Glamsquad Magazine May 2021

Glamsquad
MAY 2021
Aberdeen
Fashion
Week Holds
Virtual Show
Healthy
Living:
Food For
Every Age
Glamsquad
Advocacy:
Is Leah
Sharibu
Dead or
Alive?
SEFI
ATTA:
NIGERIA’S WRITING EXPORT
TO THE WORLD
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Inside
Glamsquad
Magazine
May 2021
HEALTH
HEALTHY LIVING:
Food For
Every Age
32
8
Why I
Setup The
Aberdeen
Fashion
Week
- Lydia Cutler
SEFI ATTA:
Nigeria’s Writing Export
To The World
26
glamsquadtv glamsquadNG glamsquadTV glamsquadtvmag
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The Team
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Aberdeen Fashion Week 2021 to
Hold Virtually From 28-30 May
Editor-In-chief /
Publisher :
Remmy Ifueko Diagbare
COPY Editor:
Dodoiyi William-West
Correspondents:
Amenna Dayo
Stella Daniels
Glory Uyiowi
Ifeoma Okoye
Managing editor
Sebastianne Ebathemi
graphics / Web Manager
Layi Success
MARKETING Director
Tega Diagbare
International Director
& Global strategist:
Abosede Panama
+44 7369 280243
Marketing Director-
Africa
Imioms Dan-Anyiam
+234 803 844 4955
Head Office:
Suite B70/71, Ikota Shopping Complex,
By VGC, Lekki , Lagos, Nigeria
Tel: +2348115933500, +44 7404 990166
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.
O
ur cover, this month, features Sefi Atta
- the award-winning Nigerian author,
playwright and screen writer from the
Yoruba extraction whose books have been
translated into many languages worldwide. Her
plays have featured on BBC Radio and performed
on international stages around the globe.
Sefi started out in accountancy, qualifying as
a Chartered Accountant in England, a Certified
Public Accountant in the United States (her
adopted home) and holds a Master of Fine Arts in
Creative Writing.
In this exclusive interview with Glamsquad,
she shares her experience transitioning from
accountancy to becoming a wordsmith, working
with Kunle Afolayan on the adaptation of her
book: Swallow for a forthcoming Netflix original,
“The Nollywood Issue and Life as an African Writer”.
Also in this edition, as part of our contribution to
the Children’s Day celebration, we pay tribute to
Leah Shuaibu - the brave, young girl still being held
captive by Boko Haram for refusing to renounce
her Christian faith and ask the question no one is
answering: Is Leah Shuaibu dead or alive?
See Glamsquad Advocacy and all our fashion
and beauty stories packaged for your reading
pleasure.
Enjoy!
R .
Remmy Diagbare
Editor - in-Chief
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.
2021 Tegali Communications
How To Master
Makeup Looks
For Every Age
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6 Skirt Trends You
Should Not Resist In
2021
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FASHION
6 Not Res
Skirt Tren
Word By Amenna Daayo
Mini skirt:
A mini skirt is with no doubt No. 1
most fashionable skirt in 2021. Yes,
a mini skirt is the most fashionable
spring-summer 2021 skirt. Any mini
skirt!
Mini skirts leave everyone craving
for more and give your legs the
freedom – and air they need.
Gone are the days when people
think wearing a mini makes you look
trashy.
For the best looks, go for fishnet,
opaque stockings, or over-the-knee
socks. The top can be either casual,
like a T-shirt or smart-casual blouse
worn underneath a cool blazer or
long jacket.
Long Skirts, short skirts,
micro-mini skirts,
regardless of the length, I
just love skirts!
More and more people are
welcoming any opportunity to
break out of my sweatpants
and slip into something
refreshingly different—
especially as we move into a
warmer season ahead.
Interestingly, almost all the
designers in the recent fashion
shows/exhibition, including
the S/S 2021 featured many
exciting skirt trends. Now,
no one can hide under
the excuse that skirts look
outdated or misplaced in
today’s fashion landscape.
For many, it feels like a lifetime
since they’ve worn a skirt, but
there is no doubt that all the
striking skirt trends that graced
the runways have captured
their attention more than ever.
Below, I’m sharing the six
standout skirt styles that
reigned on the runways and
are taking over Instagram.
From the prettiest sheer pieces
that have us lusting for a
romantic summer to the rise
of the fun and frivolous micromini,
check out what the new
season has to offer, and don’t
be left out!
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ds You Should
ist In 2021
Tiered skirt
Another striking trend is the
Rustic skirt style! This spring,
we saw tiered and ruffled
skirts, whether maxi, midi,
or mini, float down the
runways. They smoothly
penetrated the world of
fashion. You can style a
skirt like this with a white
shirt tied in a knot.
A maxi or midi skirt with
ruffles looks
best. It is very
stylish to
combine
such a
romantic
skirt with
rough
boots
or large
sneakers.
Wrap-up skirt
The wrap skirt is perhaps the easiest option to
style. It will perfectly match everything from a
white shirt to a printed T-shirt, so feel free to pair
it with your favorite items.
Remember that if you have a full belly or
thighs, the wrap knot will add volume to your
figure, so you shouldn’t choose this skirt.
Line up the skirt with your waist or hips. Some
people prefer to wear wrap skirts at their
natural waist, while others like to secure them
around their hips. Whatever your preference, a
wrap-up skirt got you covered!
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Denim skirt
Denim never gets out of
fashion! Even the denim skirts
pattern of the 90s are as trendy
as ever. One of the hottest
trends is pairing a denim skirt
with a denim shirt, although
you can never go wrong with
denim no matter what you
wear it with.
Denim skirts are good because
they fit perfectly almost all
body types.
Cut-out
skirt
You may have thought of the
average leg cut on the skirt, but
you’re mistaken. The Cut-out skirt
has us feeling our 90s festival
fantasy.
Be careful with the cut-out skirts
because they can be tricky to
wear, but you will have to figure out
which styles flatter your figure and
trust me, you will love yourself more
when you get the perfect piece for
your figure.
