The ego is the false self, born out of fear and defensiveness.” 
― John O'Donohue

It is easy to confuse ego with self-esteem though a thoughtless and superlative self-esteem amounts to egotism. It is good to have self-esteem; a knowledge about yourself, a firm belief in your personal abilities. However, a thin line separates self-esteem from egotism. Self-esteem is considerate, egotism is not.

Egotism is simply conceit, self-importance. It manifests itself in many forms but in my opinion, the worst kind is the kind that manifests itself as a result of partial or total lack of self-esteem. Different people have different notions of importance and how to achieve it. The egomaniac thinks that the only way to arrive at the status of importance is to ride on those they consider to be beneath them. This is pathetic to say the least.

The misfortune of an over-bloated ego is unquantifiable. It is the reason Sigmund Freud said of egomaniacs,

“This is one race of people for whom psychoanalysis is of no use whatsoever.”

An egomaniac is someone who can never be helped even though their demeanor screams for it. They are too proud to realise and admit they need it. Psychoanalysis will probably tell you that an egomaniac had a childhood experience that greatly dented his self-esteem. The most likely response is to develop a fastidious personality with an emotion blocked by a wall meters thick with concrete. They could be successful, powerful and famous but there is always an underlying insecurity they eats them up like cancer.

The worst friend a person can have is an egomaniac. The egomaniac strikes the pose of an over-dominant alpha male. They will belittle you, mock you and generally assert an air of superiority that is most intimidating. The best response depending on the intimidated is to fight or flee. Fleeing such company is not cowardice; it is the determination that such a relationship is inimical to the development of your self worth. 

According to Deepak Choprah, "the ego relies on the familiar. It is reluctant to experience the unknown, which is to ignore the very essence of life." Egomaniacs mask their ignorance with rare confidence that fools the ignorant. They possess a sparse knowledge due to their inability to open their minds to the unfamiliar. Most times, they can be spotted a mile off - the loud bawling voice in an argument that seeks to drown the opinions of others despite a total absence of logic. No one ever learned anything new without deference to superior logic or some unfounded love at hearing one's voice. Never hang on the word of an egomaniac...or anybody else for that matter. Ignite your your passion for discovery and find out who are.

In the equation of love, an ego is the explosive ingredient. Egomaniacs are incapable of love. This is because they are overwhelmed with a sense of self, a personality trait which invariably leads to narcissism. This self-love which springs from a hidden self-loathing is mostly invulnerable to emotions of love. A person stuck in a relationship with a egomaniac is involved in the most parasitic of relationships. The fulcrum of a relationship based on love is selflessness; an emotion an egomaniac is incapable of. Such a relationship becomes competitive at best or oppressive at worst.

Finally, the worst kind of egomaniacs make the worst enemies. An undaunted character who seeks to show the egomaniac the error of his/her ways is endangered. An ego is like a balloon filled with hot air. When it is pumped and airtight, it soars but a single prick is all that is needed to burst or deflate it. An injured egomaniac will fight back like a wounded tiger having lost all that ever really counted and there's no telling how far he'll go.

Have you got a friend or a lover like that? Its best to flee lest you expose yourself the worst feeling of subjugation that is bound to blind you to your true sense of worth.

Take heed.

Written by Malcolm O. Ifi.

Photo credits: www.asitoughttobe.com

Once upon a time….

A time when girls respected their mothers,

And little boys still looked up to their fathers.

The people of a particular kingdom lived in darkness while the rest of the world was in different sorts of light.

The kingdom was ruled by a king whose evil had no way of being measured.

A king whose smile meant doom and whose frown brought instant death.

He ruled with the hand of a god, obliterating any who stood strong in his path.

The voice of reason was lost to his people, so was the voice of rage and the feel of a free heart.

The people lived as slaves, bound to the king and his whims.

There was no help in sight, none at all.

In this time of great peril came a traveller.

He had travelled the world over and met its people.

He had survived the horrid deserts of the east, journeyed through the streets of Bangladesh, braved the mountain ranges of the Andes and marveled at the beauty of the pyramids.

Oh this was no small man in any light: he was all the man women would want.

Now he didn’t just stumble onto this kingdom.

As a matter of fact, he had stumbled upon very interesting information.

He had heard the rumors about a certain mystical kingdom.

“The kingdom which the sun was fabled to omit when it shone its light on the earth.

  The kingdom whose rain could burn steel and whose water could melt diamond.

  The kingdom that continuously took from the world and gave nothing in return.”

So he journeyed deep and discovered this land.

He didn’t know what to expect, this made all his sojourns truly exciting.

He got to the kingdom and snuck in, uninvited.

He tried to be polite with the people, offer them greetings and pleasantries and the likes but they just stood and moped.

The women immediately took all the little ones inside and all the men stood guard.

He then spoke in every language he had learnt on his various journeys, but none of them replied.

It was like they were present and absent at the same time.

The atmosphere was unusually silent and eerie, like a disaster could break out at any minute.

They seemed like dead men walking: empty bodies, no souls.

He reached into his bag and brought out a gold coin.

The people were taken aback, most of them had never seen gold.

The ones that recognized gold were either blind..or dead.

He was making a fool of himself, they all stared as if he was retarded and they were the sane ones.

Before long, hefty looking me came and bundled the crazy traveler off.

He was the king’s priority now, the people carried on as if nothing of any significance had happened.

‘Who are you?’

‘…………………’

‘Who dares disturb the peace of my Kingdom?’

‘A lowly traveler my Lord’

‘Hahahahahahahahaha A lowly traveler? Is that a name? Or do think me a fool?’

‘Heaven forbids I think such a thing, my King’

‘You dare patronize me?’

‘My Lord I have traveled far and wide. Every place I have visited heralds a new name, you ask for just one my King, so telling you one would be a lie. Where I come from, we don’t lie to our King.’

‘Fair enough, state your business, what is a poor and lowly traveler doing in my kingdom?’

‘I was passing by my king, I ran out of supplies and I decided to take a detour, to stock up. That is all, my king’

‘Since we are telling the truth here, you want to know what I really think?’

‘Of course my King, go on’

‘I think you are a usurper sent from outside my walls to come and wreak havoc in my peaceful kingdom. No ordinary man can find my kingdom on any map in the world. Mr. Traveler  who are you once more?’

‘Just a lowly traveler my King, nothing more.’

