Glamsquad Dec - Jan 2021

Glamsquad

DEC/JAN 2021

Trends To

Watch Out

For In

2021

20 African

Models That

Will RULE

2021

20 African

Designer

To Watch In

2021

Nikki

20 Ways

Meghan

Markle

Slayed

Khiran:

On Elegance, Fashion &

Nigeria’s Wasted Generation

www.glamsquadmagazine.com 1

Inside

Glamsquad

Magazine

Dec/Jan 2021

NikkI

Khiran:

On Elegance, Fashion &

Nigeria’s Wasted Generation

62

HEALTH

56

Solumkolia

Obi-Anazodo

SURVIVING CANCER &

PASSION FOR HELPING

Nimata

Tejani

On why she

held a party

in lockdown,

to celebrate

weight loss

A

lot has happened since our last edition. The world is

on the verge of something that no one can fathom.

From the ousting of Donald Trump out of the White

House to the #EndSARS movement in Nigeria and

the Covid -19 Pandemic, we are thrust daily in

directions uncharted.

As a magazine, our focus on our primary constituency, which

is fashion, celebrity and entertainment is sacrosanct. Thus,

irrespective of the direction the world is hurtling, we remain

committed in the way we package our stories.

Consequently, we have featured snippets of what has been

happening around the world, with our #EndSARS tribute, a

pictorial on the Day Nigerian youths declared ‘Enough is

Enough!’ PP. 64 . Also, our pictorial contribution on the outgoing

and incoming American First Ladies. ‘Between Melania Trump

and Dr Jill Biden, a tale of two first ladies.’ PP. 68

On our cover, we have the irrepressible Nikki Khiran, talented

designer, philanthropist and feisty feminist. Nikki shares her

philosophy and inspiration behind her bohemian designs-an

exciting read.

It gives me great pleasure to announce, that starting from

February this year, Glamsquad will unveil its editorial board,

rtaking responsibility for paackaing every edition of the

Glamsquad. I am so looking forward to the next edition of the

magazine.

Without much ado I want to welcome

you to 2021 and our package for

December / January. This is our last

bimonthly edition,, our monthly package

will debut from February. Enjoy!

R .

Remmy Diagbare

Editor - in-Chief

glamsquadtv glamsquadNG glamsquadTV glamsquadtvmag

2

www.glamsquadmagazine.com

The Team

Editor:

Sebastiane Ebathemehi

COPY Editor:

Dodoiyi William-West

Correspondents:

Amenna Dayo

Sasha Bokamoso

Glory Uyiowi

Contributors

Abosede Panama

Ifeoma Okoye

Glamsquad Is

Published By Tegali

Communications

Publisher

Remmy Ifueko Diagbare

Managing editor

Sebastianne Ebathemi

graphics / Web Manager

Bolaji Success

MARKETING Director

Tega Diagbare

Head Office:

Suite B70/71, Ikota Shopping Complex,

By VGC, Lekki , Lagos, Nigeria

Tel: +2348115933500, +44 7404 990166

14

For advert enquiries please contact the marketing

Director 08115933500 or email,

info@glamsquadmagazine.com,

glamsquad.magazine.tv@gmail.com

We pay for exclusive celebrity stories.

58

10 Best Foundations For

Dark Skin Tone

20 Ways

Meghan

Markle Slayed

26 44

20 African

Models That

Will Rule 2021

64

Celebrities who stood by

the people during the

#ENDSARS Protests

Disclaimer:

Please note that all photos used in this special digital edition of Glamsquad Magazine were sourced freely online.

Glamsquad maintains no rights over the images/photos, while we have tried to give appropriate credit where due, we are aware some artistes were not credited.

We remain committed to supporting intellectual property and creativity.

George Floyd Graffiti Photograph: Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times

Wole Soyinka: Wole Soyinka | Photo sourced from – Twitter – @ademide25

Black Models: Instagram/Rex/Shutterstock

2020 Tegali Communications


Christmas

Gifts Ideas For

HIM & Her

18

BEAUTY

Words by - Amenna Daayo

Let’s begin with the powerful emotion

that comes with gifting a loved one.

Every gift which is given, even though

it is small, is great if it is given with

affection.

If you are still looking for the perfect gift

ideas for that love of your life on your

anniversary or for the biggest holiday

season of all time which is just at our

doorstep. Whether a boyfriend, girlfriend,

wife or husband, we got you covered here

at Glam Squad Magazine with the most

heartwarming, budget friendly, luxurious

and surprising gift ideas.

Always remember that it’s the emotion

behind the gift and how it’s presented that

matters the most, creating a memorable

moment that will put a smile on all faces

even after a long period of time.

BREAKFAST OR LUNCH AND FLOWERS

Another uncommon thoughtful gift is a home

surprise breakfast or lunch tray aka mini buffet

alongside a beautiful music preferably your lover’s

favorite song.

4 www.glamsquadmagazine.com

FEEL FREE TO TAKE A PICK FROM THE LIST

BELOW IF YOU ARE CONSIDERING A BUDGET

FRIENDLY GIFT – Be proud of yourself because

sometimes the smallest gifts can make the most

meaning in a person’s life and the most important things

in life aren’t things, but the consistent effort to make

happy the people we love.

COLOGNE:

Have you ever heard the

saying “perfume is the art

that makes memory speak,

a cocktail of memory and

emotion”.

The best advantage about

gifting cologne is that

you are remembered

for a life even in the

weirdest moments and

places when that scent

or something remotely

similar to that scent

swings by.

BEAUTY

UP FOR A HIGH

BUDGET GIFT?

For starters, I’m glad to let you know that

this category has over a thousand and

one options available which can work

for both genders.

CRAFTING MEMORY LEANS

This idea is one of the most personalized gifting ideas because it

automatically creates a bond between you and your loved one,

letting them know how much thoughts you have of them and

how frequent even without saying a word.

You simply take their favorite photos of them including moments

you have shared together. Print them on their favorite mugs,

pillows, a special part of the wall in their room, shirt etc.

A NECK PIECE WITH A PENDANT

THAT GOES WITH THEIR

PERSONALITY OR PASSION

People are constantly sizing each

other whether at the place of work or

church or book clubs even at parties.

Gifting your loved one with a glam like

this will give them an opportunity to

show the world how proud they

are of you with just five words

when their asked about their

piece of jewelry “my love got it

for me” with the most pleasant

smile on their face.

Sometimes you just need the tiniest piece to

make an impact.

SNOWGLOBE

A snow globe

is one way to

surprise your loved

one. Making the

interior as personal

as possible is a

gateway to any

heart.

Among our top listed is the latest iPhone

12 which is one of the most highly talked

about gadget around the world today.

Other good choices are:

• A car

• A house

• Surprise boat cruise

• Flowers

• Designers

• Jewelries. Etc.

For the video game lovers,

the new Ps 5 is the best

choice at the moment but

don’t come crying to us

when you no longer get as

much attention.

BEST ADVISE YET: GIFT CREATIVELY AND ALWAYS

REMEMBER THAT IT IS THE EFFECT OF EMOTION

ATTASHED TO THE GIFT THAT COUNTS.


10 Trends T

FASHION

Out For In

2021

Words by - Stella Daniels

As 2020 slowly crawls away, 2021 is highly anticipated

mostly after the ups and downs which came with the

2020 package one of which is the dreadful covid-19

that affected and still is affecting all areas of social life and

businesses including the fashion industry.

Even through thick and thin, the fashion world has been able

to create some mind-blowing designs so much so that one

can easily say the lockdown helped quite a beat to boost the

creativity in most designers. Some time away from the crazy

runway and fashion show planning must have helped the genius

minds settled into creating fabulous glam over time, which both

celebrities and locals are cravings.

With so much anticipation rising, we have decided to blow

off a little steam by providing you with 10 trends to watch out

for in the year 2021.

1

Black & White

(Cow Prints)

With the cow print,

it’s not just the

outfit; it’s both the

accessories. For a

start, we’ll all agree

to the fact that

black and white is

classy and never

goes out of trend

from the old days till

date and the cow

print is undoubtedly

coming up for

it in 2021, from

the clothing to

accessories and

even furniture.

2

Oversized

Boyfriend Jacket

With Shoulder

Pads

This trend was inspired

by the 80s and

would be rocked by

mostly the ladies. The

Oversized shoulder

pads boyfriend blazer

can be accompanied

with a pair of short

leggings or skinny jeans

and a skimpy inner, a

pair of block or pencil

heels, as well as a pair

of short or long boots,

even a pair of the right

sneakers, would kill it.

It’s a definition of both

classy and chic; you

can easily dress down

or turn it all up with this

trend.

6


FASHION

o Watch

Small Square

Vintage Scarfs

The scarf trend is unisex, and there

is no telling what part of the body it

should or would be worn. With the

scarfs, there are no rules of any sort.

4

3

Skin Net &

Ankara

Everyone is

obsessed with

nude, now

imagine when

the nude (skin net)

is mixed with the

famous African

Ankara fabric,

let me help you

with the words

STUNNING.

5

Multi-Purpose

Outfit

These outfits are

made to be worn

in more than 4

different ways. As

impossible as that

sounds, it is possible

and incredible.


FASHION

6

7

8

Leggings

& Skinny

Jeans


Just like black and

white, leggings and

skinny jeans are most

likely going to be on

the top fashion trend

chart of each year that

comes by, the reason is

so apparent but let us

remind you that they’re

the most compatible

and easy to match outfit

piece there is.

Pillow Shoe

One of such comfy shoes introduced this year

is the Louis Vuitton “pillow boots” — A sock-like

ankle boot designed from quilted nylon, with

finishing touches made with the brand’s logo.

Although launched recently, the pillow boot is

already being seen everywhere, with everyone

pairing them with almost everything —

sweatpants, leggings, shorts, what have you?

This will be a considerable part of 2021.