Skirts with cut-outs at the top – on
the waistline or the hips – are a
huge trend this season. The boldest
fashionistas even wear special
thong panties that pop out at the
top of the skirt.
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Knitted skirt
Knitted skirts are demanding their right of place and
deservedly so! They should be worn by those who do
not have problems with the hips because the knitted
skirt draws attention to them very much. If you have a
non-standard figure, where the hips are wider than the
top, it is better to choose a-line skirts.
If you have an hourglass figure, this skirt will be the best
option.
Wear a knit skirt with a draped sleeved sweater, a
short-sleeved sweater, a roll neck, or a chunky sweater.
Whichever your choice, be sure to get the best!
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INTERVIEW
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INTERVIEW
SEFI
ATTA:
Nigeria’s Writing
Export To The World
Words by Ifueko Diagbare
Atta is the author of novels Everything Good Will Come, Swallow, A Bit of
Difference and The Bead Collector; a short-story collection, News From
Home; a children’s book, Drama Queen; and Sefi Atta: Selected Plays.
She recently co-wrote a forthcoming Netflix original movie adaptation of her
novel, Swallow, with Kunle Afolayan.
In this exclusive interview with the Glamsquad, she shares her experience of
working with Afolayan and talks about her next play, Ikoyi Girl, and her latest
novel, The Bad Immigrant, which will be published in 2021.
She lives in the USA with her husband and daughter.
First, I want to thank you
for granting this interview.
It is indeed a privilege. You
started out as an accountant
and qualified as a chartered
accountant and CPA. How did
you transition from numbers
to letters, and when did you
realise you had a flair for
writing?
Thank you for interviewing me.
I am honoured. I transitioned by
learning my craft – for example,
I studied for a Master of Fine Arts
in Creative Writing. I wrote oneact
plays at first, but I couldn’t
get them produced in Lagos.
This was during Abacha’s regime,
when not much was happening
on the theatre scene. I was
living in Mississippi at the time,
so I entered radio plays for the
BBC’s African Performance
competition. Two of them won
prizes and they were broadcast
internationally. It was wonderful
to reach such a wide audience
early in my career. After that,
I published my debut novel
Everything Good Will Come,
which was followed by a second
novel, Swallow, and a collection
of short stories titled News From
Home. I returned to stage plays
when theatre finally picked up
again in Lagos. I honestly can’t
describe this as having a flair.
What I have is a keen interest in
telling stories in different forms.
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INTERVIEW
When you look back on your journey
from 2005, when you published
Everything Good Will Come, to the
awards and accolades you have
received for your novels, short stories,
plays and screenplays, what passes
through your mind? Do you wish you
had started writing earlier and not
worked as an accountant first?
No. I’m grateful for those years. For a
start they gave me stories, which I have
recreated and shared. They also gave
me conflict, which was necessary. I may
never have become a writer had I been
fully satisfied with the corporate life. I’m
even glad I was bored with it because
my mind often wandered while I was at
work, which only gave me more stories to
tell.
“
I’m still the girl who
believed she was
equal to boys, while
observing that men
and women were
expected to behave
differently.
Your work also offers perspectives on
neocolonialism and a witty look at the
intersection between African cultures
and those of the Western world. For
someone who was born and raised in
Nigeria, and who has also spent most
of her adult life immersed in Western
culture, which would you say has the
greater appeal, and do you achieve
your intended purpose in choosing this
theme as a frame for your stories?
I wouldn’t say either has a greater
appeal, but the duality you refer to is
a force that drives my narratives. My
Nigerian identity came first and I haven’t
lost it. I’m still the girl who believed she
was equal to boys, while observing
that men and women were expected
to behave differently. My education
and accountancy career in England
broadened my consciousness because
I was regarded as a black foreigner
there. Now that I live in the United States,
where racial and other identities are
constantly discussed, the language of
such discourse puts my experiences
in perspective. My migration certainly
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INTERVIEW
informs some of my stories, but not all
of them.
You are a prolific writer, and you seem
to flow fluidly from writing novels to
short stories, plays and screenplays.
How are you able to wear these
different hats, and with such effortless
élan?
I hope I’m not giving that impression.
I work very hard on my craft, as many
other writers do. I am just compelled
to tell stories, and I tell them in any
form I can. Plays are my favourite and
screenplays come next, now that I’ve
written a few. I thoroughly enjoy writing
dialogue.
Let’s talk about your new
collaboration with Kunle Afolayan.
Your novel Swallow is going to be
produced as a film for Netflix. That
must be an exciting proposition. How
much of the novel was infused into
the movie, and were you able to
retain your voice as you co-wrote the
script with him?
The screenplay focuses on Tolani’s
journey alone. The novel is about
her mother’s journey as well, but we
couldn’t include that in the film. Our
collaboration was exciting enough for
me. Then Kunle signed the deal with
Netflix, which was fantastic. I had to
stay focused on developing the script
with him, though. With a collaboration,
writers have to give up full control in
the interest of harmony, but it helps to
work with a partner who understands
storytelling well. Kunle has been in the
business for as long as I have, and we
have mutual trust and respect.
What was the experience like, and
were you involved in selecting the
cast? Who for instance did you have
in mind to play Tolani Ajao?
We had a lot of fun and we were
very much in sync. Kunle would say
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INTERVIEW
something like, “You know that part where such
and such happens,” and I would know why he
had reservations because I’d had them myself.
He would come up with an idea and I would
say, “Please give me time to think about it.” By
the next day, I would be in agreement, or at
least open to making changes. After we finished
the script, I let go. He sent me stills now and
then, but I wasn’t involved in the production. I
don’t even know how the film will be edited.
What is your opinion on the quality of movies
produced by Nigerians?
Kunle wasn’t the first director I worked with.
He wasn’t even the first director I talked to about
Swallow, but he was the first to make things
happen. I’m relatively new to the industry, but
I’ve followed the progression of Nollywood for
years. There is a lot of talent. However, people
aren’t always in the right roles. We have writers,
producers, actors and directors who are not
skilled at what they do, so the standard isn’t
always consistent. The joy, of course, is seeing
our lives play out on screen and, for better or
worse, I can’t look away.