‘Well I shall have to put your words to the test. Come here you, call me my greatest soldier – Muimerp. Tell him his King has a favor to ask of him. Tell him also to dress in his best apparel as if going for war, tell him to carry his best of his steel and shield’

‘Who are you, Mr. Traveler? ’

‘Just a lowly traveler, my King’

‘Okay then. come over, town crier, Go announce to the people that their King requires their presence at the town hall in an hour.’

‘Now listen to me, Mr. Traveler  I don’t take kindly to people insulting my intelligence. I give you one hour to tell me your name and state your business on my land.’

‘With all due respect sire, in an hour, I will still have the same answer. I am the man who will not be named even if it means certain death. Take away the name of a man and he has nothing left. I choose to live and die a man of my word’

‘Oh what an emotional speech there, I almost shed a tear for you. Orderly! Come, go prepare our Titan here for his fight and tell the cooks to prepare a feast.’

All the people were gathered in time for the fight. The King made sure he asked the traveler for his name once again before all the people. The Traveler refused one too many times and was sentenced to death right there and then.

Miumerp was clad in all his glory, full army regalia and weapons while The Traveler was armed with a wooden shield and bronze sword and thus the execution began.

No one really understood what happened, but in a series of moves which looked like strange dances The Traveler disposed of the greatest warrior in the land in three blows.

Everyone silently witnessed the lifeless body of Muimerp hit the ground.

Suddenly the King burst into an insane kind of laughter. He immediately ordered that five of his best warriors be dispatched into the ring at once.

The Traveler disposed of them one by one in such fluid fashion, it was unbelievable.

The people suddenly began to whisper amongst themselves.

The king was infuriated and so he started chanting sporadically.

The king had been known to dabble into the dark arts; the people had witnessed his powers before now.

Everybody knew what would happen next.

He spoke words nobody could understand and the atmosphere changed, instantly.

Something evil was in the air and they all knew it, they had seen it one too many times already.

The King then began to float in the air and move towards The Traveler.

The Traveler didn’t look shaken in the least. He stood in the ground and started reciting his own words too. The people could understand what he said, but they knew not of its significance.

He shouted out the words in desperation:

‘The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

  He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

The king suddenly fell and hit the ground hard, the air could carry him no more.

He was dead within seconds of his landing and the people were free.

The people rejoiced.

This is the legend of the Titan, The Traveler.

Written by Akinbobola Adeyemo

Photo credits: www.mainlesson.com

This is just what I feared, thoughts of we are now like needles.

Sharp spikes born of chance, of coincidence and of fate.

Making me wonder if what was,

Existed only in dreams.

I quiver at thoughts of eternal damnation.

This life is after all an audition for the next.

What if just maybe, we twisted the hands of fate?

So when it all goes wrong, we can blame each other.

Ultimately God determines man’s destiny.

Perhaps it would be easier if we could foresee the future and maybe evade life’s sour gifts.

What if I don’t want to?

What if I’d rather bask in the ignorance?

What is I just want to take things as they come?

Que sera sera, whatever will be will be.

To breathe oxygen is to be trapped.

Look around you, the cages are everywhere.

Happiness just might be an illusion after all.

Perhaps even the greatest deception of all.

Our smiles, our frowns, our joys, our pains, our victories, our losses, all just pawns in the hands of fate.

Our petty issues are really just so minute in the scheme of things.

Living itself is tasking enough, but what other option do we have?

Nobody wants to die: death elicits the desperation to keep breathing.

Insignificance, dancing on the very edge of reason, this is what life brings to our doorsteps.

Choose to chase your dreams of forever live in the shadows.

To live without purpose (a state of being menacing to oneself)

To wallow in the pits of obscurity of rise to the very top of the food chain.

This is the choice every mortal must face.

To live a life of seeming insignificance or go in search of lofty dreams damning the consequences of failure.

Lost in chaos, her soul weeps.

For generations spent wallowing in the uncertainty of darkness.

While other mothers saw the rise of their children and fought to keep the peace.

She watched and prayed for hers to rise.

But then they came,

They saw the potential in her children, one her children saw not in themselves.

They saw the pride in contentment and the purity of ignorance.

Fruits of labor once held meaning, the kingdoms of her children forged through blood and sweat.

Her children were trampled beneath the heels of the established order.

They were denied life; they accepted death like a beautiful bride.

Now her children feed on own flesh, just like the animals they claim they are.

While the slave drivers drink tea with their bankers and give tips out of fattened purses.

She weeps, she weeps.

I see war, she sees starvation.

I’m lost in the lies, she sees through it all.

After all, mother knows all.

Her children plunder, oh how they plunder.

Setting asunder the very essence of togetherness.

There is so much honey in the land; gold can be found on every finger.

The land will be free one day she tells herself.

One day her children will understand that the land is all they have.

The pessimist in her laughs, he scorns.

He tells her:

‘Your children will never be free

They will never mature

They are the darkness, their skin tells this story’

Her children have been stripped of choice,

Foreign religion tears their reasoning to shreds.

They live and die in the name of a God they do not understand.

She weeps, oh how she weeps.

Written by Akinbobola Adeyemo

Photo credits: www.gritossurdos.blogspot.com

Lying here without you

Away from the world

And without myself

I’m alone

Lost

Pain resonating through my body

I’m stuck here

I can’t feel

I’m weak

Numb

I miss all that used to be

I miss the me that’s gone with you

My constant source of sanity

You

Us

I long for the warmth of you

To be in your arms

For all to be right with the world

Your embrace

Safety

I’m here without you

My heart throbbing with pain

My tears soothing my soul

I’m distant

Lost

I can’t take it, I’m gone

Gone with all the moments we will never get again

I’m out of my elements

I need you to be me

I’ve used all the strength i could muster

I’ve personally the necessary rites

I’ve conjured you in my mind

Still, you’re gone

Dead

Written by Ibukun Awosika 

Photo Credits: www.kaitakizawa.deviantart.com

So, you have the perfect outfit. You’re looking sharp, sophisticated, and ready to work. You have an important presentation, but you keep fidgeting and everyone’s throwing you awkward looks, but you can’t help it because your underwear is just unbelievably uncomfortable. Ever been in a similar situation? Do you constantly have to deal with your underwear riding up, or generation ridiculous amounts of heat and making you sweat?  It’s probably because you don’t have the right kind on.

Yes! There is such a thing as the right kind of underwear, and many are painfully oblivious of this fact. Believe it or not, your underwear is not supposed to be pinching, scratchy, or unflattering. And yes, it does matter what kind of underwear you wear to work, because it indirectly affects your productivity. I don’t know about you, but I find it difficult to concentrate when I’m uncomfortable.

