Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
WITH<br />
Annjay Chioma<br />
By - Rita Okoye<br />
Annjay Chioma is a<br />
young, multi - talented<br />
entrepreneur, who at a<br />
young age, fiercely worked hard<br />
to make a name for herself in the<br />
Nigerian music industry, while<br />
also writing for different media<br />
houses.<br />
Having moved on from<br />
journalism, Annjay has taken her<br />
business to a whole new level,<br />
introducing different beauty and<br />
fashion brands into the Nigerian<br />
market. From Annjay Hair, to<br />
Eyelashes, makeup kits and<br />
more.<br />
Recently, she launched her<br />
latest product, Cura Sunglasses<br />
which comes in different stylish<br />
shapes, colours and sizes.<br />
Here, she shares with Allure her<br />
inspiration, career journey and<br />
success story.<br />
What has Annjay Chioma been up to?<br />
Annjay has been extremely busy working.<br />
I’m a full time Entrepreneur now and singer.<br />
I’m into beauty and fashion business; such<br />
as Brazilian virgin human hair, eyelashes,<br />
sunglasses and many more. I have been doing<br />
this business for years now. Although it has<br />
been quite challenging due to exchange rates,<br />
custom duties etc, but we keep going with God<br />
on our side.<br />
It seems you took a break from your<br />
music career, when next are your fans<br />
hearing from you?<br />
I have produced a lot of songs and still<br />
doing more. I’m not going to quit music, I’ll<br />
keep it flowing because of the passion I have for<br />
it. My fans would hear from me soon.<br />
Since you ventured into fashion and<br />
beauty business, how has it been?<br />
It’s been good and challenging, but thank<br />
God for everything. Whenever I see our clients<br />
wearing Annjay brands, I’m happy and this gives<br />
me courage to push and keep pushing. It has not<br />
been easy but it’s worth it after all.<br />
Why did you chose beauty and fashion<br />
products?<br />
I went into the business because I like it<br />
and it’s part of my profession as a singer and a<br />
model. I started this business before I went into<br />
journalism but not as big as it is now. Annjay<br />
products is international now. We have our<br />
clients all over the world.<br />
The latest Annjay product is Cura Sunglasses.<br />
It is the best of its kind. Cura launched into the<br />
Nigerian market few weeks ago.<br />
You left a journalist for music. Was it<br />
because Journalism was not paying your<br />
bills anymore?<br />
Journalism prepared me for everything<br />
I’m doing today. It pays but the truth is that,<br />
I have other businesses that I’m doing by the<br />
side. Journalism paid my bills but it got to a<br />
point where I could no longer combine both.<br />
My hands were full. So, I stopped working as<br />
a journalist. Many people recognize me as a<br />
journalist and my passion for journalism is still<br />
intact if you ask me.<br />
What should your fans expect from you<br />
musically?<br />
They should expect more cool sounds and<br />
good music from me. I’m not done yet but taking<br />
my time to do things right musically. I’m not in a<br />
rush at all to release unpleasant songs.<br />
You own many businesses, how do you<br />
combine them with music?<br />
I have my staff working for me<br />
because I can’t do it alone. By the<br />
grace of God, I have been able to<br />
combine both and it worked out.<br />
How affordable are your<br />
products?<br />
All our products are affordable.<br />
From our Brazilian virgin human<br />
hair, Annjay 3D Mink Lashes, Hair<br />
shampoo, conditioner, Cura Sun<br />
glasses and more, they are affordable.<br />
Anybody can afford it. I want to also use<br />
this opportunity to say that we sell top<br />
quality products. Quality assurance<br />
is our guarantee.<br />
What inspires you?<br />
God and my self. My<br />
hard work inspires me<br />
a lot. Looking back to<br />
where I was coming<br />
it inspires me to forge<br />
ahead and never be a<br />
failure.<br />
I like beauty products<br />
too and I can spend<br />
my last kobo on it. As a<br />
teenager back then, if I want<br />
to buy any beauty product<br />
and I don’t have enough<br />
money, I’ll go into installment<br />
agreement with them, after payment they<br />
hand over what I paid for to me. I use quality<br />
expensive beauty products on myself and<br />
that’s why we sell good things.<br />
annjay chioma<br />
Do you have a particular beauty<br />
routine?<br />
Yes. I drink water every morning, eat a lot<br />
of fruits to keep my skin radiant and beautiful.<br />
I also exercise regularly to keep fits.<br />
Who are your best Nigerian designers?<br />
I haven’t worked with any of them before,<br />
but that doesn’t mean we not going to work<br />
together in the future.<br />
However I like Lanre Da Silva, Zizi Cardow<br />
and Mai Atafo.<br />
I have international designers whom I wear<br />
their clothes, shoes, bags and perfume.<br />
When it comes to fashion what are your<br />
preferences?<br />
I like skinny dresses. Skinny jeans pants<br />
and sneakers, shorts and shirt. I always want<br />
to look very smart and simple despite being on<br />
the slim side.<br />
How do you like to wear your hair?<br />
Wow! I like long and full hair because it<br />
makes me look bold. I’m comfortable with it.<br />
Short hair is a no-no for me but that doesn’t<br />
mean I won’t wear it once in a while.<br />
Heels or flat?<br />
Please give me heels any time any day. It<br />
makes me stand so comfortably. I can’t do<br />
without heels.<br />
Best fashion item?<br />
My wristwatches. They go with me where<br />
ever I go.<br />
<strong>June</strong> <strong>30</strong>, <strong>2019</strong> /<br />
13
Change language