From this experience, how would you suggest
the industry should move forward and be an
alternative voice pushing the black narrative?
I see Nollywood as an additional, rather than
alternative voice for the black narrative. We
need better scripts – of international standard.
We need to take time to develop scripts. It
shouldn’t be the norm to churn them out in a
matter of days. We need script readers who can
recognise good writing. In general, we need
people in the industry to find what they’re good
at doing, stick to it and develop their skills. When
that happens, the synergy will be amazing.
Let’s also talk about your other projects – your
forthcoming novel, The Bad Immigrant, and
your monologue, Ikoyi Girl.
What is the novel about? What inspired it and
what would you want the reader to come
away with?
I’d been living in the United States for
about ten years and I had a lot to say about
my experiences there. Once I found the right
voice, I was able to draft The Bad Immigrant. I
wrote it from the perspective of a Nigerian man
who was reluctant to migrate to America, but
ended up doing so for the sake of his family. As
the book description states, the novel exposes
the realities of migration, such as the strains of
adjustment and the stifling pressure to conform
without loss of identity. It covers a wide range
of issues, including interracial and interracial
tensions, and familial stresses exacerbated in a
new environment. With every novel I’ve written, I
would like readers to think they’ve spent time with
people, rather than fictional characters. This one
will be published in the US in November 2021.
What is the subject of the monologue? What is
your intention for it?
I drafted Ikoyi Girl in 2019, with the intention
of staging it in Nigeria. It is set in contemporary
Lagos, before the COVID-19 pandemic and
SARS protests, and it introduces a new voice
to Nigerian theatre – a millennial who is a selfconfessed
product of her elitist society. She gives
an account of unhappy events in her life, at the
end admitting that she is fortunate nonetheless.
Her ability to satirise Lagos society makes for
comedic moments, but her failure to admit
her complicity in the problems of that society
is tragic. It’s a work-in-progress. I’m hoping it will
eventually be produced for the stage, but in the
meantime a fellow writer, Chibundu Onuzo, has
read it online.
You had said in one interview that you were no
longer going to explore the African woman/
girl crafting her own liberation from social
expectations. Is The Bad Immigrant a deviation
from feminist narrative?
I was referring to Everything Good Will
Come, which has a feminist narrative. I have
revisited the girl/woman conflict in other books,
but my stories are not feminist stories. I’m not
consciously bound to ideology while I am writing.
My characters say whatever they want to say
and do whatever they want to do. I choose my
narrators carefully, though, as I have to be able
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“
In general, we need
people in the industry to
find what they’re good
at doing, stick to it and
develop their skills.
INTERVIEW
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INTERVIEW
to spend time with them. The
Bad Immigrant is my first male
protagonist, so you could say
I’ve transitioned yet again – in a
sense.
Finally, you need to tell me
about yourself. What is your
fashion obsession? Also, apart
from your books, what other
books inspire you or what do
you relax with?
I read plays, which is unusual.
People generally don’t read
plays. I read everything from the
canonical works to modern and
contemporary playwrights. I’m
not fashion conscious, but I do
admire people who have style.
My mother religiously bought
copies of Vogue and Harper’s
Bazaar, and I would pore over
the photos and articles. She
worked as a model while she
was a student in London. My
aunt, Shade Thomas, was one
of Nigeria’s first fashion designers
and she trained at Central Saint
Martins. They were glamorous
young women. I never was,
and these days I spend most
of my time in black polyester
Adidas-inspired active wear
from Walmart. That’s my writing
uniform. I only make an effort
with my appearance when I go
out. I’ve taken to wrapping my
hair up in Ankara head ties of
late, because I’m transitioning
my locks to grey.
What is your most expensive
splurge? You don’t need to
reveal the price if you don’t
wish to, but what is it that you
would splurge on and the price
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INTERVIEW
wouldn’t matter?
It’s hard to say, as my
expensive is someone else’s
cheap and vice versa. I
remember bargains more.
I once bought a beautifully
sculpted Yohji Yamamoto
skirt from a discount store in
Mississippi. I’m still proud of that
find. It cost $20.
“
I may never have
become a writer had
I been fully satisfied
with the corporate
life.
What is your greatest pleasure?
Or what is it that gives you the
greatest pleasure – apart from
your daughter, husband and
your writing? Notice I put your
child first. Did I put them in the
correct order of importance?
My husband and daughter
are important to me in different
ways, and ordinary family
moments give me great
pleasure. I love to eat – with my
family, especially. My husband
makes the best barbecues. My
daughter is an expert at finding
unusual restaurants, but we
haven’t eaten out in over a year
because of the pandemic.
Last question. What advice
would you give to young or
indeed to older women like
me who have one thousand
and one story ideas in their
head, but don’t have a clue
about how to put the ideas on
paper?
Study the craft of creative
writing, as I did, and keep going.
If writing stories is that important
to you, you will get them done,
one way or another. I don’t
even have an agent but, with
a handful of supporters and
an independent publisher, I’ve
managed to sustain my career.
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FASHION
Aberdeen
Fashion Week
2021 to Hold
Virtually From
28-30 May
Words by Sebastiane Ebatamehi
Save the date! Aberdeen
Fashion Week 2021 will
take place from Friday
28 May to Sunday 30
May 2021.
Due to the ongoing restrictions
associated with the pandemic,
this year’s show will be held
virtually, but organizers and
partners of the high-profile event
have promised that it will be
bigger, better, and live up to the
hype!
With virtual back-to-back shows,
viewers all over the world will have
a dose of a digital multi-sensory
showcase experience.
The show organizers - Lydia
Cutler, Claire Tough, Ali Campbell,
Sean Duncan, Clair Clark, Madiha
Iqbal & Fay Hardy have worked
very hard and are ready to host
the world.