With the variety in choices, choosing comfortable underwear might seem like a herculean task but that’s why we’re here. I’m going to point out a few things you should look for when shopping for underwear so you can make choices that will leave you feeling comfortable and supported.

• It’s important to not confuse fashion with comfort. Your comfort should ALWAYS come before a fashion statement. If not for any other reason, consider the fact that whatever underwear you choose is going to sit against your skin all day long. You should be looking out for features, design, and benefits, and not color, brand, or packaging. Ignore the box, it’s not a guarantee that the underwear inside is right for you. And when you start to think something along the lines of “this salesperson knows what’s best for me” remember his/her job is to make a sale.

• You have to choose the right size. Fit comes before anything else where comfort is concerned. You aren’t supposed to be in pain, so avoid underwear that pinches, pulls, squashes, and makes your life as miserable as possible. If you think you’ll better in underwear that’s a size smaller, you’re mistaken. All you’ll end up doing is making the squashed up parts of your body stand out more.  Ladies, it’s important to get a proper fitting for your bras because they aren’t meant to dig into your breast tissue, sit crookedly, or cause sagging. For underpants, consult the size charts you’ll find printed on the back of underpants and boxers and compare your waist size. Look for symmetry (makes sure there’s no tugging across your behind), a smooth and flat crotch area, and snug openings around the legs and waist that aren’t binding.

• Fabric can cause a lot of problems when it comes to underwear, especially when it’s scratchy, sweat-inducing, and doesn’t breathe, so make sure you look for quality. Run your fingers through the underwear to feel the material for smoothness, softness and comfort. Avoid thick fabrics that bunch up. Cotton is always the best choice, as it breathes well and is easy to care for. You may consider blends because they contour and support at the same time. Always read the label to know just what you stand to benefit.

• Seamless underwear is something you might want to consider, especially if you have sensitive skin. If you’re wearing clothing that’s tight/fitted, or just sitting on the seams for a long period of time, the prolonged pressure might cause discomfort and leave marks. Sometimes, there might even be some irritation and/itching. Lycra and spandex fabric are the way to go.

• Bras and underpants come in different styles and cuts, so select one that works for you. Take your personal support and comfort preferences into consideration. Try on different types to get an idea of the feel and make sure the cut sits well with you. Every style and cut of bras and underpants has its benefits and downsides, so it all boils down to your size, activity levels and comfort. Make sure the style you select doesn’t cut into your arms, waist, and legs.

• Check how tight the elastic bands are. A band that’s too tight will constrict you, restrict your blood flow, and/or cause skin irritation. If you take off your underwear and notice any marks, then stop wearing it.

So, now that you know what to look out for, I’m hopeful you’ll be wearing the right kind of underwear under your stunning outfit from now on. Ensure you remove tags from your underwear after purchase as they cause scratching and rubbing sometimes.  There’s no need to lecture you on how important it is to care for your underwear, right? Just remember to store your underwear in airy place, and change it regularly. A pair of underpants should never be used longer than 6 months.

Written by Coco Anetor-Sokei

Photo credits: www.look-fabulous.com

www.belk.com

www.kayserlingerie.com.au

www.aliexpress.com

20th April 2009

It was like waking up from a dream and realizing that reality was so much worse.

After an awesome holiday (though towards the end it was kinda fucked up sha) I headed down to the airport today to board the Arik noon flght to Lagos. After I said goodbye to everyone, I finally boarded  leaving all the goodness of home and also tiring girl-issues behind. This was my journey back to a place where I could clear my head….

I was so wrong to think that

The trip kinda sucked anyway. Babies crying here and there for the full 45 mins of the flight. Finally I arrived and Mr. F (lets just call him Mr F for now) made matters worse with his stupid yans of how people are trying to jazz him. Telling me about some imaginary spider he killed in the car, how it disappeared, and how he’s sure someone sent it after him…what a loon.

As I approached the house, it was like the gates of hell were being opened and the gate-man was Satan saying “Welcome back to hell boy”. Oh well…at least tomorrow its back to school for me. I cant’t wait to spend less time in this Fuji house of commotion.

Hello, beautiful people! Hope your weekend was as restful as mine. Without wasting more words and time, let’s dig in to gist you might have missed over the weekend

Now a certain Nollywood actor, Solomon Akiyesi, almost got married to another woman this weekend. This doesn’t seem like much news till the end of the gist is added: he was is  married to someone else! The things that get in the news these days amazes me every single time. Solomon Akiyesi  planned a second wedding to a Miss Agwu and he fully intended to go on a honeymoon too I’m sure until his first beautiful bride crashed his wedding.

If you were in this bitter bride’s position, would you have done same? 

I  don’t know if it’s just me but Solomon Akiyesi looked happier on his first wedding day than on the second *tee hee*

All I’ll say on the matter is that we need to be careful when making decisions as such. I cannot begin to imagine the pain that Ms Agwu and her family are going through because of the embarrassing turn of events. I hope Solomon Akiyesi does what is best for everyone and everyone learns from this somewhat funny -but true- story.

Now for our tips to stay alive this Monday and survive the rest of the week before weekend comes.

1. Wear comfortable underwear. 

I don’t think I can stress this enough . It’s really not only about looking professional, having all the right shoes and suits for work. Or having the new-cool jeggins/leggings on campus. If you are not wearing underwear that is your size and is comfortable for you, your confidence levels will remain where there are and your days will seem longer than they really are because well, your body is uncomfortable. True story. You want to hop over to Coco’s corner to read her article about the right underwear.

2. Have a healthy breakfast

Never ever skip breakfast. No matter how busy your day is going to be and how much you’re running late, always make sure there’s something substantial in your stomach to last you till afternoon when you take a lunch break. That way, you’ll be more focused on the task at hand and your productivity levels will increase by 25%. If you’re in hurry, have a bowl of your favorite cereal and have an apple or some fruit juice if you don’t have any fruits in your home.

3. Work 25 minutes, rest 5 minutes

I started doing this last week and it has been absolutely amazing. I sit at my desk to write what I need to or do some research but whenever by phone timer goes off after 25 minutes, I look away from my computer screen and walk around a bit. It’s traditionally called the Pomorodo technique and was created in the 1980s by Franceso Cirillo.

There are five basic steps to implementing the technique:

1. decide on the task(s) to be done for the day
2. set a timer to 25 minutes
3. work on the task until the timer rings
4. take a short break (3-5 minutes)
5. after repeating the cycle 4 times, take a longer break (15–30 minutes)

As much as possible, take those five minutes stops then get back to work. You can stand, walk around a bit, drink some water, listen to music, etc. Just do anything to help you relax and step away from your computer screen or from your school library. I’ll be here when you come back at the end of the week to testify how well it has worked for you. You can read more about the technique here

That’s all for today, folks. Drop by tomorrow to learn to be in style with Coco!