FASHION

8

Pleated Skirts

Franny is a

massive fan of

pleated skirt.

To her, it’s like

wearing jeans.

9

Neon

This is not a very

easy colour

combination to

work with when it

comes to fashion

styling; that is why

it’s unique aside

from the fact that it

stands out. Lots of

its 2021 inspiration

comes from the

top brands in Paris.

HERE’S

A TIP:

In case you find it

difficult combining your

Neon with other colours

to complete your outfit for

the day, we would like you

to remember that Neon

stands out better as a

solo fashion and it’s

also unisex.

Baggie Pants Aka

Power Pants

10

This is precisely one of the comfiest types

of pieces there is, and the good news is,

it’s also unisex. The power pants provide

you with the luxury of working hours without

feeling the urge to rip off your clothes

when exhausted.


FASHION

5

TRENDS TO

DITCH IN 2021

Words by - Stella Daniels

While we

eagerly

anticipate

the 2021 fashion

experience, let’s not

forget about those

2020 fashion trends

which need to be

left behind.

TRANSPARENT

DRESSES

Over 60% of the fashion

inclined population had

put a thumb down to

these transparent tops

at the time came out,

some even called it

indecent.

This trend is over the

loop and should not

cross over into the new

year.

OFF

SHOULDER

You might want to

replace the offshoulder

with the

stunning 2021 shoulder

pad trending tops and

blazers. Welcome,

2021!

10


FASHION

SEE-THROUGH PURSE

Gone are the days when people cared about the

quality content of your purse. One of the top social life

trend to anticipate in 2021 is “privacy” and the “seethrough

purse” doesn’t go for it, so we’re ditching it.

RAINBOW SNEAKERS

Another trend to ditch in 2021 is the

rainbow sneakers, which people usually

refer to as the ‘Chunky Dad Sneakers.’ Still,

in this case, it’s all kinds of the rainbow

looking sneakers, if you’re having more

than two to three different odd colours on

your pair of sneakers, then please burn it!

It’s gone with 2020; we’re not clowns.

ABA MADE

We are officially done and dusted with these outfits. Just in

case you’re not familiar with the word “Aba”, it is Nigerian

slang for fake copies of a particular design, and we have

had enough of it. These could be clothes, shoes, even

bags with the original brand name usually spelt wrong. It’s

high time to shove it into the very end of your wardrobe.


High Fa

Wiz

FASHION

12


FASHION

shion

kid

Fans went crazy as one of the

most famous or as many would

call him the most famous

Nigerian musician known as

Wizkid (Ayo Balogun) dropped his new

album on October 29, 2020. Wizkid is

also popularly known to be a fashion

icon to a very large percentage of the

Nigerian youths and across the world

today.

He once walked the runway

for Dolce and Gabbana in Milan

alongside with Naomi Campbell and

artist Tinie Tempeh sometime in June

2018. Little did we know that he even

designs some of his traditional outfit

himself as he had once said in an

interview with Vogue Magazine: The

Magazine describes Wizkid as Nigeria’s

best dressed pop star and Africa’s

biggest star.

Take a sneak peek through the

photos below to see some of Wizkid’s

trends over time.


INTERVIEW

Nikki

Khiran:

On Elegance, Fashion,

And Nigeria’s Wasted

Generation

by Ifueko Diagbare

Nikki Odu-Khiran is born of a

Nigerian father from Kogi state

and a Nigerian/Ghanaian

mother.

This British born Nigerian, had her

grade school in Lincoln Nebraska, the

USA, and secondary school in Queens

School, Ilorin, Kwara state, after which

she went on to study Fashion Design

Technology, at the prestigious London

College of Fashion.

She started her label 30 years ago

in London, England and moved to

Nigeria 18 years ago, to launch her

design studio.

Nikki khiran Couture has dressed

first ladies, style icons, celebrities and

women who love fashion all over the

world; her work has been featured

and worn in most of the major

magazines, on television across the

continent of Africa.

The brand has recently relocated

to the capital city of Abuja in Nigeria,

from where it services its clients

worldwide. The NK brand is known for

its ethereal style, creating elegant

wearable art, and timeless pieces

for women of all ages and sizes, and

promoting ethnic fashion, with her

ultra-feminine bohemian collections.

14


INTERVIEW


INTERVIEW

You have been in fashion for over

two decades, tell us about your

eponymous label, and how you

have evolved since you started?

Nikki Khiran Couture is a 25-yearold

plus women’s wear brand,

Her aesthetic sense is rooted

in her African background, but

a global Western influence is

prevalent in her work.

The NK woman connotes

ELEGANCE, SENSUALITY AND

MYSTERY; she is a modern woman,

a global gipsy, sensual yet

conservative, playful yet reserved,

confidant and an ultimate lady.

Our label started with made

to measure garments for

occasion wear and bridal wear,

then I moved to Nigeria and

realised there was a large gap

in the market for ultra-feminine

bohemian dresses, caftans, skirts

and tops, so we started a line of

ready to wear clothing for women

that was incredibly wellreceived.

What influences your collection

and what inspires you every time

and every day?

My influences are a mix of

African /Caribbean culture and

middle Eastern fusion and inspired

by colours, sights, music, culture,

art and travel, and of course,

beautiful fabrics.

What is the theme of your latest

collection, and what influenced

it?

The theme of my latest

collection is ‘COLOUR ME BEAUTIFUL’

and is influenced by all the

wonderful, beautiful women that

I have had the privilege to clothe

and style over the years.

Beauty isn’t about the size of

your hips, bust or waistline. It’s

about an inner confidence that

you exude, and the ability to

project yourself positively, through

16


INTERVIEW

the art of dressing, whether

we like it or not, people will

address you the way they see

you dressed, so presentation is

everything!!!

How will you rate the African

fashion industry? Are Africans

talented enough, and can they

compete internationally?

The continent of Africa has

terrific talent, but without the

right projection, we are limited.

Most African countries haven’t

gotten to the place where the

Government takes the fashion

and entertainment industry

serious.

So without proper backing from

banks and government bodies,

we are limited in the growth of the

sector.

Two issues have changed the

world, Covid-19, and black lives

Matter movement. First, how

have you been coping with the

pandemic? What do you see the

world being like post-covid-19?

Secondly, racism is 400years old,

do you see BLM causing a shift

in system racism in the world,

especially in America.


INTERVIEW

The Covid-19 Pandemic

crippled the whole world, so many

empires were toppled large and

small.

The first businesses to take the hit

were luxury goods, fashion, travel,

entertainment, restaurants, etc. It

made one introspective with plenty

of time to start thinking of a more

creative way to do business.

How should black people now

change the narrative, and can

they?

Racial discrimination in the U.S.

has always been overt, BLM and

social media have just brought it

to the forefront, and this present

administration has made it more

obvious.

Social media and people

speaking up has highlighted the

cause, so hopefully, there will be a

gradual change, over time we can

change the narrative by continuing

to better ourselves and breaking

the mould of being thought of

as fraudsters, drug dealers and

alcoholics.

What is your opinion on Meghan

Markle? Are you a fan? And do

you think being black and the

slur of racism is the issue that

made her, and Harry quit the

Royal family? From one strong

woman to another, what advice

would you give her, if she were a

pal?

It was historical seeing a black

woman marry into the Royal family.

I had hoped that she would have

been more patient and dealt with

the press and her detractors in a

more subtle manner. She should

have known that it was not going

to be a smooth ride and be ready

for the obstacles she faced; at the

end of the day, her detractors had

their way. They proved she was not

fit to be a member of the Royal

family, which for me was sad as a

black woman, we were hoping she

would be around for a long time to

18


INTERVIEW

come.

Tell us about your quirky habits.

How do you relax?

What makes you happy?

I’ve always been eclectic

and very much my person; I’ve

never allowed other people’s

rules to define me. For someone

in fashion, I have tried to stay as

natural as possible and grounded,

and don’t get caught up in

presenting the perfect picture

Celebrity life. I enjoy relaxing at

home, reading motivational books:

fashion related books, watching

movies, chilling with friends, good

music, dancing travelling and

putting a smile on my clients’

faces, that makes my day.

My mantra is ‘whatever your

hands find do, do it with all your

might’, and it’s never failed me.

What is your philosophy of life?

Never compete with anyone!!!

God has a different path and

journey for each of us, DO YOU, BE

TRUE TO YOURSELF !!!

What would you splurge on, and

what has been your craziest

splurge?

I would rather travel to exotic

locations, stay in friendly hotels,

and have a great holiday than

buy jewellery. I do not scrimp on

my skincare and body products,

perfume, and lingerie. I love a

beautiful living space; my comfort

is more important than designer

shoes, bags, and jewellery.

What would you not do without,

fashion-wise, beauty and

workwise?

I would not do without my

Kimono jackets, and I have so

many versions. They are elegant

and go with pants, a dress, or a

skirt; it is EFFORTLESS ELEGANCE.

Beauty wise: loose powder,

lipstick, and mascara.

Workwise, I cannot do without

my beautiful silks, tulle and my

ethnic fabrics; fabric inspires me!!!


INTERVIEW

Are you a shoe, bag or dress

person, and what role does

it play in giving you the wow

factor?

Dressing up is a complete

package, but when you walk

into a room, the first thing

people see is your outfit. Does

it fit well? Does it look cheap?

Does it give you that air of

ELEGANCE and SOPHISTICATION?

AFTER that, they notice your

jewellery, handbag, and shoes.

I am more into my outfit;

then I complete the look with

my accessories.

Finally, where do you see

the Nikky Khiran label in five

years?

I want to pass on knowledge

to the next generation and

impact more people’s lives; skills

acquisition is relevant in these

times. My focus is women; so

many women lack a means

of making a living and feel

the need to compromise

themselves, and their children

to feed.

We have other things in

the pipeline that have not

crystallised just yet.

