Born in Viseu, Catarina Mesquita grew up in Madeira and later lived in Macau for 12 years. She graduated in Journalism from the Escola Superior de Comunicação Social de Lisboa and worked for several years as an editor of children’s projects in Portugal.

In 2019, she channelled her passion for children’s literature into founding Mandarina, the first trilingual children’s book publisher in Macau. Alongside her work as a journalist and editorial manager, Catarina has embraced her role as a storyteller and promoter of reading, collaborating with schools and participating in literary festivals.

In 2025, she co-created the podcast “Ó mãe, anda ouvir isto”, a space where children share their perspectives on topics usually reserved for adults.