Photo credits: Linda Ikeji’s blog, Maddy Grace’s Blog

I don’t think I need to tell you how essential it is to your wardrobe to have at least one white button-up shirt in your closet. Assuming you do have one, I guess it’s safe to say you’ve probably run out of ideas on how to wear it (if you had any at all). Many fail to realize you can do more than just pairing your white shirt with dress pants or jeans.

Your white shirt is one of the most effortless and versatile items you can incorporate into your wardrobe, and we’re here to discover more ways to get some wear out of it.      

1. Cardigan Or Sweater

Step away from the usual black, navy, and gray, and try adding a splash of color to your wardrobe. This is where guys really get to color-block. Because you’re working with a white shirt, you can choose colors that grab attention like bright blue, or pastels, or even yellow. Remember to pick a color that complements your skin tone (darker people can get away with brighter colors). If you’re not too sure about bright colors, you can try neutral colors like camel and tan.

You can rock a red cardigan like Beckham

Undoubtedly, this is a low maintenance look that requires no stress at all. Some would argue that a dress shirt shouldn’t be tucked in, but the tail might show at the back, just under the cardigan, and make your appearance sloppy.

Females can consider a classic V-neck sweater to get the sleek, sophisticated look, or a rounded sweater. If it makes you look too bulky, you can always slim it down with jewelry. Then, there’s the cardigan sweater, which I love, that you can either leave open or button up. I would suggest the V-neck because they tend to be slimming and elegant. Wearing your cardigan open allows you show off your silk scarf or cute statement necklace.

You can wear your cardigan in place of a blazer, and you can invest in a variety of colors because they are a lot cheaper. Just make sure they fit.

2. A Striped Blazer

Another fresh look to try is the striped blazer and white shirt combo. A patterned blazer will shake up your look a little, and the stripes are conservative so it still fits in with your wardrobe. Consider one in grey and white, as it’ll be easier to pair with other clothes in your closet as well.

3. Vests

Vests are a cozy alternative to blazers. To achieve a sophisticated look, you should invest in solid neutrals like black, beige, brown, or gray. For an extra-polished look, pair your vests with dress pants.

Ladies can add an extra touch to this look with colorful silk scarves, or statement jewelry. Some of you can even try wrap vests, or colors and prints to make your outfit less boring (avoid this if your body shape happens to be apple or rectangle i.e. round with a full waist and/chest)

Also consider the sweater vests (afore-mentioned shapes, take note). Guys should try to stick with neutral colors on this one to avoid appearing childish, while females can experiment with colors and patterns (with sensibility). Throw in a bow tie for good measure

4. White Pants

Yes, white pants. Before you start sighing and rolling your eyes, just read on a little more. It may seem basic, but pairing your white shirt with matching pants gives you an instantaneously refined look. To really pull this off, you’ll need the material of your pants to be lightweight, but not transparent, and the cut has to be right for your frame. My advice is to invest in easy-to-clean cotton pants so you don’t constantly have to worry about getting stained and ruining them “forever”.

 5. Pants (Ladies)

You’re already wearing dress pants with your shirt. I know. But have you tried something other than plain, black straight dress pants? There are so many styles and colors to choose from – dark brown, cream, beige, high-waist, flare, or even pinstriped dress pants.

Jeans are for more a more casual-corporate look. Always be sure your jeans are black or dark blue as these colors are more appropriate for a business wardrobe. You can throw a blazer into this look as well, if you wish. And, like with dress pants, experiment with styles – high-waist et al. 

6. Shorts

The time will come when you have a smart-casual occasion to attend. This will be your opportunity to rock the shorts and shirt combo. Pairing your white shirt with shorts can have the same effect as wearing pants, except shorts attract more attention and help you feel more relaxed.

A benefit you’ll enjoy: shorts are cheap and you can pair them with several other items in your closet. When shopping for a pair of shorts, it’s important to avoid the ones with patterns or drawstrings. Opt for a pair with a hook and bar closure, and try to keep the look as it would be if you were wearing dress pants. Skip the sneakers as well. Sandals are a more suitable option.

Ladies: Mini shorts will definitely draw the wrong type of attention, so go for bermudas (city shorts that fall right above your knees) and pair your outfits with blazers and black pumps.

7. The Navy Suit

rock it like the prince and princess

This effective combo is most like the most underrated. Pair your white shirt with a navy suit and matching tie to get that fresh-pressed, Monday morning look. If you feel too dressed up, you can always drop the tie and undo the top button.

8. The Herringbone / Tweed Sport coat

This look isn’t just for teachers anymore. Pair your white shirt with tweed or herringbone blazer and leave the shirt open for a less conservative look. You can even prep it up by adding a bow tie into the mix.

Complete this look with jeans to attain a certain level of formality.

9. Skirt Outfits

Here are some white-dress-shirt-and-skirt combos the ladies might find worth looking into:

• Pair your shirt with a black pencil skirt and black pumps for that “office” look. You can spice it up by wearing some statement jewelry and carrying a trendy tote in a bold color (as discussed in ‘A Spot of Color‘)
•  A knee-length, A-line circle skirt paired with your white shirt is a playful, yet work-appropriate outfit. Want longer legs? Simply rock this look with a pair of nude pumps.
•  Match your white dress shirt up with a dark blue denim skirt and complete the look with boots and a cardigan. If the weather is cold, you can wear tights as well.
•  Color blocking enthusiasts will love this one. You can pair your white shirt with a pencil skirt in a bold color to pique some interest and turn heads. A clutch purse, black pumps and simple gold jewelry will increase the sleekness of your outfit. Like we’ve discussed (in ‘A Spot of Color‘) you’ll want to make your skirt the focal point of your outfit and use accessories in accent colors (seeing as your shirt is already a neutral color).

Hopefully, I’ve shown you how ubiquitous your white shirt is and you don’t see it as just another fashion-less relic set aside for church anymore. It wouldn’t hurt to invest in more than one, because paired in any of the illustrated ways, or worn on its own; your white shirt has several statements to make.

Written by Coco Anetor-Sokei (@CeceNoStockings) 

Drop by tomorrow morning for poems in the Aphro-Create column and don’t forget to rock that white shirt!

