brilliance to millions and marking a defining moment in her journey as a child and youth icon in Brazil.

MENSA Member & Junior Scientific Initiation

Maju Crecencio at MENSA Brazil and OBMEP

A member of MENSA Brazil, the international organization for people with high intellectual abilities, Maju stands out for her unique blend of intelligence, creativity, and purpose.

Her academic journey also includes participation in the Junior Scientific Initiation Program (PIC), earned through her performance in the Brazilian Public School Mathematics Olympiad (OBMEP).

At just 12 years old, Maju has already established herself as a young leader in education, culture, and human rights advocacy, inspiring new generations to believe in the transformative power of knowledge and art.

Maju In Action: The Power of a Generation

“Maju In Action” is more than a video — it’s a living manifesto that reveals Maria Julia Gonsalves Crecencio, known as Maju, as one of the most inspiring and transformative child and youth voices of her generation.

This audiovisual piece brings together three defining moments of her journey as a leader, empowerer, and social innovator: winning the national record in backward spelling on Pequenos Gênios, creating the #ReadingWithMaju project to promote childhood literacy and diversity, and delivering her moving speech at the Paraná Legislative Assembly, where, at 11, she eloquently advocated for education as a tool for social change.

In this video, Maju asserts herself not only as a multifaceted creator — writer, child filmmaker, social educator — but as a global child leader, inspiring kids and teens to believe in the power of words, intelligence, and collective action.

“Maju In Action” is an invitation to meet a girl who transcends traditional categories of childhood and talent, stepping into her role as a cultural force in motion — turning pain into power, knowledge into legacy, and dreams into real-world impact.

This video cements Maju as a symbol of a possible future: diverse, creative, engaged, and deeply human.

Maju’s Speech at the Paraná Legislative Assembly

In a powerful speech about education and opportunity, Maju was honored by the Paraná Legislative Assembly. Her message reinforces the importance of believing in children’s potential and investing in their futures.

Foreword to “UJAM The Warrior”

In the foreword to her book “UJAM The Warrior”, Maju reveals the essence of her work, encouraging reading, imagination, and childhood leadership. A direct inspiration for young readers and writers.

Maju on Giftedness and High Abilities

Maju shares her experience as a gifted child, addressing with sensitivity the challenges and opportunities that giftedness and high abilities bring, inspiring other children to recognize their own potential.

Maju’s Review of “The Diary of Anne Frank”

With sensitivity and depth, Maju shares her perspective on one of the most important works in world literature, encouraging reflection and the value of youth reading.