Glamsquad magazine april-may 2022

Glamsquad 

april/may 2022 

March: 

tHE Month 

of Slaps 

- The Will Smith 

and Bianca 

Ojukuwu Slap 

Skin Hair 

Trend 

A Fashion 

Statement or 

Revolution? 

Deborah 

Anne Dyer 

OBE: 

20 

Ankara 

Style 

Inspirations 

To Adopt 

APRIL 

NATIONAL 

CHILD ABUSE 

PREVENTION 

MONTH 

- What You Need To 

Know 

5 Ways 

to Lose 

Stomach Fat 

Naturally 

The Queen 

Of Bald 

www.glamsquadmagazine.com 1

Inside 


Magazine 

April 2022 

BEAUTY 

16 

24 

38 

DIY Make-Up Tips 

for Easter 

5 Healthy 

Ways 

to Lose 

Stomach 

Fat 

Naturally 

Skin Hair 

Trend: 

A Fashion Statement or 

Revolution? 

glamsquadtv glamsquad3 glamsquadTV glamsquadtvmag 

2 

www.glamsquadmagazine.com

10 

20 Ankara Style Inspirations 

to Adopt this Easter Season 

Editor-In-chief / 

Publisher 

Remi Diagbare 

Editor 

Amenna Dayo 

Managing Editor 

Sebastianne Ebathemi 

Deputy editor 

Chioma Esui 

Stand-By/Ad-Hoc 

Praise David 

Grace Effiong 

Oyindamola 

Staff Writers 

Sasha Bokamoso 

Glory Uyi 

Contributors 

Dr. Nkechi Omoson 

Chef Amaka Obiefuna 

Social Media 

Yewande Falana 

graphics / Web Manager 

Layi Success 

MARKETING Director 

Tega Diagbare 

Atinuke Bankole 

Head Office: 

Suite B70/71, Ikota Shopping Complex, 

By VGC, Lekki , Lagos, Nigeria 

Tel: +234 803 844 4955, +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. 

I 

t is with great joy I welcome you 

to another special edition of 


Magazine. This edition, themed 

‘March: The Month of Slaps,’ is one 

that is both timely and exciting. 

For our lead story, we take a look 

at the ‘slaps’ of the decade, which 

coincidentally both happened in the 

month of March – and at prominent 

events. 

The first incident took place at the 

inauguration of the new Anambra State 

governor, Professor Chukwuemeka 

Soludo. 

In what looked like a scene of a 

poorly directed movie, the wife of the 

former Biafran warlord, Mrs. Bianca 

Ojukwu slapped the wife of the 

immediate past governor of Anambra 

State, Dr. Mrs. Ebelechukwu Obiano, 

during the highly televised swearing-in 

event. 

While we were all still trying to come 

to terms with the incident, and critics 

were saying how such an incident 

could not occur in a civilized world, we 

got the shock of our lives. 

What bigger stage than the Oscars? 

During the last Oscars Awards event, 

the world stood still when Hollywood 

actor Will Smith walked upstage and 

slapped comedian Chris Rock for a 

joke about his wife’s hair. 

Wow, what a twist, because that 

brought us right to our sub-feature – the 

Skin hair 

cut trend for women. This edition 

analyzed the growing trend of women 

– especially Africans and African- 

Americans cutting their hair. 

Interestingly, we also got our 

fair share of slaps! Oh yes, we 

did! It was a slap from one of 

Nigeria’s celebrities whom we 

intended to feature on the cover 

of this edition. 

She not only refused to 

respond to our messages at the 

dying minute when we planned 

the interview but also stood 

us out. Well, that is a story for 

another day! 

Lest we forget, this is an Easter 

edition – packed with all the 

deliciousness of Easter. 

This package has a super dose 

of entertainment, fashion, and 

everything that would make this 

edition one of the best issues 

from Glamsquad yet. So let me 

leave you to it. 

Do not forget to write to us 

and tell us how you enjoyed this 

edition and what you would like 

to see in subsequent editions. 

Till the next one, 

A . 

Ameena Dayo 

Editor 

5 Accessories 

You Need to 

Express Yourself 

this Easter 

4 

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. 

© 2022 Tegali Communications 


5 

Artisan Minimalist 

Jewelry 

Minimalist jewelry is becoming super 

trendy. Everything from brass to sterling 

silver is incorporated for unique jewelry 

designs like barred earrings, plated rings, 

and thin, engraved bracelets. 

There are even minimalist brands 

dedicated to the total customization 

of your minimalist jewelry. Into crystals 

or stone? Minimalist jewelry often 

incorporates these elements into designs. 

You can truly get creative and find 

the accessories you’ll love by wearing 

minimalist jewelry. In addition, most crystal 

stone jewelry pieces, such as crystal 

stone earrings, necklaces and rings are 

considered to be minimalistic style jewelry. 

Accessories 

You Need to Express 

Yourself this Easter 

By Chioma Esuibom 

4 

Sustainable Fashion Tote Bags 

With sustainable fashion now becoming a hot trend due to its positive impact 

on the environment and its influence on pop culture, more and more people 

are using tote bags instead of traditional bags and purses to carry their items. 

Tote bags are usually made from canvas material and can carry everything 

from clothing to your groceries. Take your accessorizing to the next level with a 

tote bag that says something unique about you. You can find tons of options 

with favorite quotes, bands, movies, and general sayings that make you feel 

like you. 

www.glamsquadmagazine.com 

Expressing yourself through 

fashion takes practice. There 

are so many different trends 

and fashion statements out 

there to consider incorporating 

into your look. 

Plus, everyone interprets the 

meaning of various fashion 

statements and looks differently, 

making it even harder to convey 

the message you want to say 

about your fashion and general 

style. 

Although the stakes are high, 

there are ways to simplify the 

process and easily incorporate 

trends to express yourself 

through fashion. The easiest 

way of them is by adding the 

right accessories to support your 

style. 

If you’re ready to showcase 

your fashion sense through 

your accessories, here are five 

ideas!w

Powerful Fashion Statements 

With the outspokenness of Gen Z taking the fashion 

world by storm, fashion and how people accessorize 

have changed forever. From gender-neutral 

clothing to oversized wear inspired by Billie Eilish, 

the most powerful fashion statements are being 

introduced and adored by the world. 

In addition to these changes is the start of bondage 

clothing. See if you can find yourself in the mix of 

these different trends. When you start to see your 

accessories as personality statements, you can craft 

your style into personal art and self-expression like 

never before. 

Knee-High Boot 

Socks 

Combat boots go with 

everything. From plaid dress 

socks to rainbow toe socks, 

your combat boots will go 

perfectly with whatever prints 

and fabrics you like. Style your 

combat boots with knee-high 

boot socks that showcase 

your personality. 

Aim to incorporate your kneehigh 

boot socks to match your 

mood for the day or to make 

a general statement about 

who you are. Think about how 

colors enhance mood and 

share yours with the world by 

accessorizing accordingly. 

Paris Shopping 

Beret 

If you’ve been looking for a 

classic hat that doesn’t weigh 

100 pounds, look no further 

than a Paris beret. Choose 

from a variety of options like 

velvet, denim, or silk. 

These hats have crept up in 

the world of fashion over the 

decades, giving you plenty of 

ideas for modern takes on old 

classics. Have fun choosing 

the fitting beret for your look! 

Conclusion 

Accessorizing is a 

unique and creative way to 

showcase your personality through 

fashion. 

Express yourself with your accessories and 

see what you come up with! Your style says 

a lot about who you are as a person, so 

you’ll want to take time to determine how to 

convey the right message. 

Most of all, make sure that you love how 

you accessorize so that each outfit is 

curated with as much self-love 

in mind as possible. 


Best Easter 

Gift Ideas for 

Someone Special 


Personalized 

Wine Glass 

Let’s be honest—it wouldn’t be a 

holiday without a few generous 

glasses of wine. That’s why this 

great personalized wine glass is a 

perfect Easter basket stuffer, or just 

a plain old present. And make no 

mistake about it: this will definitely 

be emptied and refilled several 

times over. 

