TO THE ONE YEAR OLD LONDYN SAMUELS, REST IN PEACE

As a parent you become responsible 
Not just because you want to
But because you're thinking of someone else 
Because it's no longer about you

As a parent you're afraid for your child
You fear you can't provide for them
You fear you'd disappoint them
You fear you're not enough

As a parent you're scared for your child
You fear sickness and all sort of diseases children get
Because they're so little and fragile
Because they can't protect themselves 
Because you haven't taught them that

But how many of these fears come true?
How many can we run from?
How many can we fight?
How much evil can we protect them from?

Londyn
You were just 13 months old
You were too innocent 
You were too beautiful...

Yet you were taken
From your family
From us
From the world

How can I describe this pain?
The evil around us
The tears that keep falling
This ache in my heart

You didn't deserve to die like that
This hurt was not for your family
No one deserves this....
You were precious
You still are.

I know you're in heaven
You're an angel
So full of life
And you're smiling down on your family
Praying for them...
You would always be missed here on Earth 
Keep living in our hearts and keep resting with the Lord.

FEARLESS AND DARING FASHIONISTA DENRELE EDUN

   So many Nigerian celebrities would not be easily spotted and identified when they're off the red carpet, but Adenrele Oluwafemi Edun is not one of them. Denrele, as he is popularly called, is well known all over the country for so many achievements and awards but mostly he is known for his unique style of dressing.
   Denrele started his own fashion by customizing his blazers and adding extra heels to his shoes to fit his style. Crazy, right? The 30 year old model, actor, writer and Channel O VJ and presenter has done it all. He can comfortably strut in a 12-inch heeled boot while most of us girls cannot move after a few hours on our 4-6 inch heel. 
   Most people would not approve of these attires maybe because of tradition, religion, customs and belief. I myself, found it a little outrageous at first, but then again, fashion is creativity. It is style and as long as you can move and breathe in it, feel free!

Denrele has modelled for both national and international designers including Dolce and Gabbana and has interviewed celebrities like Beyonce, Akon and their likes. And though his unique style of dressing is yet to be completely accepted globally, it's still different, original, fun and beautiful and has gained him all the publicity (good or bad) he has today. That's what fashion does. It is expression.  it's a way of life. When put together right, it helps you express yourself and makes you stand out.

DESIGNER OF THE YEAR: ANITA EBELEDIKE DIVALUKKY CLOTHINGS

   Fashion is not just what's trending and what's not. Fashion is you.  Fashion is style and creativity. Fashion is expression.  Fashion is a statement. Fashion is defying boundaries to get that look that best suits you and that is exactly model and head designer DivaLukky Clothings, Anita Onyechi Ebeledike, has done with her brilliant designs.

   The designer has brought a new side to the fashion industry by blending Ankara, Lace, Chiffon and other fabrics, with accessories to give the African woman the boldness and charisma she deserves.
DivaLukky has appeared on major runways as a model and as a designer and the young wife and mother has promised to remain in the industry for a very long time. Here are some of her designs and I bet you'd agree she is doing a great job. 

Anita Ebeledike

WHAT'S IN!

1. LACE

Shorts have never looked so good!  These lace shorts are not just simple,  they are amazingly fab! They can go with everything as well, chiffon, denim, Ankara, cashmere and so on! So show off those legs in these!

2. PUMPS

Shoes they say are a girl's best friend. Not just any shoes, pumps. Not just any pumps, pointy toe pumps! In short heels, high heels, straps and even animal skin! Get this celebrity look for skinny jeans, shorts,  corporate attires and red carpet events.

3. BLAZERS

Blazers are a good way to spice up your dressing. Whether you're going corporate and wearing plain pants, going native with Ankara or trying to keep it simple with shorts or jean, blazers are always a good choice. With the right accessories and shoes, this look can be used for any occasion. Remember to keep it simple!