Photo credits: tmroady, boarding area, College Fashion, Gap, ioffer, Aliexpress, e-tailor, Pet Clothing, oldnavy, neimanmarcus, eBay, zigoti, Tierra trading

Written: Sometime in 2010

1. The “Shitty” Incident in Jss1: This one was BADT!!! I had an agricultural science test, I had not studied at all…so naturally stress kicked me so hard in the nuts I had to pee. And soon. The teacher let me go after plenty begging but you know how it is: “go and come back in 15 seconds” he said. Probably thought I wanted to go cheat or something…cant blame him. Anyway I was ran as fast as I could cus the clock was ticking down. Cuz I was rushing…I stepped on someones shit. YES someones shit, tied-up in a black nylon bag and it popped like a pinyata. Shit all over my WHITE school uniform top…I didnt know if to be disgusted or angry. But I still had a test to take, so I bought some pure water sharply from the food lady and washed some of it off (she even gave me my change today without screaming like a mumu, I mustve really looked pitiful). I still went for the test…and everyone in class had their fill of jokes. I thought I’d ever live it down.

So Imagine my surprise when like a year later me and my guys were chillin in school and one said “hey do you remember that stupid guy that came into Agric test with shit all over his body?” I just wanted to bury my head in the ground UNTIL he said “Errmm it was Kanayo abi? Haahaha yeah I think it was him. No wonder he changed schools sef that stuff was terrible”. I even joined the convo sef like : “haha yeah I’m sure its cuz of the shame, idiot like him”

Just ne year….and they forgot. But I wont EVER forget though lol

2. Exposed….

This one is only available on the aphroden facebook page…

3. The Rejection:

For the first time in my life I was stright-up rejected by a chick. I felt horrible, my 100% success rate with girls is something I always felt good about. If saw a girl I was attracted to and felt nervous I’d be tellin myself “guy…you know you have NEVER EVER EVER EVER been turned down. 100% success rate jor. Now go for it…”.

So Imagine the blow this wicked girl has delt to a bruthas self-esteem. Straight up calling this girl and she dosent pick my calls, even if she does not she acts so uninterested. Shes wicked sha, shouldve just not given me her number in the first place instead of dragging me along…probably uses me as a convo topic to laugh with her friends. The last straw was when I tried calling and she never bothered to pick or call back…for like a month.

Now this proves what Yemi has been telling me since “No person in the life has a 100% success rate, unless youre a celebrity. And even they mustve gotten rejected before they got famous. Not every babe will feel you regardless of how fine you are or whatever….”

Funny enough a few months later the girl suddenly added me on Facebook, Skype, etc. Telling me she misses my company…she de craze. DEUCES B***h.

Yep…time does heal all wounds…I just had to remind myself of this fact cuz of todays “moment”. I feel better already.

Media entrepreneur, Mo Abudu visits Presidency, updates on EbonyLife TV

TV host and chief executive of Inspire Africa, Mo Abudu was yesterday, April 16 2013 hosted by Presidency, on a visit to formally introduce her exciting new media platform.

She was received at the presidential villa in the Federal Capital Territory by Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity), Dr. Reuben Abati.

Mo Abudu was commended for coming up with the new, revolutionary and eagerly anticipated EbonyLife TV Channel, Nigeria’s and Africa’s first Global Black entertainment network, creating over 700 hours of non-stop, original and premium programming to be immediately transmitted to and watched in over 46 African Countries and by over 8 million viewers; with Roll Out distribution strategy also including major international platforms in the UK, United States, Brazil, Canada and other parts of Europe.

Ms. Abudu presented a detailed brief on the channel to Dr. Abati who gave his best wishes to Ms. Abudu and her partners for the channel which will soon become available to viewers on DSTV and other global platforms. He also emphasised the government’s support for the channel, as well as the creative industries in Nigeria.

“We are grateful for all the support on this historic journey to build a television channel exclusively dedicated to Nigerian and African entertainment programming,” Ms. Abudu said. “The channel, broadcasting from Tinapa in Cross River State is driven by a world-class team and will be targeted at young, discerning, ambitious, vocal, progressive and dynamic Global Black audience through a robust multiplicity of engaging platforms including TV, Web, Mobile, Apps and Live. We can’t wait to launch.

For more information on EbonyLife TV, visit www.ebonylifetv.com or www.xciteafrica.com or follow via Twitter on @Xcite

 New Banger from TLA & YYME camp tilted “TURN YOUR HEAD” by Krazykid x Fb x YeyeJnr

Prod By Krazykid

Share your thoughts

Rosie H is back with a follow-up to her last work on aphroden.com, Work your body type. A lil somn for the ladies, and fellas who wanna know what to get their girls

Aloha and welcome~!

„Work your body type two” is fiiinally here; what took me so long? I really don’t know so I would rather not be asked nor answer.lol.

I used to find it annoying that the general presumption in society is that our options- depending on our shapes- are rather limited when it comes to what to wear, but we really shouldn’t see it that way: yes, perhaps we do have to stick to certain areas but the areas available have endless possibilities and mind you fashion is constantly evolving therefore options increasing.

Let’s highlight some more body shapes in this “work your body type” sequel: curvy, slim, tall, petit, full-breasted, small-breasted, flat-bottomed, round-bottomed.

We do not need to talk about them individually, as they are all quite interconnected.

Starting off, let’s note that being curvydoes not meanyou are restricted to that one body-shape; you can be tall and curvy, petite and curvy; you call also have bigger breasts or even smaller breasts. The list goes on and on.

We have tall girls such as Paris Hilton, Rihanna and Khloe Kardashian who can very easily pull off lovely long flowing frocks. Even though Paris is more on the slim side and Khloe more on the curvy side, it works for them both. That is a good example of how a woman can be a combination of shapes.

Now do not think that this means a petite lady can’t pull off maxi dresses too;they would give her longer legs and if she desires an addition all she would need is a nice belt to accentuate her waist.

Petite celebs like Victoria Beckham and Kourtney Kardashian can be seen wearing skinny jeans/trousers coz they hug the lower part of the body, bring out the shape and elongate the legs.

I actually think form-fitting outfits work for all body shapes-that is not to say you should wear something tooo tight coz it really wouldn’t be advantageous. But for bigger people for instance, the larger your clothes are,the bigger you appear. You can’t go wrong chosing dresses that flatter your tummy region, helping your wasit look more defined. Your neckline is also an area to work with. Bring attention to these areas by wearing accesories; accesories can make your outfit~! They can be the pizazz that you were missing. They can .Best part is: accessories are every body-shape’s friends~!