20


INTERVIEW


FASHION

Nikki Odu Khiran the

Creative Director and

force behind Nikki

Khiran Couture, started her

label almost 30 years ago in

London England and moved

to Nigeria 18 years ago to

launch her design studio,

the brand recently relocated

to the capital city of Abuja

in Nigeria, and from there

services its clients worldwide.

The Nikki Khiran Couture

Brand is known for its ethereal

style: creating elegant

wearable art, exclusive

timeless pieces for women of

all ages and sizes, promoting

African fashion with her

ultra-feminine bohemian

collections.

22


FASHION


FASHION

The NK brand is over 25

years old, and has dressed

style icons, first ladies,

celebrities and women who

love fashion all over the

world.

NK couture has been

featured in most of the

major lifestyle magazines,

newsprint as well as

television across the

continent of Africa. From

pret a porter to one-off

custom-made pieces for

bridal and party wear, the

Nikki khiran couture brand

has stood the test of time

and consistently delivers

exclusivity and comfort to its

discerning clientele.

24


FASHION


Wor

FASHION

2W

Me

MSla

1

In May 2018, Markle walked down the aisle in a

stunning gown designed by Clare Waight Keller

of Givenchy. Markle also wore a 16-foot-long

silk veil that was embroidered with flowers from

all 53 Commonwealth nations.

Credit: Ben STANSALL - WPA Pool/Getty Images

Before M

Prince H

chic. Bu

of Susse

evolved to be

However, t

how much of

one classic lo

wedding gow

Emilia Wickste

appearance

family.

While the D

to the fashion

she changed

taste.

Here are 2

slew and told

good taste fo

status:

26


FASHION

0

ays

ghan

arkle

yed

2

Later that day, she

changed into a sleeveless

Stella McCartney dress.

After turning heads in her

Givenchy wedding dress,

Markle changed into a

halter-style gown, which she

paired with an aquamarine

ring that belonged to

Princess Diana and

Aquazurra heels.

Credit: Steve Parsons/AP

ds by - Amenna Daayo

eghan Markle got married to

arry, her style was more fun and

t after becoming the Duchess

x, as expected, Markle’s style

more formal and polished.

he 39-year-old did not fail to show

a style icon she is. She has worn

ok after another, from her custom

n to the emerald green caped

ad outfit she wore to her final

as a senior member of the royal

uchess of Sussex was no stranger

world before meeting her Prince,

her fashion style but not her

0 times Duchess Meghan Markle

us that everyone should have a

r fashion, regardless of class and

3

At Prince Charles’ 70th

birthday celebration in

May 2018, Meghan looked

chic in a blush-coloured

dress. Markle wore a dress

by Goat with a Philip Tracy

hat, diamond earrings

and a diamond bracelet

that Prince Charles gave

to her as a wedding gift,

according to The Knot.

Credit: Dominic Lipinski/

Getty Images


FASHION

4

Markle wore a

pink dress with a

matching fascinator

to attend her first

Trooping the Colour

parade in June

2018. The former

royal wore an

off-the-shoulder

Carolina Herrera

dress and a Phillip

Treacy fascinator.

Credit: Max Mumby/

Indigo/Getty Images

5

Markle was a ray

of sunshine in

yellow at the “Your

Commonwealth”

Youth Challenge

Reception in July

2018. Markle

looked stunning in a

sleeveless Brandon

Maxwell sheath dress

with Manolo Blahnik

pumps.

Credit: Yui Mok/AFP/

Getty Images

6

Markle turned to her

trusted designer,

Givenchy, for her first

official royal outing

with Queen Elizabeth

II in June 2018.

Meghan opted for a

Givenchy dress with

a high neckline and

caped shoulders.

She accessorized

it with a black belt

and clutch from

the same designer,

along with a pair

of Sarah Flint heels.

Credit: Karwai Tang/

WireImage/Getty

Images

28


FASHION

7

Markle wore Givenchy to attend her first

Royal Ascot with Prince Harry in June

2018. She wore a sleek white dress with

a Givenchy belt and Philip Treacy hat.

Credit: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images


FASHION

9

8

In July 2018, Markle looked regal in blue

at a ceremony in honour of the 100th

anniversary of the British Royal Air Force.

To match Prince Harry’s military uniform,

Markle wore an A-line bespoke navy Dior

dress with the same bateau neckline

she usually favours. She paired it with a

Stephan Jones hat and simple pumps.

Credit: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

During a July

2018 reception

in Ireland,

Markle went

for a classic

black dress

while Harry

looked dapper

in a navy suit.

She opted

for a belted

black Emilia

Wickstead

dress, which

she paired

with Aquazurra

heels.

Credit: WPA

Pool/Getty

Images

30


FASHION

11

10

Markle looked

chic at her first

official solo

appearance as

a member of the

royal family in

September 2018.

Once again,

Markle wore a

Givenchy dress

with Aquazurra

heels. She added

a pair of Maison

Birks snowflake

diamond

earrings.

Credit: Max

Mumby/Indigo/

Getty Images

In October 2018, in

a gorgeous white

dress. She wore a

custom Theia gown

designed with handembroidered

crystals

and micro-glass

bead appliqués on

the shoulders. For

accessories, Markle

wore her Maison Birks

snowflake diamond

earrings, black

Aquazurra heels and

a Givenchy clutch.

Credit: Associated

Press


FASHION

13

12

In October 2018, Markle

turned heads in a gown

covered in birds at the

Australian Geographic

Society Awards. To go

along with the theme of

the awards show, Markle

wore a bold, black-andwhite

Oscar de la Renta

gown with Aquazurra

heels. Credit: James D.

Morgan/Getty Images

In October 2018, Markle

wore a classic blue dress for

a state dinner in Fiji. After

announcing her pregnancy,

Markle was photographed

in a blue tulip-sleeved,

cape gown by Safiyaa.

She paired it with diamond

drop earrings that were

borrowed, according to

Kensington Palace, and

the same diamond tennis

bracelet Prince Charles

gave her as a wedding gift.

Credit: Ian Vogler/Pool/Getty

Images

32


FASHION

14

15

Markle wore black

and white again to

attend the Royal

Variety Performance

in November 2018.

Markle wore a

sequined Safiyaa

top and a mermaid

skirt with Maison

Birks snow-sflake

diamond earrings.

Harry matched

his wife in a black

tuxedo with a white

dress shirt.

Credit: Karwai Tang/

WireImage/Getty

Images

In December 2018,

Markle was the epitome

of glamour at the

British Fashion Awards.

Markle made a surprise

appearance to present

Givenchy’s designer,

Clare Waight Keller, with

the ‘British Women’s Wear

Designer of the Year

Award’. She wore a oneshouldered

Givenchy

gown with Tamara

Mellon sandals and

Pippa Small jewellery.

Credit: Jeff Spicer/BFC/

Getty Images


FASHION

16

Markle wore an all-Navy ensemble to attend

the 2018 Christmas Day church service with the

rest of the royal family. She was photographed

in a navy dress and fascinator with a Victoria

Beckham coat, a $2,125 box bag from the

same designer and black knee-high boots.

Credit: Samir Hussein/WireImage/Getty Images

17

At the 2019 premiere of Cirque du Soleil’s

“Totem,” Markle dazzled in a sequin gown.

Markle was stunning in a long-sleeved,

sequined $6,000 Roland Mouret gown with

a leg slit. She paired the gown with a satin

Givenchy clutch and Stuart Weitzman heels.

Credit: AP

34


FASHION

18

Markle wore a

beautiful, flowing blue

dress for a dinner

with Morocco’s King

Mohammed VI in

February 2019. While

Harry looked dapper

in a grey suit, Meghan

stood out in a custom

$2,990 floor-length

printed, blue Carolina

Herrera dress.

Credit: Samir Hussein/

Getty Images

19

Markle landed in Morocco in February

2019 wearing a red dress that was packed

with details. She wore a Valentino dress

that featured a cape designed with floral

embroidery across the front and back. She

paired it with simple pumps, a blush Valentino

handbag and matching blush gloves.

Credit: Samir Hussein/WireImage/Getty Images

20

In February 2019, Markle

looked like royalty in a

custom ivory gown at

a reception hosted by

the British Ambassador

to Morocco. Meghan

wore a Dior gown with

her Maison Birks snowflake

diamond earrings,

a gold clutch bag and

matching heels.

Credit: Samir Hussein/

Getty Images


FASHION

Lisa Folawiyo

Designer: Lisa Folawiyo

The collection is exclusively crafted from

ankara textiles, vibrant wax-resistant dyed

fabrics characteristic of West Africa. Lisa

Folawiyo hails from Nigeria and specializes in

traditional West African textiles using modern

tailoring techniques. She incorporates texture

into this classic texture, which transformed

the African scene and has become one

of the keys to her success in the fashion

industry. Folawiyo creates feminine and

modern silhouettes with nods to traditional

African aesthetics.

20

African

Designer To

Watch In 2021

Words by - Glory Uyi

Today, it’s somewhat challenging to find Black-owned fashion brands

leading the charts and headlining top fashion runway shows. Sadly, even

the much acclaimed digital age and e-commerce has not successfully

broken the divide, which continues to relegate many African fashion

designers.

The success of African fashion designers can only be achieved through

collective effort – and it begins with you! We have searched through the

internet and created a list of 20 creative African fashion labels.

However, please note that this list does not place the featured brands

over those that did not make the list. It is impossible to cover all African

creative brands in one listing.

Check out our list of 20 creative African fashion labels and the faces

behind the brands.

Enjoy!

Nubian S

Designer: Ade Hassan

What makes the brand stand out? H

the first brands to recognize that nu

more than just beige. Brown skin gir

with these multi-tone tights, lingerie

Hassan was born in April 1984. She

raised partly in Nigeria and speaks Y

36


FASHION

Ohema Ohene

Designer: Abenaa

Pokuaa

Ohema Ohene is a British

fashion brand specializing

in Africa-inspired fashion,

created in 2008 by Britishborn

designer, Abenaa

Pokuaa. Founded in London,

the name meaning ‘Queen

& King’ in Twi’s Ghanaian

language was about her

Ghanaian heritage and

designed to create a brand

for both men and women.