Just select the name, tail color, 

as well as the font color, and then 

input what name is supposed 

to be included. In some ways, 

having wine is getting closer to the 

man himself, is it not? So indulge a 

little! It certainly couldn’t hurt. 

Whoever said Easter baskets 

were just for kids? Whether 

you grew up celebrating 

the holiday with family or your 

level of observance is buying 

discounted candy first thing on 

Monday morning, we’re pro-giving 

Easter gifts to our fellow adults. 

Sure, it’s not on par with the level 

of hype around winter holiday or 

birthday gift giving, but the spring 

celebration is reason enough. 

Besides, you don’t want to go to 

the garden party or Easter brunch 

empty-handed! 

Remember the giddy feeling of 

peeking behind furniture on the 

hunt for a cellophane-wrapped 

basket of goodies? 

Everyone deserves a bit of that 

nostalgic joy these days. Cue the 

visions of bunny rabbits dancing 

in your head. Of course, I’m 

talking about gifting more than a 

package of yellow bunny Peeps 

(even though those are the best 

Easter candy, TBH). 

From spring-inspired decor like 

wreaths to an intricate teapot for 

your friend’s next dinner party to 

elevated takes on familiar candies 

for the aunt with a sweet tooth, 

these are the 30 best Easter gift 

ideas for adults that your loved 

ones will appreciate for seasons to 

come. 

You can decide if the present is 

served a la carte or as part of 

a carefully-curated or themed 

basket—that’s part of the fun. 

6 


Happy Easter Candle 

Easter is often a good indicator of the season you’re in. And 

that’s what makes this happy Easter candle such a great gift— 

with scents reminiscent of summer and spring, you can’t go 

wrong getting this gift for someone. Plus, who doesn’t like using 

candles? 

With a variety of sizes and lid colors available, just select 

between a wide array of scents. Handcrafted out of soy, each 

candle comes already packaged in a box that’s ready to be 

gifted. Which makes your job all the easier! 

Seed Kit 

If you’re shopping for someone who has a green thumb, this 

seed kit is one of the best gifts to get them this Easter season. 

And, let’s be honest, there’s something humbling about 

gardening that’s similar to witnessing a resurrection: both are 

out of your control. 

Simply select the egg and ribbon color combination, and then 

input what personalizations you’d like included. With seeds 

included in a paper egg, as well as soil and a pot, this is the 

kind of Easter egg every gardener would love to crack open! 

Inspirational 

Keychain 

Easter Wine Labels 

Some of the best ways to turn what would otherwise 

be a child-centric day into one adults can enjoy, 

these Easter wine labels are sure to be a hit! And don’t 

worry—it’s literally the blood of the man of the hour. So 

that should make it permissible, right? 

Quick and easy, simply buy, download and print off 

the label, and then attach them to your favorite bottle 

of wine. This is one of the rare gifts that everyone 

can enjoy, although wine gifts are always a good 

idea. And it’s particularly great as a last-minute gift to 

demonstrate how much you love your “peeps.” 

In some ways, Easter is a testament to 

faith. And everything it symbolizes is 

encapsulated in this inspirational 

keychain. Which easily makes it one 

of the best, affordable Amazon 

Easter gifts for adults you’re likely 

to find! 

Elegant and encouraging, 

this is the kind of gift people 

sometimes need just to get a 

second wind and persevere. 

Besides, who couldn’t use a 

little bit of that every now and 

again? With “Let your faith be taller 

than your fears” and a giraffe engraved, it’s perfect! 


LIFESTYLE 

5 

Garden Outdoor 

Looks Ideas to 

Adopt for Garden 

Month (April) 


Gardens mean something 

different to everyone, 

because no outdoor space is 

the same. 

For some it’s a sanctuary to spend 

long balmy summer days relaxing, 

while others prefer pottering, 

planting and pruning at all times. 

Whichever appeals to you it’s the 

same principle – our gardens are 

a space for fun, relaxation and 

enjoyment. Our vision for gardens 

of 2022 is all about getting the most 

from our outdoor spaces. 

So without further ado, here we 

reveal the latest garden trends to 

inspire our outdoor spaces… 

Wild gardens 

‘I’d say that the trend for this year is the 

immersive, natural, wildlife garden and, 

to be honest, this thrills me to the core!” 

says designer, broadcaster and author 

Ann-Marie Powell MSGD. She says her 

studio is receiving lots more enquiries 

from clients wanting natural, loose 

gardens. 

‘People want gardens that look like they 

are ‘of nature’ rather than the more 

obviously designed spaces.’ 

Anne-Marie predicts that ’naturescaping’ 

and ‘curated wildling’ will be 

the buzz words of 2022. 

This theory is echoed by Ana Sanchez- 

Martin MSGD of The Garden Company 

who says, ‘I am hoping that more and 

more people will be jumping on the 

‘Rewilding wagon’! One of the positive 

effects of the pandemic is that people 

now understand the therapeutic 

effects of gardening. They want to 

create a sense of sanctuary in their 

garden, to be surrounded by plants 

and to be enveloped by nature and 

to increase biodiversity.’ 

8 


LIFESTYLE 

Grow your 

own 

This remains at the forefront of 

the modern garden. Veganism is 

one of the fastest growing lifestyle 

movements with the number of Brits 

choosing a plant-based diet rising 

by more than 360 percent over 

the past decade. Coupled with 

rising food prices, shortages and a 

growing appreciation of organic 

produce, it’s no surprise the grow 

your own movement will continue to 

surge in 2022. 

Dobbies’ resident garden expert 

Marcus Eyles puts the growing 

trend down to, ‘more and more 

of us looking to include additional 

vegetables in our diet and the 

number of people on exclusively 

plant-based diets increasing.’ 

Mantra for reuse, 

recycle and repurpose 

‘Recycling and up-cycling is 

a trend that is set to continue 

into 2022. Sustainability, 

whilst not new, is increasingly 

important not only to us, but to 

our clients too,’ say Ann-Marie 

Powell who is escalating the use 

of repurposed materials by crushing 

them, for paths, terraces or driveways. 

Ann-marie is also championing more 

sustainable garden ideas path in hard 

landscaping by using less cement in the 

garden, and selecting materials that have 

the lowest carbon footprint. 

A fast growing garden trend right now is 

anything sustainable – including upcycling 

ideas. I love upcycling existing elements 

within a garden rather than adding to landfill, 

says Ana Sanchez-Martin. 


LIFESTYLE 

Using the garden 

as the fifth room 

Blurring the lines between outside and in is still 

a huge growing trend, as homeowners look to 

expend living spaces. Whether that’s creating a 

kitchen garden, a wellness space or acting as an 

extension to a playroom – we’re looking to extend 

our lives to our outdoor spaces. 

Gardens are fast becoming a space where we 

are spending more and more of our time with 

family and friends. Often more than not it needs 

to flex to meet several purposes – an oasis for 

quiet contemplation, a play area for children and 

an entertaining space for social get togethers. 

Low maintenance 

tapestry lawns 

Even the grass is getting a new look 

for the new season. The latest trend for 

lawns sees the grass becoming more 

low maintenance – no doubt in a bid 

to encourage gardeners to stick with 

real grass rather than be lured to the 

appeal of no-mow artificial. 

‘I would love to design and plant 

a ‘tapestry lawn’, as an alternative 

to the normal grass lawn’ says Ana 

Sanchez-Martin, who explains that they 

are created using a combination of 

many different mowing-tolerant plant 

species. ‘Like meadow lawns, they 

are low in maintenance and of higher 

ornamental and environmental value.’ 

10 


20 

FASHION 

Ankara Style 

Inspirations to Adopt 

this Easter Season 

By Sasha Bokamoso 

Ankara is a new fashion 

trend that originally 

came from the streets 

of Lagos. After many years 

as a traditional African 

fashion style, Ankara has now 

become a worldwide trend 

being seen on catwalks 

throughout the world. 