 There areclothes that have that large character but in a stylish way; A-line skirts for example, long large tops that u can compliment with waist-belts so that you don’t look too large, or with tights that show off your lower body therefore you don’t look like your just one big thing.Slim and tall women can pull off top-to-bottom large looks, and so can petite ladies, but it just is not for everybody.

As for breasts and bottoms, do not feel ashamed, whether your assets are smaller/flatter or bigger/rounder in nature. Own it; there a advantages too.

If your breasts are on the smaller side then you can wear certain tops that bigger-breasted ladies cant coz their breasts would look squished; this works vice versa too. As for the lower body examples, for those with bigger bums jeans with backpockets are usually not at all flattering as they only give the impression of the bum being too big( yes, there is such a thing as a bum being too big) but girls with smaller bums can pull that off; there are also clothing items that are more flattering on bigger-bottomed ladies.

We do have to remember that basically each type of clothing item can be advantageous in different ways to different body-shapes. Just coz skinny jeans look good on petite ladies does not mean it doesn’t look good on other shapes as well. It all depends on how and what you pair it with.

What I am getting at here is that the possibilities for your wardrobe are limitless; once you learn your body, your dressing conundrums would be considerably minimized.

My simple advice is this: do not be afraid to wear a certain type of garment because of a fear that is put there due to the preconcieved ideas of society that say that that style does not look good on you.

You are the one to decide; play with fashion for it is to be played with; wear what you truly think suits you; get advicewhen you are not certain; do not be afraid of colours coz no matter your shape there is always a way to wear colours that can flatter you.Own your shape; no need to hide it, work with it.

Thank you all for reading, I truly hope these pieces of advice found in both the first part and this sequel shall be helpful, and if I can help further do contact me: follow me on Twitter at https://twitter.com/Funkychikitaand regularly check my blog:  http://havarosenfeld.blogspot.ro/

The rustling of leafs

The feel of the cool evening breeze on my chin

Though my heart pounds ever so brashly

For now, I’m calm

If only this serenity would last for all eternity.

Like a scarecrow dangling from a tree in dead weight

Life seems to push us here and there

Sometimes we’re so sure

So sure we are in absolute control

Some other times we don’t just know anymore.

I crave poetry.

The sound of the music in the distance

The beauty of words in open air

The sound of rhythmic strings

Come closer please?

I want to be lost in your music

Let your vocal chords bring to life,

Latent thoughts that escape plain sight in the light of day

And chase the night far into the morning.

Sing me a song oh dear beloved

Let me cower in the sweetness of your voice

I want to be comfy in your mild cacophony

Common sing to me

Let me listen so I know that all is well.

Written by Akinbobola Adeyemo

Photo credit: tumblr

This week, we are promoting the art of soulful singer, Dumebi. Dumebi isn’t a new name in the industry, after putting
out previous wave making singles “Selense”, “No Rival” and “Tele mi”,
the dark skinned petite beauty is out with a new single. This new song
titled “Kill me die” is a unique blend of jazz and soul with some
south-african house influences and on it, Dumebi shows off her
beautiful voice and vocal dexterity. The song which was
produced by Sizzle Pro who has crafted songs for Omawunmi, Waje, K9
and a host of other acts looks at love from a totally different
perspective. Their collaboration did justice to the song and this is
why you have to listen to this little lady’s new single!

Kill Me Die

There’s been so much bad news this past week. The earthquake in China, the bombings in the US, the shoot-out in Borno have cast a gloomy spell on the past week and even this weekend. So first of all, our hearts go out to those who might have lost loved ones in the Boston, Texas bombings and the earthquake in China. We mourn with Borno state and the families of the soldiers who passed on Friday during the shoot-out.  May God grant you the fortitude to bear your loss. Now for today’s gist:

1. Suarez the man-eater

Sunday night’s game found its way into my TL and I saw the most disturbing picture of Suarez biting into Ivanovich’s arm. I also heard that it really wasn’t his first time. I suggest he look into therapy before he really hurts someone. He needs to put a lid on that temper and quick.

2. Scrapping of UTME and NECO

I think it is long overdue and they might as well go on and scrap it. JAMB is overpriced and inconvenient and I am sick of hearing about “special centres” and how students pay 10,000 naira or more to pass JAMB. The saddening thing is that after they’ve paid their way through JAMB, they think they can do same for Post-UTME and that doesn’t happen so the following year, they are taking the examination again. I think the solution is for individual universities to have their private entrance examinations.  Then NECO on the other hand is no longer fulfilling the purpose for which it was created; which is healthy competition between WAEC and NECO. Either the government reforms NECO or it scraps it. I’d just like for them to do one soon.

3. Social inequality in the north

You would be amazed to find out (if you haven’t already) that 90% of the women in the Northern parts of Nigeria are uneducated when the statistics in the South are only 10%. 80% of the women between the ages of 20 and 29 cannot read or write. And Nigeria ranks 111^th of 134 countries on the gender equality index mostly because of the North. 94% of the women in Jigawa state alone are illiterates and 49% of the men are illiterates hence the large pool of volunteer arsonists and suicide bombers. Early marriage is also still an issue in the north. Girls get married before they turn 16 and are required to give birth that same year. These problems can only be tackled by a mass education campaign in the areas. Northern Nigeria is part of Nigeria and should be treated as such.

Now that you have the low down, you don’t have to feel like you’re from another planet when your colleagues or classmates are talking about happenings from the weekend. Moving on, here are the tips I compiled to help you survive and ENJOY the week till another Friday comes. Because, yes, it is possible to have weekdays like weekends.

1. Work for 25 minutes, pause for 5 minutes

I already talked about the Pomorodo technique last week and I cannot stop testifying about how well it has worked for me. I’ve had a very productive week and contrary to public opinion, I have not felt like I did not have enough time to do all I had to do. As a matter of fact, I have had more than enough time to myself and I’ve treated myself to great stuff when I accomplished tasks I had set about to do. So in case you missed it last week, let me fill you in this week. The Pomorodo (means “tomato” in Italian) was created by Francesco Cirillo in the 1980s. The technique is really uncomplicated, anyone can do it and it is extremely wonderful. I’m going to use myself as an example. When I settle down to do some writing or some research, I set the timer on my Blackberry for 25 minutes before getting to work. Then when I start, I do not flit from one thing to the other. I don’t check my IMs, my twitter or my mails until the 25 minutes are up. Then I take a 5-minute break to walk around a bit, refill my cup, check my IMs or my Twitter but when the timer goes off again, I’m back to work. Except for cases like classes or meetings when you do not have complete control of your time, do practise the technique this week. It is absolutely amazing.

