Glamsquad Magazine June 2022

REPORTAGE
THE AMVCA
DRESS:
The Celebrity, The Designer
& The Controversy
By Ameena Daayo
The famous American fashion
designer, Rachel Zoe once said,
“you don’t have to be famous to live
out – and own the red carpet.” The
real essence of these words played to
the gallery at the just concluded Africa
Magic Viewer’s Choice Award (AMVCA)
2022.
Indeed, contrary to what many
people thought, you do not have to be
the most famous in the room to own the
red carpet!
At the AMVCA’s this year, there was
a certain dress that got more attention
than the event itself! Guess what! It wasn’t
even worn by the most famous or sortafter
celebrity in the room! Now, that’s the
power of a fashion stylist who was born for
the headlines.
Coupled with a celebrity who isn’t
scared to stir controversy, we had the
biggest fashion controversy in Nigeria
since Nigerian fashion designer, Maryam
Elisha, who was dragged for giving out a
bride’s wedding dress to actress Mercy
Aigbe for her birthday photos in 2018.
It’s true that not every red carpet dress
is worth a second look, but there are
often so many great outfits deserving of
their own Wikipedia page. There are those
that do linger in the cultural zeitgeist
for decades, and stay long enough
to influence trends and conversations
across the fashion sphere. If there is a
dress that stands out and is still making
the headlines weeks after the event, then
that designer deserves a crown!
For 2022’s highly anticipated return
to the prestigious Eko Hotels and Suites,
the Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice Award
(AMVCA) attendees were expected to
dress to kill, following a grim, pandemicera
ceremony last year.
As anticipated, the stars didn’t
disappoint - they dialed up the glamour.
While Denola Grey stunned in a burgundy
velvet beaded tuxedo by Mai Atafo,
BisolaAiyeola makes a statement in a
perfectly fitted Somo gown with tulle
shoulders. Toke Makinwa dripped in a
sexy outfit that perfectly blended royalty
and sultry. BonangMatheba stepped out
in a rose pink gown with sheer-feather,
lined dramatic sleeves. The list is endless.
But one dress would go on to become
‘the dress’, and be talked about for weeks
after the event. It was none other than
the ‘skull-dress’ designed by controversial
celebrity designer, ToyinLawani, and
modeled by former Big Brother Naija
housemate, IfuEnnada.
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