As countless celebrities 

have been spotted wearing 

gorgeous Ankara designs 

more and more people have 

adopted this new style as 

their own. 

Now, you can see Ankara 

everywhere on the streets 

and in the fashion boutiques, 

as these bold fabric designs 

have become increasingly 

more popular. 

Here we have our top 10 

editor’s picks of latest 

Ankara styles just for you 

– to adopt this Easter 

season. Worry no more 

as we got you covered – 

check them out! 


FASHION 

12 


FASHION 


March: 

The Month 

of Slaps 

By Ameena Daayo 

What a month! Who 

would have thought 

that March 2022 

would go down 

in history as one of the most 

‘media-frenzy’ months since 

the announcement of Covid 

regulations? 

The internet has made the 

world a global village, so it takes 

only seconds for content to go 

viral and reach the extremes of 

the world. 

In what social media users 

across the globe have termed 

‘inaugural slap’ – a hashtag that 

trended for many weeks across 

all social media platforms, March 

17, 2022, is one day that will be 

remembered for a very long time 

to come. 

If this was an execution of a 

movie script, then it would well 

have won an Oscar because it 

was performed to perfection. 

There was light, camera, and 

action. The actors knew their 

roles, and the execution was 

perfect. 

The stage was none other 

than the inauguration ceremony 

of Professor Charles Chukwuma 

Soludo as executive Governor 

of Anambra state. After the 

governor had taken his oaths and 

proceeded to sign the official 

documents, there was a break of 

decorum that would trend across 

social media for weeks. 

There were different versions 

to the story, especially on the 

part of who slapped who, and 

what truly transpired between 

the pair. But what could be more 

accurate than the account of 

the person who has involved 

herself? 

The widow of the late 

Chukwuemeka Odumegwu 

Ojukwu, Bianca, narrated 

what transpired between the 

outgoing first lady of Anambra 

state, Ebelechukwu Obiano and 

herself. 

She claimed that the 

outgoing first lady had 

insulted her for attending the 

inauguration ceremony, and 

she reacted with a slap. Within 

seconds, video of the slap and 

memes of the incident has 

filled the internet, getting 

millions of views and 

shares. 

Interestingly, one 

opinion that seemed 

to gain public 

agreement was how 

the event showed 

the ‘low mentality’ 

14 


Will Smith & Chris Rock 

of Nigerian public figures. Many 

observers claimed that such 

a scene would not happen 

abroad. 

Fast forward to March 27, 

2022. What many had thought 

would not happen, finally 

happened – in grand style! 

During the live television 

broadcast of the 94th Academy 

Awards, actor Will Smith walked 

on stage and slapped comedian 

Chris Rock across the face 

as he was about to present 

the Academy Award for Best 

Documentary Feature. 

Will Smith was a reaction to 

a joke which Chris Rock shared 

about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, 

about her shaved head. 

Pinkett Smith had begun 

shaving her head in 2021 after 

she was diagnosed with alopecia 

areata. 

The incident shocked the 

live audience and television 

viewers across the globe, with 

many wondering whether it was 

scripted. From the day of that 

incident to date, updates on the 

matter continue to trend daily. 

The moment shocked 

audience members — both at 

home and in attendance at Los 

Angeles’s Dolby Theatre — and 

went on to dominate online 

discourse after the ceremony’s 

end. Reactions were split among 

those supporting Smith’s extreme 

defense of his wife (to varying 

extents), those condemning 

his behavior, and the rest not 

knowing how to respond to it at 

all. 

While we all agree that there 

is no room for violence in our 

world today, we know that these 

incidents will remain among us 

for many generations to come. 

You know what they say, the 

internet never forgets – right? 

For many, the month of March 

2022 will go down in history as 

the month of slaps. 

Bianca Ojukwu & Ebele Obiano 


FEATURE 

Skin Hair 

Trend: 

A Fashion Statement 

or Revolution? 


A 

lady’s hair is her crown 

– her pride, so we were 

told. But these days, 

ladies – especially 

African ladies are changing the 

narrative to say that ‘a lady’s 

head is more important than her 

hair’! 

Some thirty years ago, the 

idea of a lady brandishing a 

skin-cut or bald look will attract a 

lot of criticism and comments. 

In fact, in the African tradition, 

cutting a lady’s hair is the height 

of punishment and humiliation 

that can be melted on a 

woman. 

Interestingly, the case is 

totally different today, and more 

women are embracing the bald 

look. More women are shaving 

their hair daily, and it is not a 

sign of punishment or health 

concerns. 

But what really is behind this 

trend? Is it a fashion statement or 

a statement or revolution? 

For fashion, it is a yes! The 

skin-cut trend is a fun hairstyle 

that works for almost anyone. 

You can make it look serious 

and professional or fun and 

approachable with minimal 

effort. 

If the only thing that is holding 

you back from trying this hairstyle 

is the fear of not looking feminine 

16 


FEATURE 

enough, do not worry. 

Daring women have proven time and time 

again that women with short hair can look just as 

feminine as their long-haired sisters with the right 

makeup and styling. 

Both in Africa and outside the continent, there 

are many female celebrities who rock the bald (or 

low-cut) look. In truth, the look has become one of 

the greatest fashion trends within the last decade, 

and it doesn’t look like it is going to die down any 

time soon. 

Famous celebrities such as Angélique Kidjo, 

Onyeka Onwenu, Nandi Madida, Cynthia Erivo, 

Lashana Lynch, Danai Gurira, Viola Davis, Lupita 

Nyong’o, and many more rock bald or very low 

cuts. 

On the other hand, the skin looks further show 

how confident women have become and their 

determination to fight the stereotypes and status 

quo. 

So, is the skin cut some sort of statement of 

revolution? The answer is yes! A revolution against 

the stereotypes that many women across the 

globe have been subjected to for many years – 

and are still suffering to date. 

You will recall that in December 2012, a group 

of female activists made a bold statement that 

drew the attention of their leaders and shocked 

the world. More than a dozen women gathered 

near Tahrir Square one afternoon and cut off their 

hair in protest against the new constitution. 

So, if your question is whether the skin cut 

for women is simply a fashion statement or a 

statement of confidence and revolution? The 

answer is ‘YES, IT IS BOTH!’ But, come to think of it, 

isn’t that wonderful? 


FEATURE 

Thirteen Ways of 

Looking at a Bald 

Woman 

- Why do bald women make us 

uncomfortable? 

18 


FEATURE 

Let’s unpack the cultural 

baggage — the misogynoir, 

the anxious masculinity, the 

Fear of the Weird— behind 

Chris Rock’s joke and Will Smith’s 

slap (with a little help from Isaac 

Hayes, Pat Evans — the badass 

with the bullwhip on those Ohio 

Players covers — and the warrior 

women from Black Panther). 

If Will Smith bitch-slapping 

Chris Rock at the Oscars taught 

us anything, it’s that defending 

“your” woman’s “honor” went out of 

fashion around the time Rhett Butler 

got dentures. Also, pathological 

masculinity is in need of a shorter, 

stouter choke chain. 

The proximate cause of 

the smack heard ‘round the 

world was smack-talking: Rock’s 

unfunny wisecrack about Jada 

Pinkett Smith’s alopecia areatainduced 

baldness. Even so, the 

homophobic subtext of the bitch 

slap reminds us that this was as 

much about male fragility as it 

was some Medieval Times idea of 

gallantry. 

Race is the supermassive 

black hole of American discourse; 

its moral gravity and historical 

enormity warp the fabric of any 

attempt to understand what 

America means. Because it’s the 

taproot of a million little inequities 

in American life and, obviously, of 

monstrous historical evils, we tend 

(with apologies to Joan Didion) to 

look for the sermon on race in one 

Black man slapping another to 

defend his wife’s “honor.” 