Speaking about the highly
anticipated event, the Managing
Director of Aberdeen Fashion
Week, Ms. Lydia Cutler said they
are looking forward to another
bigger and even better show in
October, assuming events will be
allowed then.
Fashion lovers & buyers can
follow the Glamsquad Magazine
across the various online platforms
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FASHION
or the official handles of the event to get
real-time updates of Aberdeen Fashion Week.
Other publicity partners include; World Fashion
Media News (USA) and Ganap TV (Philippines).
A few names to showcase at the digital
show include;
Angela Thouless - Tribe All (Scotland), Susan
Anne Petty - Dacoot Creations (Scotland),
Scott MacLeod - Kiss My Kunst (Scotland),
Lydia Cutler - Kemunto Fashions (Scotland),
Jade Duffield - Jade Elizabeth (Scotland),
Alison Bruce - Flower & Willow World
(Scotland),
Wobia Wovareri - Wobia Clothing &
Accessories (England),
Inger Helen Vorley - The Fountain (Scotland),
Lee Carnegie- Triple Aces LAC (Scotland),
Raya Kovacheva - Raya Kovacheva
Jewellery (Scotland),
Bench Bello - BWear Manila (Philippines),
John Guarnes - John Guarnes Atelier
(Philippines),
Mohammed F Noori - Fadnoori Couture
(Pakistan),
Linda Mirembe - Linmirr Accessories
(England),
Cameron Traa- Traa Clothing (Scotland),
Marianne Mwiki - Culture Inspired
(Scotland),
Sole Koi - Akita Arigato (USA),
Omama Masood – Aura (Pakistan),
Vandana Evanna - Evanna Fashion
House (Singapore),
Coralsjewelslaces (England),
GIFT University - Student Thesis Collection
(Pakistan),
National Textile University - NTU (Pakistan),
and many more.
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For the very first time, this
year’s virtual show shall welcome
international fashion professional,
Muhammad Fawad Noori, who will
be talking about his new trackable
dress, this dress was sponsored by Kia
Motors, Korea.
Vandana Evanna from Singapore
will also be talking about her new
book on how to sell fashion.
The show also welcomes Chris
Patterson, the Aberdeen music artist
who made the Aberdeen Fashion
Week theme song. He will be
performing with his band during the
Digital Fashion Week, other performers
to include; Ulianka Maksymiuk,
multi-award-winning artist, Babugee
Omosayansi Music Artist & Felix
Omondi, Comedian from Kenya, and
lastly but not least, music artist Marisa
Di Muro from London. Southstreet24
has also allowed our designers to use
their music for the videos.
The show is a huge opportunity for
all creative professionals from around
the globe to showcase on a global
platform.
Mark your calendars people, thank
us later!
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INTERVIEW
Why I
Setup The
Aberdeen
Fashion
Week
- Lydia Cutler
L
ydia Cutler is originally from Kenya, she
also lived in India, Australia and the UK. She
moved to England in 2000 for her Masters in
education in Leeds where she met her exhusband.
She eventually moved to Aberdeen
in Scotland in 2001 where she founded the Aberdeen
Fashion Week which is celebrating its 8th edition
virtually this year.
Lydia has been sketching clothes since the age of
7 and learnt tailoring in Junior Secondary school. A
magazine with bridal dresses which someone brought
into her home sparked a keen interest in fashion
design in her. Even though she went into teaching
as a career, fashion design gradually became her
work and great joy in life. Her label Kemunto Fashions
which she started in Australia received great success.
Lydia showcased her collections in fashion weeks
in London and New York City. She won several
awards in Paris and London. She started a bridal
shop in Australia and travelled to various countries to
showcase her wedding dresses.
She now owns a Bridal Salon ,which carries
bridal gowns for sale and rental, evening wear and
crochet wear in a picturesque village, Peterculter, in
Aberdeenshire country, in Scotland.
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What’s Aberdeen Fashion
Week all about?
Aberdeen Fashion Week is a
fashion trade show that caters for
fashion designers worldwide; we
showcase the latest fashion trends
from designers to buyers and
fashion lovers. I started Aberdeen
Fashion Week in 2013
How many designers typically
take part, and is it an African
Fashion Week showcasing African
designers?
We don’t have an actual
number as we invite designers via
a designer call advert on Social
Media; designers interested then
get in touch with us. We also
have several return designers that
showcase yearly.
How has the covid pandemic
impact the Fashion Week, and
what is the future for fashion post
covid:?
Due to the pandemic, we have
now moved on to do fashion week
digitally; this is not the same as
seeing models on the runway. We
now have to showcase via the new
norm of the online showcase.
Tell us about the upcoming
fashion week. How many
designers and what’s going to
happen during the shows?
The following shows are on 29-
30 May 2021. Presently, we have
19 designers, but all together, 35
designers have shown interest and
are yet to apply.
The shows will broadcast via
our Facebook group: Aberdeen
Fashion Week, and our YouTube
channel Fashion Art Media TV.
How many designers are
participating? Put us through pre
and post-event?
We have 19 designers presently,
but this number is bound to rise.
What is the outcome of the
shows. Do you have buyer’s
coming? Do participating
designers get orders, and
what happens after in terms of
commerce?
We have invited buyers from
small boutiques to watch online
and get in touch with designers
interested in their collections.
What’s the message you will
like to pass on to your followers
about this show?
Please subscribe to our YouTube
channel or Facebook page to
watch the shows, mark dates on
your calendars to watch the event.
Can we meet the showcasing
designers?
Designers showcasing are from
Scotland, England, Pakistan, the
Philippines & the USA. All designers
have their interviews presently on
our YouTube channel, Fashion
Art Media & our website www.
aberdeenfashionweek.org. There,
you will get their contact details
too.
How do you get funding to
organize the show, and how do
you plan to get into mainstream
fashion?
Designers pay a fee to
showcase; this is what we use
to organize the shows; we are,
however, looking for sponsors
to make our show even more
significant. We already are
mainstream fashion since some of
our designers have sold to buyers
for the mass market.