4. WEDGE SNEAKERS

Sneakers on platform?! I'm officially in love! Who wouldn't want these?! Look trendy! Look chic! Look rock n' roll! 

5. ACID WASH

Yes! They are back! High waist, low rise, ripped, capri, leggings or jackets. We love 'em all!

6. JALABIYA

I don't know how it became a thing but this is my personal favourite. The guys started it but as usual, we perfected it! Even the beautiful Tonto Dikeh was spotted rocking hers in London last week.

"In Our Own Skin We Win!" Chantal Winnie Takes On Vitiligo

                               
   I was going through some pictures on Instagram the other day when I came across a picture of this very beautiful girl.  She is not just physically pretty but her confidence, attitude and view on life made her stand out.

Chantal Winnie (Chantelle Brown) is a spokesmodel and an aspiring journalist with a skin condition called Vitiligo. 

 Vitiligo is a condition that occurs on the skin. It causes depigmentation and discolouration of certain areas of the skin. Patches of the skin become lighter and the hair on that area becomes white. It often occurs around the joints, that is, the knees, elbows, feet, wrists and fingers and also on the face. Although scientists have come up with different theories, the exact cause of Vitiligo has not been established. Also there are various treatments for Vitiligo such as surgery, natural and artificial light therapy, supplements, covering up with make up and phototherapy (which is unadvicable due to high risk of skin cancer). However, these treatments may only aid partial and not full repigmentation of the skin.

   Vitiligo is more pronounced on darker skin just like Chantal's and could cause more emotional and psychological  harm than physical. But Miss Chantal has never let her condition bring her down. She has embraced this condition and used so many means to inspire other people with similar or worse conditions. With courage, hope and her favourite hash tagged quote "In our own skin we win", she urges them to step out and step into their skin and shine.

Chantal has over 14,000 people following her Instagram page @winnieharlow and has not less than a thousand likes on most of her pictures. Judging by the comments, she has become a role model to so many. Her take on life is inspiring as well as refreshing. The young model and spokesperson takes up different campaigns and events, teaching people about Vitiligo.

   In 1993, the late Michael Jackson revealed in his interview with Oprah that he had been diagnosed of Vitiligo. His case was so serious that he kept turning whiter and eventually his only option was either to keep wearing heavy makeup on and off stage or to even out his skin tone using various creams. Eventually, he had to even out his skin tone. The king of Pop felt so sad and uncomfortable about his skin condition and how the press jumped on it spreading rumours about how he bleached his skin just because he wanted to be white.

   Michael was proud of his colour and his skin and so is Chantal. Rather than hold her back, her Vitiligo has opened so many doors for her. She believes every person has a purpose in life and is unique in their own way. Her uniqueness is her skin and her purpose is to spread love and joy and inspire those who are still scared to embrace life and its goodness. Keep up the good work Chantal! We love you.