But, as always, there are other 

stories to tell ourselves. The story I 

told myself, trying to make sense 

of the grotesque spectacle I’d 

just witnessed, was a story about 

hysterical masculinity — the Fear 

of the Inner Queer (which is really 

a virulent misogyny, a fear of the 

feminine within) that defends to 

the death what it ain’t (anybody’s 

punk) but has no clue what it is. 

Manhood, American style, is an Iron 

Man exoskeleton with nobody in it. 

Its heavy metal hardshell conceals 

a terrible lack, the awful emptiness 

of a thing that knows only what it’s 

not: “no homo.” 

You don’t have to be Jacques 


FEATURE 

Derrida to know that the binary 

oppositions that structure the way 

we see the world — hierarchical 

dualisms like white/Black, masculine/ 

feminine, straight/gay, butch/punk 

— are philosophical machines for 

reproducing ideology, justifying 

inequality, perpetuating oppression. 

Anyone or anything that unsettles 

their hardline either/or distinctions 

by straddling them, as biracial, 

bisexual, and intersex individuals do, 

or refusing to remain in the category 

society assigned them to, as 

transgender and gender nonbinary 

people do, is a threat to the social 

order. 

As it happens, one such threat 

was in the room that night: 

Pinkett Smith, the object of 

Rock’s lame one-liner. 

” 

it “symbolizes hundreds of years of ‘hair politics,’ from the 

forcible shaving of [African] women’s hair in early European 

slavery as a form of identity erasure to modern-day beauty 

norms whereby Black women feel they must [straighten] or 

bleach their hair to achieve a more European, often known 

as ‘work-ready’ or ‘professional,’ look.” For that reason, 

“many Black women,” not just those who’ve lost their hair, 

“cover their natural hair with wigs,” 

Why, exactly, do 

bald women make us so 

uncomfortable? Is it because we 

associate the chrome dome with 

virility? Yul Brynner, Telly Savalas, and 

Isaac Hayes are synonymous with 

sex-panther manliness. Is the shorn 

pate Freudian shorthand for every 

man’s insatiable, upthrusting little 

friend? If so, does the masculine 

femininity of bald women usurp 

male sexual power, turning them 

into that Medusan terror, the phallic 

woman? (The patriarchy likes naked 

ladies, just not naked up there.) 

Or is a bald woman, by baring 

skin seldom seen, hyperfeminized? Is 

her shocking baldness nudity’s final 

frontier, a terra erotica of fetishistic 

possibilities hitherto unknown? Isn’t 

that what accounts for the erotic 

frisson of bald women like Pat Evans, 

the bullwhip-wielding dominatrix on 

the Ohio Players’ BDSM-lite record 

covers? (Fascinatingly, Evans shaved 

her head as a one-woman protest 

against the white-dominated 

fashion industry’s hostility to 

Blackness, specifically Black hair). 

Open to disparate readings, 

complementary and contradictory, 

the image of a bald woman 

is irreducible to a single, fixed 

meaning. That’s what makes it so 

radically disruptive to cornerstone 

binaries like male/female, 

masculine/feminine, sexual/sexless. 

In his 1996 book A Year With 

Swollen Appendices, Brian Eno 

muses on what he calls “axis thinking,” 

which considers cultural phenomena 

as points on “a continuum of 

possibilities between two extreme 

positions: so, the axis between black 

and white is a scale of greys.” 

The example he chooses, 

interestingly, is the haircut, maybe 

because Eno is bald, which gives 

him a usefully alienated perspective 

on the subject. Haircuts are virtually 

never unequivocally masculine or 

feminine, he points out; more often 

than not, they fall “somewhere on the 

wide range of hybrids” between the two 

sides of the binary. “In fact,” he argues, 

“we would feel constrained if we couldn’t 

make descriptions in these fuzzy, hybrid, 

terms.” 

Axis thinking is a monkeywrench in 

the machinery of hierarchical dualisms. 

It reminds us that neither end of the 

continuum is a fixed point; whatever the 

axis, definitions of both poles change 

over time and across cultures, local 

contexts, racial and ethnic groups, and 

so forth. Thinking in “a scale of greys” 

rather than black-or-white absolutes “is a 

transition from polar thinking … to axial 

thinking,” says Eno. 

I am interested in these transitions — 

these moments when a stable duality 

dissolves into a proliferating and unstable 

sea of hybrids. … The period of transition is 

marked by excitement, experimentation 

— and resistance. Whenever a duality 

starts to dissolve, those who felt trapped 

at one end of it suddenly feel enormous 

freedom — they can now redescribe 

themselves. But, by the same token, 

those who defined their identity by their 

allegiance to one pole of the duality (and 

rejection of the other) feel exposed. … 

This can create wide-scale social panic: 

vigorous affirmations of the essential 

20 


FEATURE 

rightness of the “old ways,” moral 

condemnation of the experimentalists, 

“back to basics” campaigns, all the 

familiar signs of fundamentalism. 

He’s writing in 1996, but he might as 

well have tweeted this from an Oscars 

after-party. Stable dualities dissolving? 

“A proliferating and unstable sea of 

hybrids”? That’s where we live. 

By choosing to respond with violence 

— the first refuge of the witless — Smith 

missed a rare opportunity. The Academy 

Awards isn’t Plato’s symposium, but 

Rock’s winceworthy groaner could’ve 

inspired a truly edgy exchange, not 

on par with the Socratic dialogues, 

probably, but one almost certain to 

make the assembled celebs and the 

rest of us out in TV Land reconsider, 

between fistfuls of Jiffy Pop, our 

definitions of femininity and masculinity. 

In my dreams, it’s Pinkett Smith, 

not her husband, who rises to the 

challenge. Leaping onstage and seizing 

the mic, she uses Rock’s mockery of 

her condition to make us confront the 

question of why, exactly, bald women 

are such a menace to society. She calls 

out a repressive femininity long past its 

sell-by date, flags the obsolescence of 

“ain’t no punk” masculinity and Monty 

Pythonian notions of chivalry that 

compel a man to make a pluperfect 

ass of himself defending “his” woman’s 

“honor.” 

She reflects on the role anxious 

white masculinity played in electing 

Trump and in populating the ranks of 

the tiki-torch Nazis at Charlottesville, 

the Proud Boys, and other aspiring 

Alpha bro’s well-represented at the 

insurrection. She offers a masterclass 

in the art of the dunk, riffing on 

Trump’s comb-over as a cockscomb 

with erectile dysfunction, the hood 

ornament of a white-supremacist 

patriarchy running on the fumes of 

malignant narcissism and boundless 

self-delusion. She compares 

and contrasts it with the radical 

exuberance of African-American 

hairstyles, especially Black women’s 

embrace of the African tradition of 

coiffure as sculpture, which they’ve 

taken to dizzy heights of tonsorial 

virtuosity. 

Referencing Eno’s mention of the 

ancient-to-futuristic axis as one of 

many ways to think about haircuts, 

she spins an oppositional myth that 

jettisons the reactionary trope of bald 

women as epicene, droidlike drones 

(as in George Lucas’s THX 1138), 

invoking the fierce, regal Dora Milaje, 

Black Panther’s warrior women, as 

Afrofuturist heralds of things to come. 

She cites the moment in the movie 

when General Okoye (Danai Gurira), 

head of the Dora Milaje, yanks off her 

wig (“this ridiculous thing”) and flings it 

to the ground, an act of “resistance” 

born of the “enormous freedom” to 

“redescribe” herself that liberated 

bald Black women all over America 

to toss their wigs in the dustbin of 

history. 

Okoye’s act is powerfully 

liberatory, writes Zara van Twest in 

“‘Screw this’: Hair Politics and Female 

Empowerment in Black Panther,” 

because it “symbolizes hundreds 

of years of ‘hair politics,’ from the 

forcible shaving of [African] women’s 

hair in early European slavery as a 

form of identity erasure to modernday 

beauty norms whereby Black 

women feel they must [straighten] or 

bleach their hair to achieve a more 

European, often known as ‘workready’ 

or ‘professional,’ look.” For that 

reason, “many Black women,” not 

just those who’ve lost their hair, “cover 

their natural hair with wigs,” notes 

van Twest. (Irony of ironies, Chris Rock 

knows this better than most: his 2009 

documentary Good Hair teases out 

the painful truths of African-American 

women’s obsession with perfect — 

read: white — hair.) 