2. Reward yourself

Every morning of every week day, write out the 3 most important things for you to do that day. I’m sticking with three because we humans have to tendency to go overboard with to-do lists then we get discouraged when we see just how much we have to do and never finish them anyway. So, stick to three most important things. Write them out so they aren’t vague or in the air somewhere and you can get the pleasure of ticking stuff of your list. Then at the end of the day, or week, or project that you have been working on, reward yourself. Go out to see a movie, or go have dinner with someone special somewhere fancy, take a bubble bath, go to the spa or turn off your cell phone and get some much needed rest. Give yourself a trophy. You deserve it!

3. Listen to your favourite music

And sing it out! In the shower, on your way to work or class or you can hum along as you listen to your work playlist. Make sure it’s not music that will distract you from the work at hand. So, no, don’t go bumping club music at work. I won’t be held responsible for the consequences. I listen to New Age music when I’m working or when I’m reading. It’s just instrumental music so it doesn’t distract me from work. If anything, it helps me block everything else out and concentrate on the task at hand better.

Again, I’ll be here and on Aphroden’s Twitter and Facebook account to hear your testimonies about how well your week turned out stress-free. Have a great week people!

Photo credits: Shutterstock, Off the post

Our attitude towards others determines their attitude towards us.
-Earl Nightingale

The man looked up from what he was reading as we approached him. I didn’t know him but I urgently needed his help – we both did. I gave him a smile and was about to speak when Usman barged in front of me and spoke in a very commanding tone. Apparently, he was in dire need of a lesson in manners and how to approach strangers. He blurted out without a word of courtesy.
“Which of you does the photocopying here?” He asked with all authority.
We were inside the Supreme Court Complex and it is well known that there are no business centers in here. The guard who directed us to this particular office made it quite clear that we had to beg them.

The man was apparently taken aback by the rude authority with which Usman spoke. We were both well dressed and he probably estimated that we were some kind of big shots but still, he was not pleased with the manner of approach. He answered hesitantly pointing into one of the inner offices.

When I recovered from the shock of Usman’s brusque approach, I realized that he stood a good chance of rubbishing my opportunity to get help here. I quickly swung into action by first of all, dissociating myself from him. As Usman strode majestically into the office in the direction the man pointed, I slowed down. I was certain he was going to meet failure.

“Good morning sir.” I said gently, flashing my most winning smile. I spread the same greeting around the office to the other staff present. The returned my greeting cheerfully.

“Good morning sir.” He replied pleasantly but was a bit surprised.

“Aren’t you with that other man?” He asked.

“No. Not at all.” I replied, denying Usman instantly. “We just came in together.”

“Oh, ok. How can I help you sir?” He asked with a smile.

“I was wondering if you or any of your colleagues here could help me with some printing and photocopy.”

Just as I was speaking, I saw Usman coming out of the office and he wasn’t looking too pleased. He avoided everyone in the outer office, myself inclusive and walked out of the office with his head held high.

Pride! I shook my head. As he left the office, it was then I realised that some of the other staff, particularly a pretty lady had been watching our deeply contrasting exchange.

“That man has no manners. No one will help him with that kind of attitude.” She remarked. She rose from her seat and came towards me and extended her hand.

“I’m Mary.” She said, introducing herself. After I shook her hand and told her my name, she said. “Follow me.” She led me into the office where Usman had just left.

“Good morning madam.” I said cheerfully to the woman sitting behind the computer.

“Good morning sir.” She replied.
“Please give this gentleman all the assistance he needs.” Mary said.

“Who was that idiot that left here just now?” She asked heatedly. “He just came here and tried to boss me around. I walked him out!” She said.

“Don’t mind him. Life is going to be very difficult for him.” The man I approached initially said as he joined us in the office.

“People don’t realise manner of approach determines the assistance you get.” Mary said.

That was how they told me to relax on one of the comfortable chairs while they did all the running around for me. I buttered them up some more with pleasant words and we shared a couple of laughs before I bid them farewell and went on to handle my business.

I met Usman at the foot of the stairs. He looked confused as he contemplated what to do. His only other option now was to leave the complex, head back into the City to do his printing and photocopy and come back and stand on the queue again. He looked surprised as he saw me arranging my printed copies.

“They did it for you?” He asked in shock.

“Of course. Manner of approach my friend; your manner of approach was very wrong.” I said.

He shrugged. “Don’t mind those people. They are wicked.” He said contemptuously. I shook my head and decided not to pursue the conversation any further. His was a lost cause.

”Nuff said.”

Written by Malcolm O. Ifi.

Photo credits: Upperedge

Before I begin, I would like to set the record straight on one issue: I do NOT like leopard print shoes. No, I don’t think they’re tacky. I’m just one of those people who think they belong solely at a strip club and take offence when I see everyday women wearing them on the streets. However, I am locking my bias up in a steel cage so I can write this piece like the true, self-declared fashion critic I am (•ˆ⌣ˆ•) Okay. Now that that’s cleared, let’s proceed.

Leopard print, like many other trends has been around for a WHILE, and is now having another shot at the limelight. Almost everywhere you turn, there are dresses, bags, shoes, jackets, and pants in leopard print (don’t you just love how people can’t resist jumping on bandwagons?). And just as there are those who can successfully pull off some sort of leopard print incorporation in their outfits, there are those who just show blatant disregard for the fashion world and overdo it.

While small touches of leopard print can give your overall look a huge boost, it’s important to stay within the boundaries of sensibility. To further emphasise my point I’m going to completely ignore those who want to know how to dress from in animal print from top to bottom, and just skip ahead to how to gently introduce leopard print into your wardrobe. Today, shoes. Mostly because you can find stuff already in your wardrobe to wear with a nice pair of leopard print heels or flats, but also because they’re a great way to give whatever outfit you have on some personality.

As you might have already guessed (or had to figure out the hard way), finding the right outfit to pair with leopard prints can be a tricky task. But the wonderful thing is once you find that perfect combo, it’s difficult to beat.

I’ll start off slow with the easiest, most basic combo you could try. Yeah, you guessed it! (Or not) Black dresses, pants, and skirts are almost always a perfect match for leopard print shoes. A lot of people already have the mentality that “black goes with everything” so, I wouldn’t be surprised if most already set aside their pair of leopard print shoes to wear solely with whatever black number they have. If you are one of these people, then you have realised this gets really boring really fast. You could try mixing it up by adding a LBD (little brown dress) into the loop. Of course if you’re going to wear a LBD with a hot pair of leopard print heels, your accessories have to be toned down to the bare minimum.