Tell us a bit about your
background and what is the
plans for the fashion week?
I am a multi-award-winning
fashion designer originally from
Kenya, now living in Scotland. My
commercial fashion design career
started in Perth, Australia, in 2008.
After showcasing in many fashion
weeks globally, I decided to start
Aberdeen Fashion Week here in
Scotland. I recognized its need,
mainly because Aberdeen City is
the Capital of Oil & Gas in Europe,
expatriate families were missing
out on the latest fashion trends.
We intend to continue building
fashion week to a bigger and
higher level. My colleagues
are versatile; they work with
international models, designers,
media personalities and buyers in
the most gracious way; we love
what we do.
How can people take part in
the shows and where can one
get tickets to attend?
We are always looking for new
creatives and models; they can
get in touch via our website www.
aberdeenfashionweek.org or
Social Media, Facebook, and
Instagram.
A word to our readers on
Fashion Week and what they
should expect?
Please, make sure to watch our
Digital Fashion Week showcase; it is
online, you don’t have to leave the
comfort of your home, and it is free
of charge to watch-dates: 29-30
May 2021.
www.glamsquadmagazine.com 27

BEAUTY
HOW TO MASTER
MAKEUP LOOKS FOR
EVERY AGE
Words by Glory Live
THE BEST MAKEUP
TIPS FOR the 20s
Makeup Tip #1: Opt for
sheer coverage. An everyday
makeup mistake is using a
heavy foundation when you
don’t need it. It’s an easy trap
to fall into—assuming that the
more your foundation covers,
the more perfect your skin will
look.
Makeup Tip #2: Color
correct dark circles under the
eye. If you notice dark circles in
your 20s (hello, sleepless nights!),
you can use a colour-correcting
concealer to disguise them.
Makeup Tip #3: Embrace
illumination. Highlighters of every
shade and texture imaginable
are all the rage, and if you’re in
your 20s, you’re in luck.
First, let’s start with the facts: first,
no rule says your age should
dictate what makeup you wear.
Second, if your goal is to look
younger longer, there are a few
makeup tips that can help (or
murder) your cause.
As we age, skin can lose
elasticity, firmness, and radiance
due to hereditary and
environmental factors –
especially in these parts.
While a proper skincare routine is
paramount to keeping skin
looking youthful, an ill-fitting
makeup routine may not be
doing you any favors in the youth
department. Just as different
skincare products and skincare
routines suit people of different
ages, how you do your makeup
should depend mainly on your
age. If you think back to 10 years
ago, chances are you aren’t
wearing your makeup the same
way and with good reason.
What works in terms of eye
makeup, face makeup, and lip
color for a woman in her 20s
may not be right for a woman in
her 40s, and vice versa. Instead
of guessing how to do your
makeup the best way for your
age, follow our handy-dandy
tips. We’re sharing the best
makeup tips to use when you’re
in your 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s+
right here—right now!
So, grab yourself a glass of wine
and read away…
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BEAUTY
THE BEST
MAKEUP TIPS
FOR the 30s
Makeup Tip #1: Wear matte
finishes. As pretty as shimmer
can be, it isn’t always the most
flattering in action. If you’ve started
to notice fine lines and wrinkles
forming, you’ll want to steer clear
of products with lots of shimmers.
Otherwise, the shimmer can draw
attention to things you’d prefer to
distract from, like wrinkles. Stick
with matte face powder and
foundation to play it safe.
Makeup Tip #2: Choose
lightweight concealer. It can
be oh-so-tempting to cake on
concealer to cover up all of your
complexion concerns, but you’ll be
better off applying a lightweight
concealer with a light hand. The
more concealer you wear, the
more likely it is to crease and settle
into wrinkles.
Makeup Tip #3: Define with
contour powder. With age, skin can
start to lose its firmness and sag.
While you can’t get rid of sagging
skin, you can use a contour
powder to fake a more sculpted
look.
www.glamsquadmagazine.com 29

BEAUTY
THE BEST MAKEUP
TIPS FOR the 40s
Makeup Tip #1: Always use a primer.
As you get older, you may notice that
applying makeup is becoming increasingly
challenging. That’s often due to changing
the texture of your skin. If it isn’t completely
smooth, makeup may not go on quite as
easily. That’s why you should consider using
a primer.
Makeup Tip #2: Fill in your brows. Thick
brows are more popular than ever, but
they aren’t always easy to achieve as you
age. Thankfully, you can lean on eyebrow
makeup for help. Give your brows a quick
swipe of brow mascara.
Makeup Tip #3: Skip harsh eyeliner. For
older eyes, thick or overly harsh eyeliner isn’t
your friend. Skip liquid eyeliner, which can
be hard to create a soft effect with, and use
a pencil you can smudge out.
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BEAUTY
THE BEST MAKEUP TIPS FOR 50s+
Makeup Tip #1: The fifties and on used to be about
finely traced brows, lips, and a poreless powder finish.
Nowadays, you’ll see less of the makeup looks of yesteryear
and more celebration of natural skin, since women in
their sixties have been polled as having the highest selfconfidence
of any age range -- now that’s something to
celebrate!
Makeup Tip #2: As matte, full-coverage finishes tend
to age the skin and make harsh lines appear more severe;
50+ women are opting for light, radiant coverage in the
way of a skin-plumping tinted moisturizer or BB Cream.
Makeup Tip #3: Overall, they’re choosing creamy,
skin-healthy fruit makeup formulas, with powder only
added as needed to reduce shine spots. A return to the
dewy, fresh-faced glow of youth is the goal here: there’s no
better way to do it than to keep skin healthy, hydrated, and
unhindered.
www.glamsquadmagazine.com 31

WELLNESS
HEALTHY LIVING:
Food For Every Age
20S, 30S, 40S, 50+
Words by Amenna Dayo
It’s common sense that
food is what ultimately
keeps you strong, healthy,
and functioning at peak
performance for your best
life ever.