Van Twest includes a photo 

posted by Black Panther co-star 

Lupita Nyong’o (who played a Dora 

Milaje named Nakia) with Gurira, 

captioned, “Danai is my comrade, 

my co-star, my collaborator, my dear 

friend, my soul sister and patriarch 

resistor. Let us throw off our proverbial 

wigs and bask in her glow!” 

Defying chronology, Pinkett Smith 

doesn’t miss the chance to preemptively 

drag the odious anti-woke 

troll Bill Maher for admonishing her, 

in a Real Time monologue, to “just 

put on a fucking wig like everybody 

else at the Oscars if it bothers you so 

much.” 

Spoken without hesitation, 

equivocation, or apology, Pinkett 

Smith’s guerrilla monologue would 

be a slap in the face of a dying 

fundamentalism. But it wouldn’t be 

any more than bald truth. 

Credit: Mark Dery, via GEN 


FEATURE 

As the ‘Skin’ 

Hair Trend 

Hits Home, 

British-African 

Singer, Skin 

Takes Center 

Stage 

By Chioma Esui 

When you hear the 

word ‘skin,’ what 

comes to mind? 

The largest organ 

in the human body, right? Well, 

yes, you are right! 

Over time, the term skin has 

also been used to refer to a 

bald haircut. Even the English 

dictionary now acknowledges 

it. Skin cut, as it is popularly 

referred to, has become a big 

fashion statement, and gone 

are the days when it was a 

man’s thing to go bald. 

Today, women are now 

stepping up to be counted 

and brandishing skin cuts. 

One woman who has been a 

leading pioneer of the look is 

Deborah Anne Dyer, who even 

goes by the stage name ‘Skin.’ 

22 


FEATURE 

Deborah Anne Dyer OBE, 

known by the stage name Skin, 

is a British singer, songwriter, and 

electronic music DJ. 

She was born on August 3, 

1967, in Brixton, London, United 

Kingdom. The 54 years old, who 

has signed under big music 

labels such as One Little Indian; 

Virgin; EMI, and V2, is known for 

hit songs such as Stoosh (1996), 

Post Orgasmic Chill (1999), and 

Paranoid & Sunburnt (1995). 

Her music genres have 

been classified as Indie Rock, 

Alternative Rock, and Alternative 

Metal. 

She was the lead vocalist of 

British rock band Skunk Anansie, 

a band often grouped as part 

of the Britrock movement in the 

UK, and gained attention for her 

powerful, wide-ranging soprano 

voice and trademark bald look. 

In 2015, she joined the judging 

panel of the Italian version of the 

talent show The X Factor for one 

season, and in 2016 was on the 

cover of the UK lesbian magazine 

Diva. 

After releasing new music 

and touring with Skunk Anansie in 

2018, Skin was featured as one 

of the cover stars of Classic Rock 

magazine’s special “She Rocks” 

issue and was honoured with 

the Inspirational Artist Award at 

the Music Week Awards ahead 

of celebrating 25 years of Skunk 

Anansie. 

She also appeared on the 

cover of Kerrang! Magazine in 

November 2018. 

Mavis Bayton, the author of 

Frock Rock, stated that “women 

like Skin, Natacha Atlas, Yolanda 

Charles, Mary Genis, and Debbie 

Smith are now acting as crucial 

role models for future generations 

of black women.” 

Skin graduated with a 

BA (Hons) degree in Interior 

Architecture & Design 

from Teesside 

Polytechnic in 

1989 and 

received 

an 

honorary 

Master 

of Arts 

degree 

from 

Teesside 

University in 

2000. 

In January 

2021, Skin assumed 

the role of Chancellor at Leeds 

Arts University in Leeds, England. 

Since the United Kingdom 

European Union membership 

referendum in 2016, Skin has 

talked against Brexit and its 

effect in terms of the rise in 

racism, labour shortage, and 

impoverishment of British culture 

in numerous interviews. 

She was appointed Officer 

of the Order of the British Empire 

(OBE) in the 2021 Birthday 

Honours for services to music. 

Skin deserves a seat in the 

front row of the Hall of Fame in 

music, activism, and bald look 

fashion. 


BEAUTY 

10 

Make-Up Tips 

for the Perfect 

DIY Easter 

Make-Over 


DIY 

Gel 

Eyeliner 

If you’re 

ever in 

desperate 

need of 

some gel 

eyeliner 

and don’t 

have time to 

run to the shops, you can 

create your own. All you need 

is a regular kohl eye pencil and 

a lighter or match. Then, hold 

the pencil under the flame for 

one second before allowing it 

to cool for 15. 

The consistency of the 

pencil will change before your 

eyes as it becomes softer 

and easier to apply. Your new 

smudgier, gel eyeliner should 

now simply and smoothly glide 

onto your eyes. 

Match 

Lip 

Colour with 

Cheeks 

Matching your 

lip color with 

your cheeks 

creates 

a lovely, 

coordinated, 

and natural 

appearance. To 

achieve the look without a dualpurpose 

product, you can easily 

turn your favorite lip crayon into 

a cream blush. Just apply some 

to the back of your hand before 

using your finger to blend it across 

your cheeks. 

With Easter Sunday 

coming up, do 

you already 

have your goto 

Easter makeup? We 

want you to look elegantly 

beautiful on this special day 

so we’ve rounded up 5 looks 

you can try! 

We are sure you are more 

than aware of the fact that 

Easter isn’t the best time to 

do something way out of 

the ordinary, because you 

are going to be around 

people who are in their 

everyday outfits. Instead of 

taking the risk, play it safe 

with some looks that range 

from neutral to pink to 

pastel. 

Below, we have highlighted 

a few DIY tips that you can 

consider this Easter, to give 

yourself that edge above 

everyone present - we are 

sure that is what you really 

want, isn’t it? 

24 


BEAUTY 

Using 

Tape or 

Spoon for 

Cat Eye 

Look 

Creating the 

perfect cat-eye 

look with eyeliner 

can be tricky. Not 

only is it hard to 

get the ideal flick 

and shape, but you 

also need each side to 

match. For an easy way to nail 

the perfect feline flick, try using 

a spoon or some tape. 

Start by creating a straight 

line from the outer corner of 

your eye following the edge of 

the spoon. Then, trace around 

the curved edge from the end 

of your flick back down to your 

lashes and fill in the wing. 

Quick 

Smokey 

Eye 

While a lot 

of smokey 

eye looks 

require several 

different shades 

of eyeshadow 

and a whole lot of 

blending, there is a fast 

and easy alternative. 

Simply use an eye pencil 

to draw a slanted hashtag 

above the outer corners 

of your eyes and blend 

with a smudger. Doing so 

will instantly create a killer 

smokey eye that’s dark 

and light in all the right 

places. 

Using 

a Spoon 

to Easily 

Apply 

Mascara 

Every lady has 

been through 

the pain of 

finishing her 

eye makeup 

only to realize 

she’s somehow ended up with 

mascara on her lids. Well, thanks 

to this hack, you can banish that 

pesky problem for good. 

All you need is a spoon from 

your kitchen, and you’ll soon 

have perfect mascara every 

time. Just place the end of the 

spoon underneath your lashes 

before applying your mascara 

as normal. Now, any residue or 

excess product will end up on 

the back of the spoon instead of 

on your face. 


LIFESTYLE 

Although you 

may be 

temwpted 

to apply 

concealer or 

foundation to 

your eyelids as a 

base, you should 

always refrain. While 

Never 

Put 

Concealer 

on Your 

Eyelids 

using concealer under your eyes 

is a great way to mask dark circles 

and under-eye bags, applying it 

to your eyelids can ruin your eye 

makeup by causing it to become 

creased. 