OVER YOU

I loved you the best I could,I loved you the best I knew how but my best wasn't good enough. It was bliss at the beginning,like the first few years of marriage of a couple deeply in love. Everyone knew I loved you, it was in my eyes. Somethings just don't need to be told.You made me happy.I thought of you every night, I dreamed about you all day, I always wanted to be with you. You were not the best, yes, but you were my best. The way you used to look at me... I still can't help smiling. I felt safe with you. You held me close, close and tight. I felt safe in your arms.   I heard so many things,I heard so many terrible things about you. Everyone warned me about you. They said you were not what I thought you were but I loved you and love conquers all, right? I thought I knew you and then I heard about the other girls... oh! I should have listened. The truth is hard, the truth is awkward and often, it hurts… you changed,so quick, so fast,so sudden that it knocked me off balance. The rumours were true...the other girls were real.... you never really loved me. you walked out on what I thought we had. you walked out on the good times we had,the laughter we shared,the nights you held me close to your heart. you walked out on a girl that truly loved you. you walked out...and you broke my heart but I held on. I prayed that it'd be just a phase. I wished it was a dream. I held on so tight but I could only hang on for so long... after a while, it's not just worth it. I knew it was over for real.I remember those nights not the nights i spent with you. I remember the cold nights,the nights I spent alone,the nights I cried myself to sleep, the nights I sent endless messages to your phone, the nights I got no reply to my messages, the nights I prayed you'd call. I remember those nights.... I hate you for being the first to break my heart. I hate you for making me fall in love with you! I mourned us. I mourned our dead relationship but I still couldn't let go. I just couldn't imagine life without you. I couldn't imagine you with someone else. I walked around for months thinking about you. I walked around wondering what was on your mind. I could give the world for your thoughts. I saw the girls but I also saw the way you looked at me. you read my mind. you knew I still cared and you took advantage of it...   It took me long enough to realise that you cared less about my emotions. That you are insensitive. Now I've told myself the truth because I owe myself at least that much. You're not worth having me. You don't deserve someone like me. Because I'm too good for you,because i'm different. I've made mistakes in life but i don't blame you for any of them. In life,one thing is certain, no matter how much love you give you're going to get hurt. Because you're going to make mistakes. I'm done making mistakes. I'm done wishing you'd come back. I'm done feeling bad and I'm done loving you.            

BLESSED!

I've always loved rainy days. The darkness... the cold...  the sound of trees bowing as the wind blows...  This particular rainy day, lonely as it is, i stare out my window watching as the rain makes everything wet. As lightening strikes,  I look up to the clouds, as dark as my mood and wish my heart could pour out it's sorrows like the rain. On this rainy day, people stay in, cuddling and snuggling waiting for the rain to stop. But I, I'm alone at my window staring out and wondering as the cold air hits my chest reminding me of the ones out there who have no one to cuddle. The ones who have no roof. The ones whose sorrows and moods are darker than mine... And  I count myself lucky, very lucky to be on this side.

A LIFETIME AND A CHANCE

We are all afraid of something. I know I am afraid. A wise man once told me "If something makes you happy, do it, if you're scared of what people might think, then hide and do It". Lol! I know it's a funny philosophy but it's also smart and deep. Life is too short to always want to please people while displeasing yourself. There are so many things people would disapprove of. Sometimes it's because they care about us but other times it could be jealousy. They could be wishing they were the ones who thought of it first  or wishing they could do it. Taking a chance at what makes you happy is all that matters. Doing it while you're still young is also very important. I mean, pretty soon we'd grow older and one of the things that would make us happy would be tales of what we did when we did it. So do it while you can! Do it because it makes you happy!

CHILD MARRIAGE: WHAT WE ARE FORGETTING

     

    There's no easy way to say this. Nigeria has become a laughing stock among other nations. With pressing issues like Boko Haram and national security, socio-economic development, poverty and power issues, giving away our underage daughters out for marriage should be the least of our problems. In fact, it should not even be a topic for discussion.

       Just a while ago, the Nigerian government blatantly said NO to same sex marriage but now they're saying YES to abuse and rape of teenagers? If I had a 13 year old, she would be in school studying and learning so she would have a better future and not on the bed of some old pervert. We have a law saying that 18 years is the right age to vote therefore someone below that age is not old enough to make a decision, right? So why give your 13 year old daughter out for marriage? These laws are becoming ridiculous by the day. We need education and enlightenment of our teenagers and not this!

      Imagine your 13 year old daughter getting married and giving birth. Imagine the unbearable pain she would go through while trying to push out a baby. Do they even think of the complications that could come up during childbirth? It could even lead to death of both the child and the mother or in this case, both children. Yes some would survive, but how would they raise a child when they too are still growing up?

       These silly laws are just avenues to legalising what these senators do when no one is watching. They are hiding behind religion and customs and destroying a nation that already needs help. I believe that together we can stand up to these laws and to this government and give our daughters and sisters the right to decide, the right to choose, the right to live and the right to enjoy their youth.