Mariana was born under the Dakar sun, although her parents were from the island of Sao Vicente in Cape Verde. The music she bathed in from childhood had a Cape Verdean beat, since her father, Toy Ramos (aka Toy de Bibia), played guitar for the famous group "Voz de Cabo Verde". For a few years, Mariana strayed from her native tradition in a search for other musical worlds, discovering everything from Nougaro to Jonasz, Piaf to Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan to Rickie Lee Jones. However, she finally returned to her island roots when she met Teofilo Chantre and Nazalio Fortes, two young Cape Verdean songwriters. She naturally combined her newfound international influences with Cape Verdean tradition and this set her on the artistic course that would lead to her first album, "Di dor em or", released in April 2000. During this period, she regularly appeared in concert at the New Morning, the Bataclan, the Cafe de la Danse and on tour in Africa, Italy and Greece, also performing on stage with Tito Paris and Teofilo Chantre, and filling a support slot for Souad Massi. Her sensual voice and body language won her a special place in the rainbow of Cape Verdean music. Based on her hybrid heritage, her repertoire bridged tradition and modernity in a subtle blend of jazz notes, Brazilian music and African sounds. Mariana celebrated morna (Cape Verdean blues), coladera, mazurka and funana (a highly original dance for couples locked tight in a torrid embrace) in her own individual fashion. Her stage presence won her a singing and acting role in the play "Oye Luna", first performed in Cape Verde.