Heating 

Up Eyelash 

Curler 

If you find that 

curling your lashes 

the regular way only 

keeps them lifted 

for a short amount 

of time, try heating 

up your curler before using it. Just as 

your curling wand helps your hair hold 

its shape with heat, so too can your 

eyelash curler. 

Just use your blow-dryer to hit your 

eyelash curler with a blast of hot air. 

Once heated, allow it to cool slightly, 

so you don’t burn your eyelids. Then, 

clamp your lashes as per usual. 

Shape 

Your 

Eyebrows 

Shaping your brows needn’t be difficult, just follow 

these steps. Start by brushing your eyebrows with a 

spoolie, so the hairs sit naturally. Then, use a soft, waxy 

brow pencil to shape the outside of your brow with the 

thinner side of the tip. 

Using the flatter angle of the pencil, fill in your brows using short, hair-like 

strokes. Finally, blend some highlighter just below your brow bone for lift. 

26 


LIFESTYLE 

Make 

Your 

Lipstick Last 

Longer 

Whether it’s a wineglass or your 

husband’s cheek, lipstick 

has a knack for ending up 

everywhere but on your lips. 

If you find that yours keeps 

disappearing before the end 

of the day, try employing this 

handy trick to give it a longer life. 

After swiping on your lippy, place a 

tissue over your lips and dust on some 

translucent powder. Doing so will help set 

your color and make it instantly longerlasting. 

Fake 

the 

Cheekbones 

Although not everyone is born 

with killer cheekbones, we can all 

fake it. All it takes is some simple 

sculpting. Start by puckering to find 

the hollows of your cheeks and apply 

deep nude blush or contour powder 

a 

in the sunken area under your cheekbones. 

Next, apply a peachy blush starting from the apples of 

your cheeks and moving outwards while lightly blending 

with the nude blush beneath. Finish with a sweep of 

shimmer along the top of your cheekbones and under 

your temples. 


– All You Missed 

Certified sold out. Not 

surprising though. 

No doubt his March 

5, 2022 concert at 

the 02 Arena was 

definitely going to be, going by 

his largely acclaimed status and 

his large fan base. 

This was a second-time 

achievement for the singer 

Davido, who also sold out the O2 

Arena during his January 2019 

concert. The show saw the likes 

of Nigerian celebrities and fans 

travelling all the way to London. 

Hours before the show, the 

official Twitter page of the O2 Arena 

confirmed that the venue was sold 

out. 

They said, “@davido has 

officially sold out at #TheO2 

#DavidoatTheO2”. Davido 

performed most of his hit songs 

with fellow African artistes like 

Patoranking, Popcaan, Skiibii, Ckay, 

Adekunle Gold, Reekado Banks, 

Teni, Pheelz, DJ Ecool, Victony, 

Stonebwoy, Focalistic, Mayorkun, 

and a couple of artistes from 

around the world. The O2 Arena, an 

indoor venue in Southeast London 

has long been yoked with the 

destiny of Nigerian pop music. 

The O2, since opening in 

2007, has provided the stage for 

Nigeria talent. D’Banj, 2face, Tiwa 

Savage, and Wizkid, are some of 

the nation’s loftiest names to have 

performed at the venue, the latter 

28 


of which became the first Nigerian 

to enjoy a sell-out at The O2 in 

2018, for his Afrorepublik concert. 

In like fashion, Wizkid’s 

achievement was replicated 

by Davido the following year, in 

January 2019, when he too had 

The O2 Arena filled to the brim. 

Though his just concluded ‘We 

Rise By Lifting Others’ concert is 

Davido’s third run at the venue 

and he has since grown used to 

performing there for the singer and 

his large fan base. 

In continuation of his decadeold 

music career, which kick started 

with Dami Duro in October 2011, 

the afro-pop giant had boasted 

before mounting the stage to thrill 

the large audience that turned up 

for his much anticipated show that 

he was going to shutdown London, 

but also, he would make “history 

tonight”. 

And true to his claims, he 

made history at the popular O2 

Arena in London, was renamed 

after the Nigerian pop singer for 

that spectacular one night. “To 

celebrate the return of Davido 

back in London with his Champion 

Sound for one night only. 

The O2 will become The Davido 

2,” the Arena notice read on all the 

board. Prior to his sold-out show, 

the singer procured the services 

of legendary American actor and 

narrator, Morgan Freeman. 

Freeman noted for his 

distinctive deep voice, gave the 

DMW boss’ O2 Arena promotional 

video a great boost. 

The popular iconic American 

media personality with his voiceover 

drove home the singer’s “We 

rise by lifting others” mantra. 

The 29-year-old singer had 

also made plans for fans who 

could not attend by partnering 

with uduX, a digital streaming 

platform for the global Live stream 

of the concert. According to the 

‘Champion Sound’s singer, “I want 

my fans worldwide to be a part of 

this moment as we take Africa to 

the world.” 

Credit: Ferdinand Ekechukwu 


SPAIN: 

In Verges, Spain, the Easter 

celebration begins on Thursday 

when a ‘death dance’ to reenact 

the passion of Christ is carried 

out. The people dress in skeleton 

costumes and parade through 

the streets. The dance starts before 

midnight and ends about three 

hours into the morning. 

Easter 

Celebration 

Traditions You 

Never Knew 

Existed 

By Glory Uyi 

FINLAND: 

To celebrate Easter in Finland, Children are dressed 

up as witches and go from door to door for 

chocolate eggs. 

During this period, the people make great bonfire 

because they believe flames scare witches and 

prevent them from flying on their brooms between 

the special periods of Good Friday to Easter Sunday - 

can you beat that? 

It is hard to believe Easter is here again – but it is! 

Didn’t we just say ‘Happy New Year?’ Well, this special 

season is here and who would complain? 

Apart from being one of the most significant events 

on the Christian calendar, Easter is always fun! With 

loads of special traditions and significance, this is 

undoubtedly one of the best celebrations every year. 

Do you know there are some age long Easter 

traditions practiced in different parts of the world? 

Here is our Top 5 and we am sure there are some 

you never knew existed; enjoy! 

30 


GREECE 

How about throwing out 

your pots and pans? On the 

morning of Holy Saturday, 

the traditional “pot throwing” 

takes place on the Greek 

island of Corfu. 

People throw pots, pans, 

and other earthenware out 

of their windows, smashing 

them on the street. Some 

say the custom derives from 

the Venetians, who on New 

Year’s Day used to throw out 

all of their old items. 

CZECH REPUBLIC 

& SLOVAKIA 

Have you ever had your butt 

spanked by a stranger before? 

Well, there is a chance of that 

happening if you are traveling to 

these Eastern European countries 

over Easter. 

There’s an Easter Monday tradition 

in which men playfully spank 

women with handmade whips 

made of willow and decorated 

with ribbons. 

According to legend, the willow 

is the first tree to bloom in the 

spring, so the branches are 

supposed to transfer the tree’s 

vitality and fertility to the women. 

POLAND: 

In Poland, there is an 

Easter tradition called 

‘Smigus-dyngus’ which 

involve boys drenching 

themselves in water. They 

go about pouring buckets 

of water on people – 

especially girls (yeah, you 

guessed right). 

However, Legends have 

it that matured girls 

who are unknowingly 

drenched by water during 

this celebration will find 

husbands in the coming 

year. 


ESCAPE 

All You Need 

to Know About 

Dubai Expo 

2020 

By 

Sebastiane Ebatamehi 

Expo 2020 was a World 

Expo hosted by Dubai, 

in the United Arab 

Emirates, from 1 October 

2021 to 31 March 2022. 

Originally scheduled for 20 

October 2020 to 10 April 

2021, it was postponed due 

to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

It’s 2013 and just when 

you think that Dubai is all 

out of tricks, our favorite city 

wins the honors of hosting 

World Expo 2020 (World 

Exhibition 2020 Dubai). This 

is no small achievement; 

the wheels were in motion 

to prepare for what is set to 

be the biggest event any of 

us has ever seen. 