After completing a degree in

Fashion Design Technology

Surface Textiles at the

London College of Fashion,

Abenaa went on to work in

the industry, developing her

technical and commercial

understanding. Abenaa has

always had the vision and

desire to produce fashion

clothing in Ghana to create

employment and prosperity.

kin

ere’s one of

de means

ls will fall in love

and bodysuits.

was

oruba.

Both of her parents are

in

business. She received

her

advanced education at Duke University in the

United States, where she studied English and

Economics. She completed a Master’s degree

at the School of Oriental and African Studies in

London.

Hanifa

Designer: Anifa

Mvuemba

What makes the brand stand

out? Looking for statement pieces

that

are high quality but aren’t ridiculously expensive? Add

Hanifa to your bookmarks right now. The brand initially

started making custom pieces and specializing in

alterations but now, its collections are blowing up on

Instagram.

Anifa Mvuemba, the founder of the direct-toconsumer

fashion label Hanifa, recently unveiled her

latest collection despite the pandemic. The collection

was inspired by her homeland, the Democratic

Republic of Congo.


FASHION

Duro Olowu

Designer: Duro Olowu

What makes the brand stand out? Olowu’s

collection is filled with feminine designs that

include prints placed on tailored suiting,

dresses, etc. Oh, and you might have

spotted his work on Michelle Obama a

couple of times!

Duro Olowu is a Nigerian-born British fashion

designer. He is best known for his innovative

combinations of patterns and textiles

that draw inspiration from his international

background.

Kreyann

Designer: Anna Ngann

Yonn

The love story between Anna Ngann

Yonn and the world of fashion

started when she signed up with

Esmod-Paris. Upon graduation, she

returned to Cameroon, where she

opened her showroom ten years

ago and launched the Kreyann

brand.

With clients cutting across

generations and races, Kreyann

has succeeded in entering the

international fashion world.

Today, Anna Ngann Yonn

is recognized as one of

the leading designers in

Africa. Her style, mixing

elegance and new

trends, plus originality,

is widely acclaimed

today.

Brother

Designer: Aurora Jam

What makes the brand stand o

those iconic boots from Queen

those were Brother Vellies’. This

brand creates accessories with

hand-made in South Africa, Eth

Morocco.

Speaking on her African upbrin

“Growing up, we spent a lot of

My mother managed to curate

38


Deola

Designer: Deola Sagoe

Deola is a Bespoke Fashion brand

by iconic fashion designer, Deola

Sagoe. The brand caters to clients’

fashion needs by translating their

innovative designs into made-tomeasure

fashion pieces. Deola

Sagoe, the founder of Deola, is

the leading lady of African haute

couture fashion from Ondo State in

Nigeria.

She has been at the cutting edge

of high fashion since 1989 and

became the first Black woman to

present a collection at AltaRoma,

Rome’s celebrated fashion week,

back in 2004. Her globally appealing

style has earned her an enviable

clientèle that ranges

from Africa’s first ladies

to society girls like

Lydia Hearst, top

model Alek Wek and

famous personalities

such as Oprah

Winfrey and Will Smith.

FASHION

Loin

Cloth &

Ashes

Vellies

es

ut? Remember

and Slim? Yep,

eco-friendly

intricate designs

iopia, Kenya, and

ging, she said:

time travelling.

a collection of

vibrant, culturally infused

fashion pieces along

the way - silk kimonos,

Danish clogs, elaborate hats...

Hours would be spent in her closet, imagining

the glamorous women who would wear

these traditional pieces. As I got older, those

imaginations came to life while reading fashion

magazines through Steven Meisel, Richard

Avedon and their muses cast.”

Designer:

Anisa Malembo

Mpungwe

Loin Cloth & Ashes is an

African based fashion and lifestyle

brand that explores a modern, functional and

relevant design approach with a neo-African

perspective. Looking at new classics in attractive

prints on essential items, they create looks that are

made to last beyond a season.

Anisa Malembo Mpungwe of South Africa’s label,

‘Loin Cloth and Ashes’ speaks on origins and

identity. “I grew up in another land, in another

place with another set of rules, but that doesn’t

ever change the fact that I am Tanzanian. I’ve

lived in South Africa for 18 years now; I left when I

was ten. It’s not fair for me to say, ‘Well, I’m South

African now’ and ignore my Tanzanian roots or say

I’m Tanzanian and ignore my South African roots.”


FASHION

Christie

Brown

Designer: Aisha

Obuobi

Christie Brown, the

Ghanian-based luxury

fashion brand, was

named after the

founder’s grandmother,

who was a seamstress.

Aisha Obuobi reminisces

her grandmother, who

created rich and vibrant

garments back in the

days. Today, the brand

aims to create a platform

for women seeking a

real taste of neo-African

culture. No matter if it’s a

necklace or full-fledged

gown, each piece

designed has a practical

yet visual impact that is

inspired by the African

culture.

Loza

Maléombho

Designer: Loza

Maléombho

Established in New York City

in 2009 and relocated to

Côte d’Ivoire since 2012,

where its production now

occurs, Loza Maléombho

is best described as a fusion

between traditional cultures/

sub-cultures and contemporary fashion. Loza

Maléombho bridges Ivorian traditions with

modern fashion: the silhouettes celebrate the old

and new, cultural and futuristic paradox. More

specifically, Loza Maléombho experiments the

synergies between Ivorian tribal aesthetics and

New York City’s urban fashion.

Designer Loza Maléombho works with artisans

who have mastered their craft for generations

and implement it into a new modern silhouette.

Maki Oh

Designer: Maki Osakwe

What makes the brand stand out? Lupita Nyong’o

and Solange Knowles are just two celebrities

who have this brand in their closets. At Maki Oh,

you’ll find items that mix traditional Nigerian-textile

influence with contemporary styles.

Amaka Osakwe is a

fashion designer an

African-based fashio

She has led her wom

from Lagos; it is a Ni

acknowledged.

40


FASHION

Orange Culture

Designer: Adebayo Oke-Lawal

Adebayo Oke-Lawal has been designing since the

age of 10. He started Orange Culture in 2011, after

having worked with several Nigerian designers, to

turn his unique vision of fashion into reality. Since

starting the label and an official runway debut at

Lagos Fashion & Design Week 2011, he’s been

hard at work to showcase Orange Culture to the

world. The label is more than a

clothing line, Adebayo insists.

It is

a

“movement” covering universal silhouettes with

an African touch to a creative class of men,

translating into a heady mixture of Nigeria-inspired

print fabrics, colour and contemporary urban street

wear.

BOIE

Clothing

Nigerian

d creator of the

n label named Maki Oh.

en’s wear label since 2010

gerian-based label globally

Designer: Elisha Boie

Ellie is the youngest of the listed

Ghanaian designers. He is

famous for his creativity and his

graphic shirt and jersey pieces.

Elisha created BOIE Clothing and

his pieces were once showcased

in France.

Elisha Boie is a Ghanaian fashion

designer, with brother Calvin

Bill, who is widely known for

creating the African print

designs with Western

features like African print

bomber jackets, African

print emoji clothes,

T-shirts and sweat shirts.


FASHION

Lemlem

Designer: Liya Kebede

What makes the brand stand

out? Made in Africa, Lemlem,

founded by super model Liya

Kebede, focuses on creating

jobs worldwide. The soft, cozy

cotton pieces from the main

collection are hand-woven in

Ethiopia.

Liya Kebede is an Ethiopianborn

model, maternal

health advocate, clothing

designer and actress. She has

appeared on the cover of

Vogue three times. Kebede

has served as the WHO’s

Ambassador for

Maternal, Newborn

and Child Health

since 2005.

Off-White

Designer: Virgil Abloh

What makes the brand stand out?

The list of A-listers wearing Virgil Abloh’s

designs keeps getting bigger — and

we can see why. Off-White designs

speak to culture with a laid-back ease

that manages to feel both effortless

and carefully selected all at once.

Virgil Abloh is an African-American

designer, entrepreneurs and DJ who

has been the artistic director

of Louis Vuitton’s men’s

wear collection since

March 2018. Abloh

is also the chief

executive officer of the

Milan-based label, Off-

White, a fashion house

he founded in 2013.

Leslie

Wiredu

Designer: Leslie

Wiredu

Leslie is among the top

male fashion designers in

Ghana. He is best known

for designing stage and

movie costumes. He is a very

creative designer and the

majority of famous Ghanaian

artistes are dressed by him

when they are shooting a

music video or maybe a

stage performance.

Renowned top clients

of Leslie are Guru,

Eden, 4×4 and

Sarkodie; he

recently dressed

the billionaire

Davido.

42


FASHION

Washington

Roberts

Designer: Washington

Roberts

Washington Roberts stands for fashion

that makes perfect sense effortlessly

to today’s women’s needs, where

creativity segues into wearability.

Washington Roberts is best described

as international chic with a Nigerian

touch. Nigerian-born designer,

Roberts, moved to New York at an

early age to pursue his Chemical

Engineering career but ended up

finding his true passion in Fashion.

He infuses inspiration from African

culture with a contemporary New

York sensibility.

Andrea

Iyamah

Designer: Dumebi Iyamah

What makes the brand stand out?

Swim wear designed with African

culture in mind made this brand

a popular hit on the ‘gram

but Andrea Iyamah creates

beautiful ready-to-wear and

custom dresses.

Somkele Iyamah-Idhalama

is a Nigerian TV and film

actress and model. She is

well known for her roles in 93

Days (2016), The Wedding Party

(2016), The Arbitration (2016), the TV

series Gidi Up (2013–present) and

gained recognition at the Toronto

International Film Festival and

African International Film Festival.