But what you ate in your
twenties may not be what
your body needs as you
hit your thirties, forties,
and fifties. From hormonal
changes to bone density,
things change from one
decade to the next—and
that’s putting it lightly.
Learning how to feed your
body properly as you grow
older can prevent diseases
and other unnecessary
complications from arising.
The goal here is to live a
long, happy, and healthy
life, which is why we’ve
identified the dietary
building blocks to help you
age well, one decade at
a time! And after you learn
what to turn to, make sure
you steer clear of these
20 Foods That Age You 20
Years!
The 20S - Foods That Are Best For
Individuals In This Age Range Include:
Protein: From chicken to steak,
protein is an essential building block.
When you’re in your twenties, you’re still
growing and often burning the candle
at both ends.
Complex Carbohydrates: Complex
carbohydrates like sweet potatoes,
quinoa, and brown rice are great for
sustainable energy, especially in your
twenties when
you’re
super
active.
sweet potaotes
Nuts and Seeds: These foods
come packed with everything you
need, from vitamin A to
zinc. Plus, there’s a
healthy dose of
antioxidants,
fats,
protein, and
phytonutrients.
nuts & seeds
20 s
Calcium-Rich Foods:
Calcium-rich foods include
sesame seeds, dark leafy
greens, oranges, broccoli,
and calcium-fortified
foods like cereal and
bread.
bread
Hormone-
Balancing
Foods: Boosting
your diet with
foods that balance
your hormones and yoghurt
keep you hydrated can
make
sure you glow and prevent blemishes. I
recommend foods like blueberries, yoghurt,
walnuts, and oatmeal.
Liver Cleansers: Cleansing the
liver with lemon juice, garlic, and
onions can go a long way with
keeping you healthy in the long run,
despite the desire to enjoy the parties
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WELLNESS
30 s
The 30s - Foods that are best for
individuals in this age range include:
Super Foods: Superfoods are
essential, especially olive oil.
They’re rich in polyphenols, which
are powerful brain-protective
antioxidants. Coconut oil, wild
salmon, blueberries, turmeric, eggs,
dandelion greens, and walnuts are
all just the shortlist that yields peak
performance benefits.
coconut oil
Vitamin E: Avocados and pine nuts
are rich in vitamin E, which is vital for
reproduction; they increase male
fertility and reduce miscarriages
because they help regulate the
menstrual cycle.
avocados
eggs
Iron:
You need iron
to have healthy red blood
cells; without it, you can
become anaemic and feel
tired all the time. You need
foods such as dried beans,
eggs, yolks, liver, lean red
meat, poultry, salmon, tuna,
oysters, almonds, and whole
grains.
Antioxidants: To keep
this natural ageing process
as slow as possible, eat tons
of antioxidants. Berries, tropical
fruit, colourful vegetables, and green leafy
vegetables are among the most antioxidantrich
foods you could grab to look and feel
youthful.
Fatty Fish and
Eggs: Foods
that can
promote the
maintenance of
fish
balanced hormones
are essential. Fatty fish and
eggs filled with healthy fats and vitamin D,
both of which can help boost your hormones.
Veggies: Eat
lots of colourful
veggies to
ensure your
bodies can still
handle issues relating to high cortisol
levels and fat storage from stress.
vegetables
Folic Acid: Carol Cottrill, a
nutritional consultant and author,
recommends low-sugar fortified
cereal, as they offer iron and folic
acid in one bowl. (For lunch, have
some leafy greens, which are full
of folic acid and antioxidants!)
lemon
Low-Fat Dairy: The bottom line is you start
losing bone mass after 35—so you must
consume enough calcium. I recommend
low-fat choices like milk, cheese, yoghurt and
cottage cheese.
cheese
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WELLNESS
40 s Fermented Foods: A daily serving of
sauerkraut, kimchi, kefir, sour pickles,
kombucha, or live culture yoghurt can
help balance your gut bacteria.
Natural Phytoestrogens: By the time you
soy
The 40S - Foods
That Are Best For
Individuals In This
Age Range Include
reach your forties—and as long as you haven’t had breast cancer
or some other condition that would encourage you to keep your
estrogen levels low—eat more foods natural phytoestrogens (plantbased
estrogen) like soy and cruciferous vegetables.
pepper
Bright Foods and
Veggies: As a rule of
thumb, the brighter the
fruit or veggie, the more
antioxidants. So,
think blueberries,
strawberries, oranges,
beets, peppers, and
more!
Omega-3: Ensure
adequate omega-3
intake to control
inflammation and
to keep your body
performing at its
peak. I recommend
3g-5g of liquid fish oil
daily to prevent this.
Heart-Healthy Foods: Garlic,
onions, leek, turmeric, olives,
flaxseed oil, and green
leafy veggies
are among
the best
foods for
this.
garlic
Whole Grains: Eat unrefined
whole grains like whole wheat,
brown rice, and oats to help keep
blood pressure and cholesterol
checked. They aid digestion and
make you feel
full on less
food.
brown
rice
Coconut: Coconut is rich in fibre,
helps fight Candida Albicans, fungi
viruses, and bacteria, and the fatty
acids in coconut can boost brain
function.
coconut
Seaweed and Sunflower
Seeds: Sunflower seeds are rich
in vitamin E, folate, selenium,
and magnesium, making these
delicious seeds fantastic for
cardiovascular health, mental
health, and thyroid health.
seaweed
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WELLNESS
50+ - Foods That Are Best For
Individuals In This Age Range
Include:
High Fiber Veggies: To balance
hormones, such as leptin, the diet must
contain high fibre vegetables to stabilize
leptin levels by making you feel full longer.
The fibre found in cabbage, broccoli or
Brussel sprouts helps stabilize blood sugar
and insulin by slowing down digestion.
Turmeric: Turmeric is the best food to
eat at all times in your life, but particularly
in your forties and fifties because it
supports an anti-inflammatory lifestyle.
Many studies indicate inflammation may
play a role in causing and exacerbating
diseases such as Alzheimer’s, cancer, and
diabetes.
