Creating Beauty from Resilience: The Inspiring Story of Marilyn Vugts-Mulkens
Marilyn Vugts-Mulkens is a woman whose life and creativity are guided by imagination, perseverance, and heart. A creative designer at her core, Marilyn brings to life everything that crosses her mind—from enchanting Halloween décor to festive Christmas creations and themed designs that spark joy and wonder. Creativity has never been just something she does; it is who she is.
Creative expression has been part of Marilyn’s life since childhood. Today, that passion is shared with her beloved husband, forming a powerful partnership built on love and collaboration. Together, they create magic—he as the handyman, she as the visionary who adds the feminine touch that completes each project. Their work is not only a reflection of creativity, but also of harmony and shared purpose.
Balancing personal life and professional aspirations comes naturally to Marilyn and her husband. Their life “flows and glows fluently,” as she describes it, grounded in mutual respect and understanding. While they are deeply committed to their work, they also recognize the importance of rest and connection—taking time to relax with a good movie, a drink, and most importantly, enjoying meaningful moments as a family.
Marilyn’s journey has been marked by extraordinary resilience. One of her greatest accomplishments is rising from homelessness and starting over after moving from Belgium to Spain with her husband. That chapter of her life, while incredibly challenging, became one of profound learning and growth. Living on the streets taught her lessons about strength, survival, and the reality of standing up for one’s rights—especially as a woman—even in modern times. Through it all, love served as her guiding force.
Another milestone she holds with deep pride is being crowned Mrs. Classic Beauties International 2024–2025. The title represents not only elegance and beauty, but also perseverance, confidence, and the triumph of a woman who refused to let her circumstances define her worth.
Challenges, Marilyn says, are still part of life—but her experiences as a homeless woman shaped her into someone who stands firmly in her identity. Learning to be unapologetically herself and to protect her dignity as a woman required courage and resolve. Love, however, has always been her compass, leading her forward even in the darkest moments.
Today, Marilyn experiences the power of sisterhood through the Classic Beauties International (CBI) family, a pageant concept founded by Madame CEO Natasha Monique Shivers of Royal Productions Pageants. Within this community, Marilyn has found genuine support, connection, and unity among women. The bond shared with fellow queens is deeply felt—a reminder of the strength that comes from women uplifting one another.
While Marilyn is largely self-taught and proudly independent, her journey reflects the power of self-mentorship. As an autodidact, she has learned what she needed at every stage of her life, adapting and growing through experience, intuition, and determination.
Social media, in Marilyn’s view, has been both a blessing and a responsibility. Without it, there would be no global CBI family, no worldwide network, and—she jokes—not even her husband. Social media has connected her to friends across borders, but she also acknowledges its risks. Empowerment, she believes, depends on how one chooses to respond to negativity and what energy one allows into their space.
Self-care plays an essential role in Marilyn’s well-being. She values time spent in her personal “cocoon,” moments where she disconnects from the world, listens to music, or watches a movie. These quiet pauses allow her to recharge and remain centered.
When asked about the legacy she hopes to leave, Marilyn responds with humility and wisdom. She does not seek to change the world, but rather to be a good person and to leave behind something meaningful—perhaps a piece of wisdom or an example of self-respect. She believes a woman must first give herself the respect she wishes to receive from the world.
Her words of encouragement are heartfelt and empowering: be the best version of yourself. Take time to grow, to truly see yourself, and to embrace your beautiful soul. You are worth it.
Beyond creativity and pageantry, Marilyn and her husband are deeply committed to helping others. Together, they work with and support the underprivileged through Project 4 All in Spain, a platform close to their hearts. Their mission is rooted in compassion and the belief that everyone needs help sometimes. After all, as Marilyn reminds us, we all share the same earth.
With gratitude, resilience, and unwavering authenticity, Marilyn Vugts-Mulkens continues to create beauty—not just through design, but through a life lived with purpose, love, and generosity.