She is also the latest ambassador

for Multichoice’s DSTV Explora, the

biggest satellite cable network

across Africa.

Sindiso

Khumalo

Designer: Sindiso

Khumalo

Sindiso Khumalo is a women’s wear

textile designer from South Africa.

Having launched her name-sake

label in 2012, her collections are

made in South Africa.

Sindiso Khumalo is a sustainable textile

designer based in London. Using her

architectural background as

an advantage, she fuses

that into her designs

that emphasise

African story telling.

The textiles in her

collections are

Khumalo’s original

hand-drawn designs.


FASHION

20AFRICAN

MODELS THAT

WILL RULE 2021

Words by - Sasha Bokomaso

Until recently, Black African beauty did not get so much attention. It is

great to see that many people have successfully changed the way they

perceive beauty. We owe this success to a few African models who stood

up against stereotypes and have made the African continent proud.

Often under-represented and unappreciated, Black models did not

get the same opportunities as their White counterparts. Though, we have

a long way to go, we must admit that there has been some success as

far as inclusivity is concerned. Now, we see Black models on runways,

wearing their natural hair and walking in multiple shows. Yes, we are

certainly getting the attention of the world!

Below are 20 African models that have put a new meaning to the term

‘super model.’ Check them out:

Ayaana Aschkar-

Stevens

Nationality:

Ghana

Ayaana has been in

an Ivy Park editorial and

hopes to work for brands

like Chanel in the near

future. Speaking on how

she became a model

and why, she said: “I

had work experience at

Premier when I was 14 –

just running errands and

stuff like that. One day,

they asked me to take

some pictures and I got

signed a couple of days

later. Avery exciting and

overwhelming time.”

Fatima

Nationality: Somalia/

Ethiopia

Fatima Siad, a Somali-Ethiopian

fashion model currently based

in New York is one of the top

African models. Siad came

3rd in America’s Next Top

Model’s Cycle 10! She has

been featured in numerous

fashion magazines including

Elle, Cosmopolitan, Essence

Magazine and Marie Claire.

Siad secured a print campaign

for Ralph Lauren in 2014 and a

campaign for hair-care brand,

Pantene. That same year, she

walked the runway at London

Fashion Week Fall/Winter for

Emilia Wickstead and Lucas

Nascimento and has earned

her spot on this list of top African

models.

44


FASHION

Leila Lopes

Siad

Nationality: Angola

Leila Lopes is an Angolan

model who made history as the

first woman from Angola to win

the Miss Universe crown in 2011

and only the second African

woman to win the title after

Botswana’s Mpule Kwelagobe,

who won in 1999.

Lopes was born in Benguela

Province in southern Angola

and is the eldest daughter of

seven children. She has been

involved in HIV/AIDS prevention

campaigns in Angola and is

the Drylands Ambassador to

the United Nations Convention

to Combat Desertification

(UNCCD), a campaign that

is working to combat land

degradation.

She has also graced the covers

of numerous magazines such

as Maxim and New African

Woman Magazine. She walked

the runway of New York Fashion

Week in 2012. She is currently

signed to Trump Management

and is married to Nigerian-

American footballer, Osi

Umenyiora.


FASHION

Aamito

Lagum

Nationality: Uganda

Aamito Lagum is a Ugandan

model who rose to fame after

winning the first season of ‘Africa’s

Next Top Model’ hosted by

Nigerian super model Oluchi

Orlandi.

Lagum’s mother wanted her to

be a lawyer but her passion for

modelling inspired her to take

a hectic 16-hour bus ride from

Uganda to Kenya to attend

the East Africa casting for the

reality TV show! Since winning

the competition and earning

a contract with DNA Model

Management, the 23-year

old has done editorial work

for publications such as WSJ

Magazine and Elle South Africa.

Lagum has also walked the

runway for international fashion

designers such as Paul Smith,

Marc Marc Jacobs and Lacoste.

Mayowa

Nicholas

Nationality: Nigeria

Nigeria’s very own Mayowa Nicholas

is hurtling towards super model status

if she hasn’t already achieved it. Her

walk, her signature model strut, is

the stuff of legends and Mayowa is

garnering more and more international

attention by the day.

Mayowa, who won the Elite Model

Look competition in 2014, went on to

become the first Nigerian model to

star in Dolce & Gabbana, Saint Laurent

and Calvin Klein campaigns and is

ranked as one of the Top 50 models in

the world on models.com.

Speaking to Harper’s Bazaar about

what makes Mayowa so special, Josie

Crawley from Elite London (Mayowa’s

agency) said, “Mayowa is one of the

most incredible break-out models

this season. Not only does she have

a little incredible walk but an attitude

to match; she is one of the most

passionate, fun and loveable models

in the industry. Brand and industry

heroes alike have all seen what an

incredible spark this girls has, so we can

expect big things from this little star.”

46


FASHION

Adut Akech

Bior

Nationality: South-

Sudan

With her cherubic face and rich

dark skin, you don’t have to look

far to realise why Adut Akech

is the industry’s latest darling.

Making her debut at the MET

Gala, last year, in a dusty pink

Valentino creation, Adut had

people wondering who this new

face was.

We didn’t have to wonder

much longer as Adut began

popping up at all the high

profile shows including Chanel

and Valentino. The South-

Sudanese Australian model,

who made her debut at Saint

Laurent, was even chosen as

‘Model of the Year’ by models.

com in 2018.


FASHION

Adwoa Aboah

Nationality: Ghana

Adwoa was “born on a Monday”

to a mother that’s a successful

agent and a father that is one

of the most sought after location

scouts in London. Fashion was a

step that made sense.

She’s a model in peak demand.

She’s worked for Burberry, Calvin

Klein, Fendi, DKNY, Alexander

Wang, Theory, H&M, Aldo,

Versace, Topshop, Rihanna x

Puma, Kenzo, Simone Rocha,

Chanel, Dior and Erdem, to

name a few. Her caramel

skin and freckles have even

landed her on i-D, Italian Vogue

and American Vogue covers

alongside Gigi Hadid and

Kendall Jenner.

The Italian Vogue cover we

just spoke of came months

after a suicide attempt and

a subsequent coma from the

trauma. She was depressed and

addicted to drugs but came out

triumphant. Her triumph would

be the founding of an online

platform, Gurls Talk, to help girls

like her deal with their sexuality,

mental health and body image.

Amilna

Estevao

Nationality:

Angola

In 2013, 14-year-old Amilna

landed an Elite Look

contract in her country’s

capital city and it’s been

smooth sailing ever since.

Her resume is a laundry list

of some of the most highly

coveted brands in the

fashion industry: Givenchy,

Lanvin, Balmain, Alexander

Wang, Burberry, Phillip Lim,

DVF, Dolce & Gabbana,

Express, Fendi, Kenzo and

more.

48


FASHION

Halima

Aden

Nationality:

Somalia

Halima was born in a

Kenyan refugee camp

and moved to the

United States at the

age of 6. Scouted after

competing in a Miss

Minnesota USA pageant,

she walked a Yeezy

runway last February

and went from that to

Maxmara, Albert Ferretti,

American Eagle, Fenty

Beauty, a Vogue Arabia

cover, a Glamour cover

and an Allure cover.

She redefines beauty

standards by doing all

the aforementioned in

her hijab. She is breaking

barriers for Muslim

women everywhere.


FASHION

Maria

Borges

Nationality:

Angola

Maria is a global

ambassador for L’Oreal

Paris and has graced

Victoria’s Secret’s

fashion show on many

an occasion, once in

particular, as the first

Black model to do so

with natural hair. The

beauty’s list of clients

includes Balmain, Etro,

Dior, Gap, Oscar de La

Renta, Tom Ford and

Zac Posen. She’s come

a very long way from the

orphan girl working in a

supermarket to make

ends meet.

Anok Yai

Nationality: Egypt

Anok Yai, an Egyptian-born American

fashion model of South Sudanese

descent, was discovered by accident

through a single photo that launched

her modelling career! Discovered after

a photographer published a picture of

her at Howard University’s Homecoming

celebration, Anok’s life took a

completely different path after dozens

of modelling agencies reached out for

her, all clamouring to sign the girl in the

photo!

Though modelling was something she

and her sisters had dreamed of, Anok

said to the Washington Post, “My fear

was being able to stand out because

there’s so many girls modelling and

the industry is always changing.” Anok’s

case is a perfect example of what is

meant to be will always be! Without

even trying, Anok’s modelling career

was launched.

In her short career, Anok has been

steadily breaking barriers. She is the

second Black model to open a Prada

show after Naomi Campbell and the

first South Sudanese model to do so.

50


FASHION

Ataui

Deng

Nationality: Sudan

Ataui began her career in

2008, four years after moving

to Texas, United States, from

Khartoum, Sudan, with her

family in 2004. Since then,

she has walked the runway

for notable designers such

as Diane Von Furstenberg,

Oscar De La Renta and

Mugler. Deng has graced

the covers of glossy

magazines such as Harper’s

Bazaar, Teen Vogue and

Vogue America.

She is currently signed to

Trump Management in New

York, Elite in Paris and Milan,

and Models 1 in London. She

is one of the truly beautiful

top African models.


FASHION

Herieth Paul

Nationality:

Tanzania

Herieth has worked for

Victoria’s Secret, Nina

Ricci, Zimmermann,

Adam Selman, Stella

McCartney, Lacoste, Tom

Ford, Calvin Klein, Armani,

Cavalli and 3.1 Phillip Lim.

She has appeared in

editorials for i-D, Vogue

Italia, and Teen Vogue

and graced the cover

of Canadian Elle. Her

beautiful skin has even

landed her a role as a

face for Maybelline New

York.

Imaan

Hammam

Nationality:

Morocco/Egypt

Imaan prides herself on

being an African-Arab model

opening doors for girls just

like her. The Muslim model

celebrates all aspects of

who she is. She’s covered

American Vogue on two

occasions and has received

Anna Wintour’s applaud

many a time.