Plant-Based Protein: Animal protein
can slow metabolism, but protein remains
an essential element for health and
longevity. So, decreasing animal protein
and increasing plant protein can be a
great way to give your body what it needs.
Whole grains, lentils and beans provide
some of the best sources of plant-based
protein.
B-Vitamins: Good options rich in B6
and help prevent heart disease include
bananas, potatoes, and pomegranates.
Meanwhile, eggs, fish, and chicken are
high in B12 and support a healthy nervous
system.
Eggs: Eggs are low in calories and are
a complete protein, making this food
great for building muscle and maintaining
a healthy weight. They’re also rich in the
antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin, which
are essential for eye health.
Basil: As you get older, strong bones
become increasingly important. A great
source to build your bones is vitamin K—
and basil is rich in it. Sprinkle some on
salads to reduce the risk of atherosclerosis,
osteoporosis, diabetes, and cancer.
Brazil Nuts: Brazil nuts filled with vitamins
and nutrients that support so many
vital functions as you get older. They
contain selenium, calcium, iron, copper,
magnesium, manganese, potassium,
phosphorus, zinc, and fibre. This exotic
nut helps to support healthy cholesterol
levels, which prevents blood clotting and,
consequently, reduces the risk of heart
attacks and strokes.
broccoli
turmeric
beans
bananas
eggs
basil
brazil nuts
50 +
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ADVOCACY
Leah
SHARIBU
Dead or Alive?
A Tribute to a brave young girl who paid
the ultimate price for her faith.
By Eucharia Ebube
ast 3 years, Boko
LHaram terrorists
stormed and
kidnapped 109
students from
Government Girls’ Science and
Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe
State, in northeast Nigeria. Five
students were killed and other
students were released apart
from Leah Sharibu because
she refused to comply with their
captors’ demand to convert to
Islam. Islam is the major religion
in Yobe State, followed by
Christianity. Thus, Leah, daughter
of Nathan and Rebecca Sharibu,
became the unlikely symbol of
defiance in the face of religious
persecution.
We do not know if Leah
Sharibu is still alive or not, healthy
or sick but rumour has it that Boko
Haram militants killed Sharibu
along with an unidentified person
referred to as “Alice” because of
the Nigerian government’s refusal
to accede to Boko Haram’s
demands.
Leah Sharibu will be marking
her 18th birthday in captivity on
May 14, 2021 (if she is still alive).
Who would believe that Leah,
at her age three years ago,
would consent to become
a mother? She wanted go
to university and she would
have been starting university
now but she is still in captivity.
If they forced her and
raped her, we cannot say that
she consented.
When other students
captured were released, Leah
sent a message to her mother,
saying: “My mother, you should not
be disturbed. I know it is not easy
missing me but I want to assure you
that I am fine where I am… I am
confident that, one day, I shall see
your face again. If not here, then,
there at the bosom of our Lord
Jesus Christ.”
Parents of then 15-year-old Leah
Sharibu, kidnapped by Boko Haram
terrorists in 2018, might have lost all
hope in the Nigerian government
rescuing their daughter by now.
Everyday reminds us that we
have a precious soul that has
been denied her freedom, her
leah sharibu
fundamental
human right!
Leah Sharibu has been gone
for too long; let the government
tell us how they are going to bring
her, along side the remaining
Chibok girls, back. The fact that
the government was able to
bring back the 100 girls that were
adopted alongside Leah Sharibu
shows that they have the capacity
to bring about the release of the
now young woman.
Let us remind the authorities
in the military, para-military,
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ADVOCACY
intelligence and other security
agencies and the Presidency that
unless they also work hard to negotiate
the release of Leah Sharibu, they will
not be able to talk about peaceful
resolution of conflicts arising from
insurgency that has afflicted this
administration.
How many birthdays does Leah
Sharibu need to mark in captivity
before our Commander-in-Chief
would realise that he needs to protect
the lives of Nigerian citizens, including
children like Leah Sharibu?
This article is to remind the Federal
Government that the nation is still
waiting for freedom for Citizen Leah
Sharibu, the only Dapchi schoolgirl
and Christian who is still being held in
captivity because of her faith.
We should continue to appeal to our
leaders to please use the doggedness
with which they handled the case of
Zainab Aliyu’s release for Leah Sharibu.
This is one of the ways Nigeria’s leaders
can show Nigerians that they are
capable of the responsibility power
places on them!
Despite the president’s
assurance to the mother of Leah,
there has been no update on the
plight of the unlucky girl several
months after.
As things stand now, tens
of thousands of children and
students in Nigeria are missing out
on their education because of
the authorities’ failure to protect
schools, particularly in northern
Nigeria, from attacks by insurgents
and other armed groups, Amnesty
International said recently.
Osai Ojigho of Amnesty
International said: “Between
December 2020 and March
2021, there have been, at least,
five reported cases of abductions
in northern Nigeria. The threat
of further attacks has led to the
closure of about 600 schools in
the region. Whatever authorities
are doing to tame this tide, it is not
working.”
The frequency of the insurgents’
attacks show just how unsafe
Nigerian schools have become,
while Nigeria lackluster justice
system has only emboldened the
perpetrators.
Attacks against school children,
teachers and school buildings show
a callous disregard for the right to
life and the right to education by
both the bandits and insurgents
on one hand, and the Nigerian
authorities who have failed to end
these horrifying attacks, on the
other.
The Nigerian authorities risk
loosing a generation due to their
failure to provide safe schools
for children in a region already
devastated by Boko Haram
atrocities.
www.glamsquadmagazine.com 37

FEATURE
G lamView
Failure is a Myth
Rooted in the Origin
of Nothingness
By Bose Panama
“We are all terrified of failing. But we mostly fear things because
we didn’t take the time to unpack what those fears were.” TL; DR:
Failure is familiar territory for
everyone. We have all either
failed numerous times or
helplessly watched as others
fail around us. It could be that
cousin, sister, neighbour, friends,
family who just suffered failure at
something so tangible to them
now, but that thing turned out to be
intangible and incongruous later.