Now that leopard print has taken the leap from the pole to street wear, you could try a casual-smart look. Let’s say you have an interview, or you’re the type that just enjoys looking smart and yet approachable at the same time, you could pair your leopard print heels with sleek gray pants, and a light brown or grey cardigan over an ivory top. You could also try reversing the colours on the pieces, but remember that for this look to work, it’s important to keep it on a basic gray/brown combo. Or you could also experiment with other light neutral colours like sand, blush, and cream. These colours can stand their ground with animal print without overshadowing it.

And what’s more casual than denim? The easiest way to pair your leopard print flats, pumps, or booties, after black of course, is to wear them with a nice pair of jeans. For a classic, casual, and maybe carefree look, wear a white button-down shirt, or a long tank on your favorite pair of jeans and throw on a pair of leopard print ballerinas. The shoes. Not actual ballerinas.

Don’t wanna play it safe? Why not mix trends? Rather than constantly toning down your animal print with muted colours, try pairing it the bold floral prints and loud colours (which also happen to be trending right now). Go for this look by combining coloured jeans (preferably skinnies) and a floral blouse with your leopard print pumps. You could either tuck the blouse into your jeans, or just leave it be. Whichever way works. Or, for traffic-stopping hotness, why not pair a bright red dress and a wide black belt with your shoes? Not much of an attention seeker? The beauty of this style is you can use simply use red as an accent colour alongside yellow, orange, pink and chartreuse. The super adventurous ones can splurge on a pair of Louboutin leopard print pumps

A look that might be a bit trickier to try (especially in this corner of the globe) is wearing your leopard print heels with leather. If you’re feeling like a risk-taker, then try wearing a black blazer on black leather pants. To balance the look and keep eyes from focusing solely on your shoes, wear an equally eye-grabbing tank under your jacket. It could be sequined or gold patterned, or even leopard print.

Some might consider deep, earth tones like Khaki, olive green, brown and rust shades too dull, but they work perfectly when you want colours a neutral tone can’t offer, but you want it subtle. Plus, earth tones and mid-toned neutrals are great when paired with neutral-hued prints like cheetah and leopard. To create a unified look, try matching your outfit’s tone to your shoes. For example, natural, more realistic, cream based prints should go with warmer tones like rusts and browns, where as a black and white print would go with olive and gray.

Well, that’s basically all the tips I have to give. I’m sure there are other amazing combos you could come up with if you tried, so these are just guidelines. However, I can’t stress enough how important it is not to mix prints. It NEVER works. Trust me. You can be adventurous without looking painfully ridiculous.

The options for leopard print shoes are endless. Pumps, ballet flats, boots, and so much more. Just remember that this print is a statement on its own, so keep things toned down with minimised accessories.

Next time, I’ll probably give tips on wearing a leopard print jacket or pants or something. Haven’t decided yet. But until then, go on and be awesome in your gorgeous shoes.

Written by Coco Anetor-Sokei

Photo credits: Mamichulo

We got to meet up with the delightful Miss University of Osun sometime last week and the delectable beauty was more than glad to answer these questions. We hope that this interview will inspire other models like herself who are a little unsure  about the whole modelling business. And to show y’all that it really is a walk in the park *wink*
First off tell us how you were “discovered” and how your modelling
 career all started?

   I had just finished my secondary school education, and was taking pictures for the fun of it. Some friends of mine said I had the potential and told me to go for it.

Who are some of your favorite models and why?

I love Tyra Banks, because despite the challenges she faced during the early stage of her modelling career, she did not quit. I also love Campbell and Agbani Darego

What other modelling projects have you done?

 I have done a couple of fashion shows and musical videos, and am about to sign a contract for a huge deal, though I would love to keep the details under wrap for now.

What is fun and rewarding about modelling?

    What I find fun about modeling is that it deals with expressions. Kind of like having you play with clay. You can strike a variety of pose and achieve a variety of looks. Also, it deals with thinking and creativity a lot, which is also rewarding in its own way

Do you have any hidden talents?

  My talents include singing, dancing, swimming

 What has been your greates challenge since you became Miss UniOsun?

              My greatest challenge since I became Miss UNIOSUN has been the issue of getting to other campuses to meet with other students. This is because UniOsun is a multi-campus University

How has modelling changed other aspects of your life?

              Modelling has changed certain aspects of my life because it made me kind of brave, and not shy.

Do you have a Favorite movie?

              I’m not a movie freak, but I like “MR and MRS” because it is educative and also encourages women liberation

What is your favorite genre of music?

My favourite genre of music at the moment is hip-hop

Give us 5 facts about you people may not know

 I love my privacy sometimes. Also, I could be blunt. That’s about it *grin*

 

What’s the best and worst thing about being a model?

            To me, the best thing about modelling is that you are given a chance to showcase your talent, your creativity. The worst thing about being a model is that no one really cares until you are a made model. Also, the modelling industry could be harsh especially to an upcoming model. You just have to survive.

If you weren’t modelling what would you see yourself doing?

If I wasn’t modelling, I would most likely have been into fashion designing

Where do you hope to see your modelling career in 5, 10, 15 years?

              In that time, I would have achieved a lot in my modeling career, both locally and internationally. Also I would haveset a platform for other models to be encouraged and motivated by

What advice do you have for other aspiring models?

 My advice to aspiring models is not to relent, try all, even with care, go for what you want and you would have it, no matter the time constraint. Thanks

Like the master stroke of a great painter

Like the genius of Einstein

True art stems from pain

Pain unknown to many

Pain known to some

The fear and adoration of the metaphysical

What is out there? I asked

Shut up, they said

I shout to the birds

They sing instead

If only I could converse in the language of birds

Then maybe I would ask the eagle why it soars so high

Why it spots little prey from thousands of feet away.

But no, I do not converse in the tongue of the birds.

I cry out to the elements

There is something omniscience about the skies

The leaves begin to rustle

I wonder if they whisper

Or if they scream at me too.

Do they ask why their brothers wilt right before their eyes?

Or why this black substance chokes them?

Oh if only, if only I could speak in their tongue.

I look to the trees

Maybe I can understand the language of falling leaves

Maybe I can find reason I their wilt

I go over to the tree

And feel its bark

Make jabs at its branches

There’s a lot I regret,

Maybe I can find redemption in nature

Maybe I will find reason, the reason I still draw breath

True beauty lies in the simplicity of nature,

Mother yearns for understanding,

But her children seem lost to the noise.