She’s worked for Burberry,

Alexander McQueen, Maison

Margiela, Givenchy, Marc

Jacobs, Prada, Michael Kors,

Moschino, Chanel, DKNY,

Jean Paul Gaultier, Hugo

Boss, Stella McCartney, Oscar

de la Renta, and much

more. Her career is on fire!

52


FASHION

Khoudia

Diop

Nationality:

Senega

Teased as a child for

her skin colour, Khoudia

has since been placed

in a campaign for

French cosmetics brand

Make-Up For Ever and

has been making major

strides in the industry,

advocating for people

with skin with as much

depth as hers. Revisit her

photo story celebrating

her Nyenyo heritage.


FASHION

Malaika

Firth

Nationality: Kenya

Malaika Firth is a Kenyan-British

model who owes her success to

her mother who called Premier

Models in London to tell the agents

about her daughter’s modelling

credentials. Born to a half-Kenyan,

half-Swiss mother and a father of

British, Seychellois and Ugandan

descent, her genetic make-up has

been an interest point for people

she comes across. “People are

allowed to talk about my race. I like

it. I guess, I see myself as a kind of

junior ambassador,” she says in an

interview with The Guardian.

Malaika became the second Black

model to star in a Prada advert

(since Naomi Campbell in 1994).

“After that Prada campaign, when

I was being compared to Naomi

Campbell, I was so happy. She’s

a legend,” said Malaika in her

interview with The Guardian. The

21-year old has been named as

one of the models to look out for

and is well on her way to success

after having walked the runway

for Prada. She is currently based

in New York and signed to Premier

Models Agency.

Behati

Prinsloo

Nationality: South

Africa

Behati Prinsloo is a 26-year

old model who hails from

Grootfontein, Namibia. She was

discovered at the age of 16 while

on holiday in Cape Town, South

African, by scouter Noelle Doukas,

daughter of Sarah Doukas - who

is famously known for discovering

super model Kate Moss.

Behati shot to super model

stardom in 2009 when she was

named as a Victoria’s Secret

Angel and became the face of

their ‘Pink’ brand. She walked the

runway for top fashion design

houses including Chanel and Louis

Vuitton. She has also graced the

covers of high profile magazines

such as Elle and Vogue.

Prinsloo married Maroon 5’s Adam

Levine in July 2014 in Cabo San

Lucas, Mexico. They celebrated

their first wedding anniversary

in the same city, where Adam

serenaded her with a rendition of

Marvin Gaye’s ‘Let’s Get It On’.

54


FASHION

Candice

Swanepoel

Nationality: South Africa

Candice Swanepoel is undoubtedly

one of the biggest names in the

modelling industry now. She is also

one of the world’s highest paid

models with a net worth of an

estimated US$10 million. She made

it to the 2013 Forbes list of the world’s

highest-paid models.

The South African was spotted by

a talent scout at a flea market in

Durban when she was 15. A year

later, she started booking modelling

jobs across Europe until she made

the big move to New York City,

United States, at 18, to pursue

modelling as a full-time career.

Swanepoel is one of the most

recognizable Victoria’s Secret

Models, having made her debut

in 2007. She has graced the

covers of countless magazines

including Nylon, Elle, and Vogue.

She has walked the runway for

notable designers such as Diane

Von Furstenberg, Nanette Lepore

and Betsy Johnson. She is currently

signed to IMG and is another worthy

mention in this list of African models.


HEALTH

Solumkolia

Obi-Anazodo

SURVIVING CANCER & PASSION FOR HELPING

Solumkolia has dedicated her life to serving God

and humanity. She is a revolutionary thinker. As a

stage 3 breast cancer survivor, she is a soughtafter

empowerment advocate, and a healthy lifestyle

transformational leader. While Solumkolia loves

culinary arts, she prioritises her role as a mother. She

explores survivorship, love, hope, courage and aims

to change the narratives of breast cancer as tricky

as it may seem. She lives in London with her family.

First, let me congratulate you on

surviving stage three cancer. How

do you feel now you have been

given the all-clear?

Thank you so much for the interview.

I feel great, I have peace of mind,

and I am elated I am fulfilling the

purpose of a second chance to live.

How did you find out you had

cancer, and how come you did not

feel the lump until it had gone so

far?

Sometime in March 2018 whilst

having a shower, I felt the lump but

never thought of it to be anything

serious. Fast forward, 24th May 2018,

after series of mammogram and

biopsy, the doctor confirmed stage 3.

Well, I was not tenacious with regular

self-examination.

What crossed your mind, after the

diagnosis and what immediate

steps did you take after the

diagnosis?

My son was the only person that

crossed my mind, and there at

the oncologist office, I decided

to live. I asked for a mastectomy

immediately.

How did you go through the

treatments, in terms of your physical,

mental, and emotional wellbeing?

I had a series of surgeries, firstly

was to check my lymph nodes.

Then the primary surgery, which

was the mastectomy in July 2018.

Chemotherapy started in August 2018

and radiotherapy January 2019; it

was a roller coaster. It was a very

tough journey, but one thing kept me

going – GOD. I made up my mind to

have a very positive mindset, so I was

physically fit, that people that saw me

did not know I was going through any

challenge. Mentally and emotionally,

I did very well; I let out the tears the

days I want to, but sometimes they

were tears of joy, that I am alive.

You have detailed your journey in

the book-’Scarred but not Scared.’

Why did you write the book, and

what aspects of your experience did

you put in it?

I started to write my daily

experience as soon as my journey

began. The purpose of the book is

to encourage other women, who

might be going through or might

have gone through that path, but

are discouraged, that cancer is not

a’ death sentence,’ but a journey.

The book covered all aspect of my

journey, from the diagnosis, surgery,

diet, to recovery, etc.

Now that you are in the clear did

your experience change in your

perception, and purpose in life?

My perception of life changed from

the first day I heard the word ‘cancer.’

I live a very stress-free life now, not

worrying about what I cannot change,

but focus on the one dealing with

the problem – GOD. My purpose is to

reach as many women as possible,

educating them on speaking up and

not minding the stigmatisation.

So, what plans do you have for

yourself, and what outcomes do you

expect from your book?

A: I expect the book to touch lives

regardless if you have gone through

any health challenge, or not.

This month is Breast Cancer

56


HEALTH

Awareness month, and your book

tells the story of a survivor. What

do you want to say to women,

especially Nigerian women, on

breast cancer and how they can

survive it?

Yes, October is Breast Cancer

Awareness month, and my message

to women is to do a regular self-exam,

followed by a yearly mammogram.

Early detection, significantly, for breast

cancer, changes your outcome. It

can save their life!”

You say you want to help Nigerian

women access primary cancer

care, which is a mammogram. Tell

us what you have in mind?

Yes, I want to help women in

Nigeria, who cannot afford something

as little as paying for a mammogram.

I will dedicate every proceeds that

come out of my book towards that

cause. I am currently raising funds

by doing a 100km this October. I will

eventually collaborate with a few

foundations in Nigeria.

So, apart from surviving, what are

you most grateful for?

I am grateful that I am alive to

make an impact across the globe.

How did you keep your appearance

and motivation?

I had a positive mindset from the

moment I heard the news. Each time

people see me, they tell me how

I have made them see life from a

different angle. I keep a very positive

aura!

Are you back at work, and how do

you occupy your time now?

I never missed work, even whilst I

was going through my treatment, I

still went to the office. Not because

they wanted me to come to work, but

because I wanted to keep my mental

stability.

A final word to everyone

Cancer is not a death sentence, so

cancer is not the big c but Christ!

My book ‘Scarred but not Scared’

– is my journey to grace; it is a

candid narration of my encounter

with stage 3 breast cancer. It is the

story of an ordinary woman who

had courageously gone through

an extraordinary experience in the

fight against breast cancer and has

survived through the grace of God

Almighty.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

The memoir describes the

excruciating experiences breast

cancer survivals go through, and

how I have emerged wiser and

more robust. The book is also about

using cancer as a life-changing

experience despite all the trauma

and deaths associated with the

disease – the change does not have

to be a death sentence. It is for us to

understand the choices we should

make when faced with such lifethreatening

situations, and to choose

to accept what we cannot change,

and ultimately to have faith and trust

in God for divine healing.


BEAUTY

10

Best Foundat

Skin Tone

Foundation, exactly as the name

implies, is the basis on which makeup

look is built. Foundation is cosmetic

applied to the face; sometimes, it is

extended to the neck and other parts of

the body. It gives an even coverage for

skin blemishes, resulting in a flawless face.

All About

Foundations:

Types of Foundations.

10 Best Foundations for Dark Skin

Tone.

How to apply foundation for Dark

Skin Tone.

Foundation varies widely in terms of

consistency and applications. Make-up for

dark skin doesn’t have to be difficult if the

right one is known.

How is Foundation Applied?

There are different ways and options of

applying foundation. This ranges from

Silisponge, standard sponges, finger tips,

standard brushes to, of course, the common

beauty blender. But which of these is the

best for applying foundation for dark skin?

Well, every application method depends

solely on the type of foundation being used.

• For liquid foundation, a densely

packed brush is best.

• For loose powder foundation, a

fluffy brush is best used for application.

• For stick foundation, a densely

packed paddle-shaped brush is best for

application.

Make-up sponges are best for creating

a seamless, smooth and flawless look.

When using an expensive foundation,

quality brushes and a beauty blender is a

good combo for a great finish.

Choosing the foundation that suits you is

as important as making sure that all the

features of your skin are appropriately

addressed. Out of many great

foundations available for dark skin tone,

here are 10 of the best.

58


BEAUTY

ions For Dark

1. Liquid Foundation

Liquid foundation is good for

both dry and combination skin. It

provides good coverage and is

good for skin with larger patches.