So what will happen in 

Expo 2020 exactly? Now 

that 2020 is here, we 

thought we’d help you put 

things into perspective. 

Here’s a breakdown of all 

the information about Expo 

2020 you need to know. 

32 


ESCAPE 

What Is a World Expo? 

A World Expo or World Exposition is a global exhibition that 

takes place in different countries around the world with the 

purpose of showcasing the latest breakthroughs in various 

fields. 

What Is the History of Expo Events? 

The very first Expo event took place in 1851 and was called 

“The Great Exhibition.” 

What Is Expo 2020? 

Expo 2020 is the next World Expo event which will be 

hosted by Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). 

This marks the very first time the exhibition is taking place in 

the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia region (MENASA). 

When Will Expo 2020 Take Place? 

Expo 2020 opening date: October 1, 2021. 

This is the new starting date for Expo 2020 Dubai after 

being delayed due to the Coronavirus pandemic. 

When Will Expo 2020 End? 

Expo 2020 end date: March 31, 2022. The duration of 

Expo 2020 is 6 months. 

What Are the Timings of Expo 2020? 

• Weekdays: 10 am to 12 am. 

• Weekends: 10 am to 2 am. 

What Is the Total Area of the Expo 2020 Site? 

The wonders of Expo 2020 are spread over a total area of 

4.38 square kilometers (438 hectares). 

How Many People Are Expected to Visit Expo 2020? 

A whopping 25 million people will potentially attend Expo 

2020, with just 30% from the UAE itself. This number will be a 


ESCAPE 

record which has never happened 

in any previous World Expo event. 

How Many Countries Are 

Participating in Expo 2020? 

Another record for the UAE! Expo 

2020 will see the participation of 

192 countries. There will be more 

than 200 participants from these 

countries. 

What Is the Theme of Expo 

2020? 

Expo 2020 has quite a fitting 

theme that represents what Dubai 

is and always will be: “Connecting 

Minds, Creating the Future.” 

There are 3 sub-themes to Expo 

2020: Opportunity, Mobility, and 

Sustainability. 

The countries participating in the 

event are divided over the main 

sub-themes, showcasing their very 

best innovations to impress the 

world. 

What Is the Purpose of Expo 

2020? 

Expo 2020 aims at celebrating 

culture, collaboration, and 

innovation in the heart of the UAE. 

Dubai hopes to leave an everlasting 

legacy through the Expo. 

Expo 2020 will take visitors on a 

unique journey to catch a glimpse 

of what the future holds. 

What Is the Benefit of Expo 2020 

to Dubai? 

If you’re wondering what all the 

fuss is all about or why Expo 2020 is 

important, here’s why: 

1. Jobs 

In preparation for the most 

highly-anticipated event of the 

decade, Expo 2020 construction 

projects have provided many jobs 

in the market (905, 200 full-time 

equivalent job-years between 2013 

and 2031 as per World Exposition 

2020 website). 

There’s also a chance to be a 

vital part of history by applying for 

the various Expo 2020 Jobs in Dubai. 

2. Economy 

You might be wondering what 

Expo 2020 will contribute to the 

economy of the UAE. You’ll be glad 

to know that the economy is thriving. 

It is expected to continue to do 

so during the event and beyond 

(AED 122.6 billion economic boost 

between 2013 and 2031 as per 

Expo 2020 website). 

There is a 1.5% Expo contribution 

to UAE GDP for the entire World Expo 

2020 dates (from October 2020 to 

April 2021) as per the Expo 2020 

website. 

The Small and Medium Enterprise 

(SME) sector has seen AED 4.7 billion 

spending since November 2013 as 

per the official Expo 2020 website. 

3. Tourism 

Dubai is already a magnet for 

tourists, and the World Expo is a 

major draw that will increase the 

number tremendously. 

There are many hotels opening 

up in Dubai this year in honor of the 

iconic event. 

You can check the list of our 

favorite hotels opening in Dubai for 

Expo 2020 on propertyfinder. 

4. Real Estate 

Most importantly, the real estate 

market is already in full force since 

the event was announced in 

preparation for both short-term and 

long-term visitors. 

34 


ESCAPE 

More affordable housing projects 

are completed, with many more 

planned, to welcome the expected 

visitors for the event. 

A study by Colliers International 

showed that about 50% of Dubai’s 

households have an income 

between the range of AED 9,000 

and AED 15,000. Affordable housing 

projects continue to take that into 

consideration. 

Why Are Companies 

Participating in Expo 2020? 

An event as big as a World Expo 

represents unlimited partnership 

opportunities for businesses of every 

field. 

Investors and business leaders will 

come from around the world looking 

for the next big thing. 

How Can You Become an Expo 

2020 Volunteer? 

Here’s your chance to give 

something back to the UAE and 

boast about it for your entire life. For 

a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, 

check out these 5 Easy Steps to 

Become a Volunteer at Expo 2020. 

What Are the Health Safety 

Measures to Be Taken During Expo 

2020? 

At Expo 2020, your safety is a 

number one priority so all the proper 

preparations are made with the help 

and cooperation of the Emirates 

Health authorities to ensure your 

safety. 

Here’s everything you need 

to know about what to expect 

from Dubai After Expo 2020 on 

propertyfinder. Will Expo 2020 be 

successful? 

It’s looking good! So, there you 

have it! Now you’re the expert. Are 

you as excited as we are? 


FOOD 

How to Make 

Special Chinese 

Fried Rice to 

Thrill Your Family 

This Easter 

his Chinese-inspired fried rice recipe is my absolute fave. It’s 

T 

quick and easy to make, customizable with any of your favorite 

mix-ins, and so irresistibly delicious. 

There is no better time to try out this great recipe than Easter! 

Growing up, our family had a tradition of eating fried rice every 

Easter Sunday – how we loved it! 

Give your family something to be extra thankful for this Easter season, with 

this delicious delicacy. 

Let’s make some homemade fried rice! 

By Chef Obiefuna 

Tips for Making the Best Chinese 

Fried Rice 

Okay, let’s get right to it. Here are 

the important things I have learned 

over the years about how to make 

the best fried rice. 

• Use Cold Rice: You’ve gotta 

plan ahead and use thoroughlychilled 

cooked rice. A fresh batch of 

warm (or even lukewarm) rice will not 

fry well when it hits the hot pan, and 

will result in soggy and sticky clumps — 

no good. So leftover refrigerated rice is 

ideal! 

• Use Butter: Yes, butter. I 

have made many a batch of fried 

rice using various oils, and I’m now 

convinced there’s a reason why 

Japanese steak houses use that big 

slab of butter when they’re making 

fried rice. It just tastes better, and also 

makes everything brown up perfectly. 

• Use Veggies: This is one of 

my big pet peeves with lame takeout 

fried rice — not enough veggies! 

In addition to adding some nice 

spots of color, veggies go a long way 

in adding some flavor and freshness 

to fried rice. 

• Use High Heat: This will help 

fry and brown the rice and veggies 

well, and will also help prevent the 

rice from steaming in the pan instead 

of frying. 

• Let the rice brown a bit on 

the bottom: If you’re like me and 

love your rice to be a bit crispy, let it 

rest for a bit in between stirs so that 

it can brown a bit on the bottom. It 

also helps greatly to use a non-stick 

36 


FOOD 

skillet so that the rice doesn’t stick to 

the bottom of the pan. 

• Don’t be afraid to add in 

some extra soy sauce at the end: 

I know that everyone has different 

sensitivities to salt, and different brands 

of soy sauce also contain pretty 

dramatically different levels of sodium. 

So I went a little light on soy sauce in 

the recipe below. 

Homemade Fried 

Rice Ingredients: 

Alright, so let’s talk ingredients. To 

make this fried rice recipe, you will 

need: 

• Cooked, chilled rice 

• Eggs 

• Carrots 

• Onions 

• Green Onions 

• Peas 

• Garlic 

• Soy Sauce 

• Oyster Sauce 

• Toasted Sesame Oil 

• Butter 

How to Make 

Fried Rice: 

To make this homemade fried rice 

recipe, simply: 

1) Scramble your eggs: Using a 

small pat of butter, scramble some eggs 

in a large sauté pan, breaking them into 

small pieces as you go. Then transfer the 

eggs to a separate plate, and set aside. 

