Plumber Yana Marks’ new found celebrity gave her an opportunity to promote girls in trades
When the Love Island crew slid into her DMs, Yana thought they wanted to hire her as a tradesperson! Instead, they were offering her a chance to join the show. At first she brushed it off, but they kept asking so she took it as a sign and eventually said yes. Yana thought the show could be a great platform to advocate for girls in trades and highlight that being a tradie doesn’t limit other life opportunities.
While in the villa, Yana says her castmates were surprised when they found out she was a tradie, as she didn’t fit the stereotype of who they believed a plumber was. On the flip side, a project she’d been working on for a while launched while she was on the show – a workwear brand called Tradxe Chicks.
“Throughout my whole apprenticeship, the only clothes I would wear to work were either my boyfriend’s or boys’ clothes,” explains Yana. “I was a girl who always had my lashes, nails and makeup done, and I wanted clothes that made me feel like a girl.”
Yana believes this will encourage more girls to consider a trade because they’ll feel more comfortable and confident.
“We launched about six months ago, and we’ve had over 5,000 orders!”
If you’re considering a trades apprenticeship, Yana suggests trying your connections. “Find someone within your network, like a family friend, to work with because you’ll be more comfortable.”
She also says you need to be okay with being left alone. “That’s when I learnt the most because I didn’t have my boss peeking over my shoulder!”
Yana’s path
- Certificate III in Plumbing, TAFE NSW
- Contestant, Love Island season 7
- Founder, Tradxe Chicks
This article was first published in Careers with STEM: Trades 2026