How do you know which

foundation type is best and right?

Here are 5 common

types of foundations.

2. Powder

Foundation

Aside from being easy and

convenient to apply, it is best

for oily skin. It gives a natural

appearance, typically light

weight and comes in a

compact case.

3. Stick

Foundation

Stick foundation is one

of the best types of

foundation. It gives ideal

covering for skin blemishes.

The advantage it has over

many other foundation

cosmetics is that it can be

used as a concealer!

4. Whipped

Foundation

This type of foundation is

good for every skin type.

Yes! It is also quite good

for matured skin. It gives

a non-cakey look.

5. Mineral Powder Foundation

It comes in a compact case and when applied, it gives

a non-cakey and natural finish look. Its disadvantage is

that it can be messy if not careful applied.


BEAUTY

10 Best Foundations

for Dark Skin Tones:

CoverGirl Queen

Collection - All Day

Flawless.

The CoverGirl Queen

Collection is the

best cosmetics for

women with rich

melanin; they are

rarely served by

other cosmetics. It is

also quite good for

oily skin and provides

excellent skin

coverage. It comes

in 12 different

shades with an

inclusion of SPF 20.

NARS Velvet

Matte Skin Tint.

NARS has 12 different

shades. When

applied, it is creamy,

perfect, always even

and never splotchy.

Giorgio

Armani

Luminous

Silk

Foundation.

Giorgio gives a

perfect coverage.

It comes in 24

sheer shades with

a silicon base

formula that

makes it slide over

your skin without

settling in the

pores.

BIK/OPL True

Color Pore

Perfecting

Foundation.

It is oil-free which

is good for oily

skin. It gives

even and great

coverage for skin

pigmentations

and patches with

the right shade,

matching your

melanin condition.

L’Oreal Paris - True Match

Super Blendable Make-up.

L’Oreal is a common make-up foundation

and is also affordable. Super blendable for

all dark skin tones, it comes in 32 different

shades. It is smooth and easy to mix with

other colours.

60


BEAUTY

Iman Cosmetis –

Second-to-None

Stick Foundation.

Its foundation stick has

been infused with Jojoba

which adds to the formula;

it hydrates and regulates

oil production in the skin.

It comes in 14 different

shades, flattering and

nourishing for all skin types.

MAC Studio Fix Powder

Plus Foundation.

This foundation comes in 40

different shades of two-in-one

powder foundation for great

coverage with shiny content.

It has a comprehensive

set of colours and

pays attention to

undertones.

Clinique Even -

Better Refreshing,

Hydrating and

Repairing Make-up.

This foundation is best to

use when dealing with

acne. It helps to neutralize

breakouts and clears pores;

it smoothens the skin as

soon as it is dabbed with the

foundation.

Urban Decay

- Naked Skin

Weightless

Ultra

Definition

Liquid Makeup.

Urban Decay is

a quick option

for those who

want a medium

coverage that

camouflages light

skin and comes

in 18 different

shades.

Lancôme Teint

Idole Ultra Long

Wear Foundation.

Lancôme’s Foundation for

dark skin tone gives total

coverage. It comes in 40

different shades! It creates

a matte as well as smooth

finishing for a natural, no

make-up look. It is great for

oily and combination skin

types.


HEALTH

UK BASED

Nimata

Tejani

On why she held a party in

lockdown, to celebrate weight loss

With the Coronavirus still raging in the

UK, and soon after the partial lifting of

the lockdown, London based Nimata

Tejani, more excited about her successful

surgery and subsequent weight loss than

Covid19 issues, invited friends to her home to

celebrate her weight loss. In this interview, she

tells why she had to celebrate her new-found

body.

Please give me a brief

background about yourself.

What do you do? Where do

you live and which country are

you?

My Name is Nimata Tejan. I

am currently working in the adult

social care sector in Kensington

and Chelsea Council. I live-in

South-East London, and I am

originally from Sierra Leone.

You recently held a weight

loss party to celebrate your

shedding weight. Why did you

have to celebrate your weight

loss?

I celebrated my weight loss

because God allowed me

to have a change! I have

many testimonies; however,

the fact that I was becoming

unrecognisable and losing soo

much confidence and selfworth

in myself! Wow, I did not

believe it. My celebration was

a celebration of hard work and

discipline. My surgery was not

a short cut but a tool to help

me get to where I am now!

How was the party? Was it

well attended, even though

it was still at the height of

the Covid-Pandemic when

there was a partial lift of the

lockdown?

The party was great! The

barbeque was a way of me

saying ‘Thank You’ to everyone

that helped me along the

way; that encouraged me!

That did not give up on me!

The BBQ was for them! Of

course, COVID wanted to

spoil my shinnnneeee, but

God said, ‘Not Today!’ The

police came, haha! However,

my guests were in a social

bubble amongst themselves,

and the police officers left.

What would you say about

Body Positivity- the concept

of loving yourself no matter

how big you are?

62


HEALTH

That concept is fantastic, and this

builds character! It makes one firm in

what one believes; you love yourself;

nobody can come to you with

negative words and bring you down.

Because what other people think

of you is null and void and holds no

value to yourself!

How big were you, and were you

asked to lose weight for medical

reasons?

I was 162Kilograms, that is like soooo

many bags of rice when I think of it.

I’ve always been told by Drs to lose

weight, and I tried, but this time my

mum came to me with tears in her

eyes and Did not like how big I was

getting and asked me if I wanted to

do surgery.

Take us through the process you

went through to shed the weight?

Well, the surgery, of course, is called

a gastric sleeve; this is where the Drs

remove up to 80% of your stomach

muscle. It now allows you to eat small

portions and when I say

small, I mean baby sizes

probably even less than.

Gradually as weeks go on, I was

able to live from liquids to soft foods to

somewhat solid to solids.

I can now eat what I want in baby

portions, one year later, my portions

are still small, and I look at everyone’s

food like “how do they eat so much.”

How do you feel now? Do you think

you look better and feel the same

about yourself?

I feel AMAZING! I have never felt this

before, my confidence is coming out,

and I am just ME! I knew the real me

was hiding behind the weight, but I

didn’t think it was like this! I am feeling

humbled by everything; I honestly

thank God!

So, what is your diet like these days,

and how you going to make sure

you do not put the weight back on?

My diet is, I eat everything, Hahaha!

However, a lot of the times if I feel I’m

getting bloated I revert to my salads

and go walking, and I’ve lost the

weight again!

As a young African girl, what would

you say about Nigerians who would

attack you, that it is not ‘African.’?

I have nothing to say to that. If those

who want to attack me are bored

and want to criticise, then that is great

because I am worth the time and

time is something you can’t get back,

so it’s been a pleasure taking up that

time.

What advice would you give to other

young girls, who may be in a similar

situation as you?

Make sure you have tried and

exhausted every avenue before even

thinking about going under the knife!

Once you have done that, make sure

that the decision you are making is for

yourself and no one else


the people during

FEATURE

Celebrities who st

#ENDSARS Protest

Months ago, Nigeria

experienced unrest

as Youth took to the

streets to protest against

police brutality, corruption

and injustice.

The struggle saw many

people, both young and old

unite for a single course;

End SARS, a Special Anti-

Robbery Squad unit of the

Nigeria Police Force, allegedly

causing more harm than

good in the country.

With cases of alleged

extortion, false accusations,

alleged killings of innocent

citizens and corrupt practices

by the unit, a host of

celebrities used their huge

platforms to amplify the

struggle.

A lot of them took to the

streets to protest. See some

below:

The moment Davido stormed Abuja

and asked the IGP to “FEM”

Even though he wasn’t in the country,

Wizkid “Soro Soke-ed” in London

64


FEATURE

ood by

the

s

Omotola Jolade

Ekehinde

Aisha Yesufu stood her

ground and became a

heroine

Twitter influencer, Savvy Rinu

made sure her voice was heard

Falz and Runtown hit

the streets of Lagos

Burna Boy Erected “ENDSARS”

billboards across Nigeria

Tacha stormed PH city

for the protest0


FEATURE

Biography, Career and Controversy:

DJ Switch:

Heroine Or

Fraud?

It is exactly two week after the

#LekkiMassacre dominated

the social sphere; Twitter

and the online news media.

One name pops up when we

remember Tuesday the 20th

of October, 2020 (20-10-20),

and that is Nigeria female disc

jockey, Obianuju Catherine Udeh

popularly known as DJ Switch!

On Tuesday, October 20,

security operatives stormed the

Lekki Toll gate to enforce the

24-hour curfew imposed by the

Lagos state governor, Babajide

Sanwo-Olu, and in the cause fired

live bullets on unarmed peaceful

#EndSARS protesters. This horrific

incident was live streamed by

DJ Switch on IG live feeds as she

and others tried to save those

with gunshot wounds, Switch was

dubbed “heroine” by some and

“opportunist, liar, criminal” by

others who accused her falsifying

her figures in her reportage- ‘an

act which could have resulted to

genocide’.

In this article, Glam Squad

Magazine presents to you

Nigeria’s own DJ Switch!

DJ Switch’s Childhood and Education

Obianuju Catherine Udeh popularly

known as DJ Switch is a Nigerian Disc

Jockey; DJ, songwriter and musician,

was born on 26th April, 1984 in Udi

town in Enugu State. She spent most of

her childhood in Warri, Delta State and

later moved to Abuja. She is currently

based in Lagos. DJ Switch is the last

child in a family of eight children. Her

father is late.

Education

DJ Switch attended the University of

Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) in Rivers State

where she graduated with a degree in

Geology.

Career

DJ Switch was part of a music

group Da Pulse. Da Pulse participated

and won the 2009 Star Quest music

competition. The group later released

a single tittled, So Tey, and featured

American rapper, Busta Rhymes.

DJ Switch as a musical artiste

Obianuju Catherine Udeh aka DJ

Switch is a multi-talented creative

artist. Asides her DJ work, DJ Switch is

also a singer, rapper and songwriter.