Yet you watch them fret
endlessly and watch countless
reliving of the pain and suffering,
which is often palpable.
Often, failure comes through
heartbreak, loss or grief, either from
relationship breakdown, eviction,
homelessness, abandonment,
unemployment or even death.
The endless anxiety and how
we often keep ourselves awake
all night bereft with worry thoughts
that don’t help but exacerbate
the trajectory of our knotted
frustrations. ‘require us to let go of
the thoughts that don’t make us
strong.’
We all do the same when failure
stares menacingly from a blurred
vision; we end up keeping ourselves
awake all night nonstop worrying
about the outcome of our failures.’’
We took years off of our life and put
ourselves in horrible places mentally
and physically.’’
The important thing we need to
know is that: Failure is so transient,
always having a false crutch even
its grip on us is not or will never be
firm because at every juncture of
failure, we are at the crossroad of
thoughtful anxiety, confusion and
chaos sometimes embedded in it is
frustration.
At the end of our journey down
the abyss, we learn something
poignant, and that is, failure is
nothing; Failure is like the origin of
zero. It fades into nothingness, and
we can sigh with relief several years
down the line and say out loud,’’
And you know what we learned
in the end? It generally didn’t
matter.’’Yessssss imagine finding out
eventually that failure is nothing and
that failure will pass and this failure
now will mean nothing later
Our “fear of failure” took over
our grip on reality, and we inevitably
envisioned it as poison or wound
translating into a ripple effect that
was worse than the actual failure;
We think Failure is worse than the
actuality of the failure itself’. Adele
failed at her relationship so much,
so she was so grief-stricken crying
out in distress ‘ ‘never mind; I will find
someone like you was her plea. Oh
no, you certainly ‘don’t want a jerk
like you should have been the title
of her lyric. Nonetheless, her debut
sold 300 million, translating her to
the Matriach of broken hearts. If
I approach Adele now and say
in the same circumstances will
you sing’ unbreak my heart say
you love me again’ instead? She
will scoff in my face because her
failure or failed relationship earned
her a billion at the bank. Her single
was the fastest in the annals of
history, knocking down Michael
Jackson, even Whitney Houston
Saving, all my love for you, paled
into insignificance, eh? Failure
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is nothing; it is so overrated it is
nothing to be scared of, my dear.
The next time you fail to take
a deep breath, smile, go to the
shops, buy yourself a favourite
bottle of wine, in fact, a bottle of
champagne and invite your friends
around, call them for an impromptu
party once they are in and they ask
what is the celebration? Confidently
say that is for later, let’s enjoy today,
then tell them the news and watch
their face drop for you because of
their ignorance about failure. Then
pop the champagne and say I am
celebrating failure as an anecdote.
Everyone’s perception of failure
is always 1000 worse than how
the actual loss is mapped out. A
woman left at the altar will say,
‘no one will ever want me’ yes,
someone will love you and even
marry you!
A woman who had a child out
of wedlock will say, am a broken
plate no; you will find your Prince
charming broken plate or not.
Talking of finding your Prince or
Knight in shining armour, Meghan
Markle’s first marriage’s failure
played out as a grim tale. She sent
her wedding ring back in the post
to Ingleston. Was it that it was pretty
painful for her dear soul, but little
did she know her prince charming
is coming that will make her cup
complete and together conquer
the world?
She went on to marry her prince,
already a divorcee. Who said failure
has a sting? Not in the Markle world,
she has the Markle miracle and
married her prince.
When her marriage ended,
she could have hung her head
in shame and said, who will want
me now? ‘No, no no honey girl,
look to your right, there is money
money money’. All of a sudden
epic event started happening for
her; she went on a quest of’ ‘Finding
Freedom’. On the toe with that
trajectory came stumbling through
a successful move to America
with her prince and a son in toe;
torrential blessings for her 100 million
Netflix deal, Spotify deal, Oprah
interview, even taking an influential
newspaper to task and winning
her privacy case. Yeah! Winning
her high court ruling and battle for
substantial damages, is anything
stopping this girl? ‘This girl is on fire!
Bring it on; this woman is an
unstoppable failure. You have no
grip on reality; wait for this. She is
now expecting her second child,
a daughter? Just for a minute,
juxtapose her failed first marriage
with where she is right now. Are you
kidding? Failure is nothing is the
origin of nothing and nothingness.
Meghan Markle life story bears
eloquent testimony to the fact that
failure is the origin of nothingness;
don’t take it seriously when next it
makes an unannounced visit as it
always does
Remember when next you see
failure, don’t entertain the warped
view of failure; give it a lighthearted
welcome. Don’t have a pity party,
have a champagne lunch. Make it
a celebratory show, and tell people
what failure is- call it out. Failure
has a masked success; don’t let
it get to you; turn the poison of
failure into a fuel propelling you
to your subsequent victory. Flip it,
immediately turn your wound to the
wisdom. I hear you say ‘how?’ When
you receive that letter of dismissal,
go all-out, review your CV, apply,
apply, don’t feed that failure. Your
next better job is round the corner,
so have a party in anticipation of
your next new job.
When that thing, that
circumstance doesn’t work out, stay
calm. It is not for you! A Markle type
of miracle is very nigh; take heed
and let your head rule, not your
thoughts, not your mind! You are the
captain of your life, the master of
your life ‘ We only have one life. It’s
a travesty to waste it on anything,
not failure, at least!
Bose Panama is a UK based
Immigration lawyer and a
contributor to Glamsquad
Magazine
FEATURE
Power
Women:
In Their Own
Words
“I think that there is a lot of inner
strength in all of you and every one
of us just to carry on and wherever
we are, push, push, push.”
- Christine Lagarde European
Central Bank
“We’ve got one shot at this life,
and to not be productive with
what we’ve been given, to me, is
a travesty.”
- MELLODY HObson ARIEL
Investments
“You don’t have to be the boss
to be a leader. You can be in a
leadership role in any seat that
you’re sitting in.”
- Stacey Cunningham
NYSE
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