2) Sauté your veggies and garlic: 

Return your sauté pan to the heat, and 

sauté the onions, carrots, peas and 

garlic until soft and cooked through. 

3) Stir fry rice: Then turn the 

burner to high heat. Scooch the 

veggies over to one side of the pan, 

melt the remaining butter in the other 

half, and add the chilled rice, soy 

sauce, and oyster sauce (if using). 

Then stir to combine with the veggies 

and continue sautéing the rice, 

stirring every 15-20 seconds or so for 

3 minutes, or until you notice the rice 

and veggies starting to brown slightly. 

4) Remove pan from heat. And 

stir in your green onions, sesame oil, 

and scrambled eggs. 

5) Taste and season. Give the 

rice a taste, and season with salt and 

pepper, plus any extra soy sauce or 

sesame oil if needed. 

6) Serve! Then dish it up and 

serve nice and warm! 


HEALTH 

5 

Healthy 

Ways to Lose 

Stomach Fat 

Naturally 

By Dr. Nkechi 

Water, water 

all day! 

Water is the elixir of life. It is a 

very effective tool to get rid 

of excess fat. Have at least 

eight glasses of water a day 

or follow the following formula 

to calculate your ideal intake 

as it can differ for people of 

different weights. 

So, to calculate, check your 

weight in kilograms and 

divide the number by 30. 

Your answer will be your ideal 

intake in litres. For example, 

you weigh 60 kilos. Then your 

ideal water intake is 60/30, 

that is 2 litres. 

We are leading a life that is full of junk food loaded with 

unhealthy calories. Because we are always on the run, 

being able to manage healthy eating is not possible 

for most of us. 

So, what is it that we end up doing? Eating packaged food 

or junk that is conveniently available. As a result of this, we 

earn excessive fat and uncounted calories which go unburnt! 

Belly fat is not only an aesthetic issue; it is also about one’s 

health. Fat, overweight and obesity are harmful in the long 

run and depending on the criticality of the condition, it can 

substantially increase one’s risk of various health ailments. 

We take a look at how you can reduce fat in your belly 

area by the help of Ayurveda. Here are 5 effective home 

remedies that are very effective in reducing your bay window. 

Chew raw 

garlic 

in the 

morning 

Take one or two 

cloves, or more if you 

can, in the morning. 

Chew them raw. They 

are pungent and you 

may find it difficult 

initially but with time, 

you will develop a 

habit. 

38 


HEALTH 

Warm water with lemon in 

the morning 

This is one of the best, simplest and very effective 

remedies to get rid of belly fat. All you need is warm 

water, a few drops of lemon and if you would like, a 

dash of salt or a teaspoon of honey. It is very effective if 

you have it empty stomach, first thing in the morning. 

Say yes to raw foods 

Load up on as many fruits and vegetables that you can 

have in their raw form. Raw foods are rich in fiber and 

antioxidants and hence, very effective in losing weight. 

Go for whole grains 

Whole grains mean better fiber, more nutrition and 

more proteins and calcium. Taking more fiber is very 

helpful in maintaining the health of your gut. Also, you 

must replace refined flour with whole grains as it is 

very unhealthy and can hamper your digestion. 

Bonus Tip: 

Sip Hot Organic Teas 

This can include green tea, jasmine tea, cinnamon 

tea or any tea that is flavoured with natural spices. 

Sipping on hot organic teas is very helpful in losing 

weight as they are rich in antioxidants and trace 

amounts of many other vitamins and minerals. 


FEATURE 

- What You Need to Know 

National Child Abuse Prevention 

Month recognizes the importance 

of families and communities 

working together to strengthen 

families to prevent child abuse and neglect. 

Through this collaboration, prevention 

services and supports help protect children 

and produce thriving families. 

April is National Child Abuse Prevention 

Month (CAP Month), a national campaign 

with a focus on local-level advocacy 

through statewide initiatives. 

What is Child Abuse Prevention Month? 

Many innovative strategies are employed 

to promote National Child Abuse Prevention 

Month. Events and activities have included 

everything from kid’s art contests to 

coordinated visits to state legislators and days 

of prayer. 

Many of our PCA America state 

chapters have created guides 

with suggestions to help with social 

media campaigns, creating 

community programs, and much 

more. 

This year’s national campaign 

theme is “Every day, we help 

positive childhood experience take 

root!” We encourage our chapters, 

affiliates, and stakeholders to use a 

garden metaphor to reinforce this 

message. Here are some talking 

points to use as examples: 

• Children are locally grown. 

We work together to cultivate 

relationships, connections, and 

environments that help every child 

thrive. 

• We harvest what we 

sow. We plant seeds of support 

for all children to yield healthier 

adults with abundant futures. 

• Work is rooted in 

science. We know positive 

childhood experiences in 

nurturing environments provide 

fertile ground for physical and 

mental health, learning, and 

social skills to flourish. We 

unearth the possibilities. 

• We focus on innovation 

every day to give every child 

what they need and to build 

bountiful, safe communities. 

• Planning and purpose 

40 


FEATURE 

By Glory Uyi 

What Are Some Effects of Child 

Abuse and Neglect? 

Child Abuse Prevention Month 

was created because child abuse 

and neglect was both widespread 

and too often invisible. 

“Our children are our future” may 

be a cliche, but it’s still true that the 

more adults can have a positive 

impact on a child’s experiences, 

the stronger society will be. A safe, 

stable, and nurturing environment 

can have a proven positive effect 

on brain development. 

Research shows that children who 

suffer from the prolonged stress of 

abuse and neglect tend to struggle 

in their behavioral, physical, and 

cognitive abilities. 

The effects of early trauma tend 

to continue through generations. 

In contrast, experiencing support in 

early childhood can prevent or even 

reverse the damaging effects of 

early life stress, with lifelong benefits 

for a young person’s learning, 

behavior, and health. 

Whatever seeds have been 

planted, or not planted, will affect a 

person’s health, ability to learn, and 

ultimately, earning power. 

Child abuse and neglect doesn’t 

stem from just one cause, which is 

why stopping its destructive cycle is 

so difficult. 

Living in a community with a 

high rate of violence, limited access 

to social services, poverty, and 

unemployment are all major factors. 

Addressing community needs 

by giving families support has much 

more impact, and costs much less, 

than attempting to address the 

consequences of adversity after a 

child has grown up. 

What Can Be Done? 

Increased awareness and 

collective action is a key factor 

in conquering child abuse and 

neglect. These strategies are the 

mission of Child Abuse Prevention 

Month every year. 

• Business leaders can 

recognize that supporting families 

and children will lead to economic 

growth. 

• Policymakers can reduce the 

hurdles faced by families who need 

support and resources. 

• Faith communities can open 

up their spaces for parent and youth 

activities. 

• Organizations that host 

families and young people can train 

staff on how to recognize, respond 

to, and prevent child abuse and 

neglect. 

• Educators can be more 

attuned to noticing if something 

seems wrong with a student and 

follow-up 

• Friends and neighbors can 

pay closer attention and help with 

the social isolation some parents 

may experience. 

create common ground. We 

share resources equitably, 

expand access to services, 

and balance conditions for 

positive childhood experiences 

to enrich every community. 

• We tend and replenish 

the soil. We offer homegrown 

solutions and hardy support 

to protect what we grow in all 

elements. 

• Hope and 

commitment are powerful 

fertilizers. We combine the 

promise of a better tomorrow 

with our resolve to nourish all 

children and their families in 

every season. 


for more exclusive content please visit 

www.glamsquadmagazine.com 

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. 

Let’s hold you by hands into the world of fashion. Like and follow us on any of our social 

media platforms. 

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42

Glamsquad magazine april-may 2022

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