DJ Switch’s Awards and Nominations

In 2013, She won the first edition of

the Glo X-Factor. She was later signed

to Sony Music as part of the prizes for

the emergence.

DJ Switch has been nominated

for several reputable awards. She

was a nominee of the City People

Entertainment Award for Most

Promising Act of the Year (Female). DJ

Switch won the City People Award for

Best Female DJ in 2016.

DJ Switch was featured in a 2018

CNN editorial titled: Nigeria’s female

DJs spinning against stereotypes.

DJ Switch’s Family, Husband and

Children

DJ Switch is not yet married and

does not have a husband. As a single

mother, DJ Switch’s is raising her child

alone.

DJ Switch said in a 2013 interview

with Encomium Magazine: “My baby

is eight and I would rather keep the

identity of the child’s father private.”

DJ Switch’s daughter is currently

fifteen years old.

Other interesting facts about DJ

Switch

DJ Switch left her well-paying job with

66


FEATURE

the oil company Halliburton to pursue

a career in entertainment.

On August 29, 2020, DJ Switch

was invited to the BBNaija Season 4

‘Lockdown’ show as a guest DJ for the

Saturday night party. For two hours, DJ

Switch thrilled the BBNaija Lockdown

housemates and viewers of the show

with her exceptional DJ skills.

On Tuesday 20, October 2020, DJ

Switch during the EndSARS protest in

Lekki Toll Gate covered the alleged

shooting of protesters via an Instagram

live video which had over 140,000

viewers.

DJ Switch’s net worth

The exact net worth of DJ Switch is

currently not known. A rough estimate

of DJ Switch’s net worth puts it at

several tens of millions of naira.

DJ Switch on social media

DJ Switch is active on social media.

The official Instagram account of

DJ Switch is @djswitch_. The official

Twitter account of DJ Switch is @

dj_switchaholic.

DJ Switch’s Controversies

On June 2 2020, DJ Switch opened

up on how her uncle, who’s a catholic

priest, molested her at the age of 11.

On October 20, 2020, DJ Switch live

streamed the Lekki shooting and since

then, has had bucket full of threatsshe

was accused of falsifying figures;

DJ Switch switched the number of

people that were massacred from 78

to 15, as a fact, she stated that there

was a young boy that indeed shielded

her from the bullets of the soldiers and

he dropped dead.

One Nigerian journalist, Gbolahan

Macjob, had called for the

prosecution of DJ Switch, claiming

that she lied to the world on Tuesday

October 20, 2020.

See his post below;

DJ

Switch’s songs

and discography

DJ Switch has rerecorded over

a dozen songs both personally and in

collaboration with other artistes. Some of

DJ Switch’s most notable songs include:

So Tey

Whine

Makusa

Clap For Them

Gun Gun

Step

Bad Man

Baby O

Give Me More

Koma

My Body


FEATURE

G

The

World

On A

Cusp

When I boarded a plane

in January for the UK, little

did I know that life, as I

knew it, would change - in mere

six months! My three months’ stay

stretched to six months and life

can never be the same again!

The world is on a cusp,

burgeoning into a form no one

can envisage. The vulnerability of

humankind is now made more

apparent. We are nothing but tiny

flakes in creation’s existential makeup.

When Covid-19 surfaced in

Wuhan, China, I had packed in

Nigeria, ticket in hand, with plans

to have a rest after retirement from

‘Vanguard’ and interment of Victor

Bello, my only brother. Until that

point, rest and time was all I had in

mind.

The weather, on arrival in London,

was chilly but welcoming. London’s

paved streets and shopping

arcades often have a therapeutic

impact. And, I was bent on taking

long, meditative walks, window

shopping and just spending the

days in nothingness; that is, until

I had cleared my mind and

decided what story life’s next

lamView

With Remmy Diagbare

chapter would open.

But how could I have known that

life was just about to take a new

turn? The twists and turns of life

that we never can plan! Except

knowing that a master crafter, the

Supernatural Engineer of the fate

of all of us holds the reins.

Death stalked the streets — an

unseen enemy ravaging the world!

Daily deaths, in the thousands,

flashed across the news. The

enemy was everywhere. It could

be you and it could be me. There

was no way to tell who incubates

the enemy; Science and the

‘privileged race’ were confounded.

They dropped their arrogance and

their entitlement of intelligence

and superiority vanished in the

face of Covid-19.

For the first time, they were

as flamoosed as the rest of us.

Where was their boast? Where

were their ----; those who deny

the very existence of God? Now

confounded, they look up for

solutions. Everyone seemed to

scurry for a vaccine...

Then, the conspiracy theories

began swirling. They pelted Bill

Gates, Microsoft’s founder, in

New York, USA, accusing him

of wanting to manipulate the

world’s population by first killing

us, then introducing a vaccine

to prevent more deaths. Poor Bill

Gates, unable to stop the constant

accusations, despite his generosity

to the world, especially suffering

Africans. Or, what could one say?

Having shelled out billions of

dollars to eradicate polio and

more for effective control of

malaria, the world wastes no time

in labelling him

‘the monster’

whose greed

and intent

to kill off the

weak link for

a stronger

utopian

community

has propelled him to

launch Covid 19! Please, world!

Give the man a break!

Well, by now, we know that on

March 23rd, Prime Minister Boris

Johnson introduced a lockdown

- following France, Italy, Germany

and the rest of the world. In a whiff,

all the shops emptied. You could

not get toilet rolls, hand sanitizers,

bread and other essential

household items! Everything

disappeared as the fundamental

human trait of survival took

primordial positions.

In the United States, as in Africa

and everywhere in the world, the

basic instincts of survival is the

same. It’s our common humanity;

it doesn’t matter if you are Black or

White, Yellow or Brown. Survival first

is as primitive as the early years of

our shared human ancestors - the

cavemen! It’s a hunt for self that

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FEATURE

pervades all other considerations.

In this new world, we bandy new

lexicons: PPE, social distancing, two

metres apart, stay at home, stay

safe, save a life...

I must commend the British

Government - they know how to

care for their people. Rishi Suna,

an equivalent of the Minister of

Finance in Nigeria, announced

a palliative scheme that ensured

that Britons do not suffer unduly.

He launched the Furlough System

where the Government paid 80%

of workers’ salary and those who

were out of jobs went unto the

Universal Credit Scheme.

Under the Universal Credit

Scheme, the Government pays

out of job Britons the equivalent

of N200,000 (two hundred

thousand naira) for feeding and,

in some cases, they also pay for

rent. Companies got between

5 and 10 million pounds sterling

to keep them afloat. That way,

everyone stayed home and

maintained social distancing.

Thus, preventing the spread of the

disease by staying at home and

not interacting with others, other

than members of one’s immediate

household, the lifeline of Covid-19

dried off.

Death rates plummeted; from

800 daily deaths, it reduced to 100

and, a few days ago, there were

only three deaths. So, the 5,000

capacity Nightingale Hospital built

and commissioned within two

months, preparatory for the worse,

was not needed after all and is

now closed:

Indeed, the test of authentic

leadership is in how a country takes

care of its own. Now, let me show

you a country that does not care

for its people - Nigeria!

Covid-19 has exposed the

underbelly of the Nigerian

leadership. It has revealed all

the leaders as a crop of selfish,

inconsiderate band of people

who have no compassion and are

clueless about what it takes to be

true leaders!

Happy 60th Anniversary Nigeria!

THEN, THERE WAS

GEORGE FLOYD...

As the White police officer

snuffed life out of George Floyd -

knee to the neck - George cried

out: “Mama, Mama, Mama...”,

before life ebbed out of him.

People think he was calling his

mother for help. I do not believe

that was the case. I think George

saw his mother who had come to

welcome him into eternity.

I believe that as one transitions

into the unseen world of the dead,

one sees dead relatives who

come to usher one into the new

life. George must have seen his

late mother, hence he called out:

“Mama...”. My late mother had a

similar experience. The last words

she said, before slipping into a

coma, were: “Mama. Mama.

Mama...” Then, silence. She never

came back!

There is life after death. It’s like

transitioning from caterpillar to

butterfly. We all as caterpillars, finish

incubating at the caterpillar stage,

then transition into a new form,

in the end - the butterfly. A new

world with no restrictions, no gravity,

free to fly - just like the butterfly:

beautiful and free at last.

What a wonderful world!

And,

Meghan

Markel’s search

for freedom...

The book that detailed Meghan

and Harry’s quest for freedom

from the stifling realities of Royal

Life sold out within days of arriving

on Amazon. I am yet to read the

book. I intend to order a copy but

if snippets of what I have read in

the British press is anything to go by,

Meghan cannot be held liable for

Megixt.

Yet, despite the book saying

so, the British people still blame

Meghan for Harry ditching his

home country for the United States!

I think all the hatred towards

Meghan is because she is biracial.

If she were blonde and blue-eyed,

they would have loved her; if for

nothing else, for the love of Harry’s

late mother. But, with Meghan,

they couldn’t get past that she is

Black. Oh, yes, there is racism in

Britain although, not as glaring and

in-your-face as in Donald Trump’s

America! But it is there, in the polite

way they smile at you or in the way

they turn you down for a job.



Glamsquad Magazine 2.0 is a Women’s Fashion, Culture and Lifestyle Magazine.

Targeted at an upwardly mobile segment of the Nigerian and African market,

Glamsquad seeks to provide inspirational yet attainable fashion, entertainment, and

lifestyle culturing to Women.

Contributing to conversations on contemporary fashion, dining, beauty, wellness, music,

and movies; our goal is to positively shape the conversation on these topics in a way that

Informs, inspires, empowers and ultimately entertains Nigerian and African women.

Glamsquad is for the sophisticated, tasteful, yet fun loving woman.

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Glamsquad Dec - Jan 2021

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