HAUTE + MADE MAG + SASHA

Hi Everyone!!!!!
I have missed you guys…
I feel so out of touch with Blogville (LOL, this is the first time I’ve used the word ‘Blogville’ on my blog, I have something against the word ‘Blogville’ I don’t know why!!! It just peeves me LOL….anyways…there I go being random again) at the moment.
Anyways, I am still hella busy! I am sooo tired (but still very happy)…oh well…we have to keep up the grind.
So what did I miss? Please fill me in….
Anyways, here is a roundup of all things fashion and entertainment…
ENJOY!

The new issue of HauTe – Fashion Nigeria is coming out next week!
I’ve got to tell you that this mag is HOT! You will see the best of Nigerian fashion photos as well as engaging articles.
Here is a sneak peek

Amaka Osakwe Signature Collection ~ Zebra

Fashionable Life feat. Foluso Olowude ~ Peridot & Ruby

You will just have to pick up the mag to see the rest.
Visit the revamped HauTe website - HERE
Subscribe to HauTe - HERE
HauTe Myspace - HERE

A couple of weeks ago, I featured the Genevieve Nnaji photoshoot from Made Magazine, a new high concept Nigerian magazine for Men. Anyways, they held a launch party at NewsCafe @ the Palms Mall in Lagos a couple of weeks ago and here are the photos from the event.
Genevieve Nnaji ~ DJ Jimmy Jatt ~ Ikechukwu & Naeto C

Olisa Adibua ~ Obi Asika (CEO Storm Media) ~ Genevieve & Ikechukwu

The Made Team - Onuorah Iyizoba, Obiora Okoye, Gbenga Ashiru and Jon Slade

Ugo Okoye, Bolaji Folawiyo, Olaotan Towry Coker, Taiwo S

Chini Odogwu, Av Babar, Onuorah Iyizoba


Ugo, Kelechi Amadi Obi, Lakesha





Nigeria’s foremost female rapper, Sasha aka Yetunde Alabi has a new album out soon.
Here is her new video ‘Adara’…LUV IT
Here are also some photos from her album cover shoot and video shoot
Hit her up on MySpace - HERE






That's it for today!
Have a fabulous day......Its another busy busy busy day for me tomorrow so wish me luck!
Kisses,

Bella

THE HAT ATTACK

Hi Everyone!!!
How was your weekend? Mine was an absolute blur…to be honest, I’ve been sooo busy that I am just going through the motions at this point but it’s all good!
This week is going to be super busy for me so blogging might suffer…
Pleaaaaase bear with me….U know I luv you guys and will try my very best to blog!
Anyway, thanks sooooo much for all the emails and voicemails…Honestly I am very grateful, I hate to sound cheesy but I feel really blessed!
So, I decided to explore a facet of Nigerian fashion that I have not touched on at all!
What is this you ask?
Millinery – The Art of Hat Making
Nigeria actually has a strong creative arsenal of talent in this area.
This is one aspect of Nigerian fashion that truly fuses the western with the traditional in a very creative way…
Check it out!
ENJOY!

Nena Kalu Ogba of Nena Kal Hunter
Nena studied Fashion and Textile Design at De-Montfort University. She then decided to focus on millinery; she built her hat making expertise when she trained with Mrs Rose Cory, a milliner to the late Queen Mother of England.
Nena moved back to Nigeria 5 years ago and has established herself as one of Nigeria’s top milliners. She also has a line of home furnishing and accessories.



Tiwa Kehinde Benson of The Hat Lounge
Tiwa made her first hat when she was just 14 years old; from that point she knew she was destined for a career in fashion. After studying at various prestigious fashion institutions such as Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, University College for the Creative Arts at Epsom and the London College of fashion where she specialised in millinery. Tiwa has worked with top London milliners like Phillip Somerville before she moved back to Nigeria.
Tiwa’s hats are known for their mix of modern styles with Victorian influence and have been featured in various major fashion shows.



Chito Mark of Grace Hats
Chito Mark of Grace Hats is one of the pioneering Nigerian milliners. Chito has been in the business for over 20 years and is still inspiring a new generation of hat makers with her innovative designs and fashion flair.



Eme Akenzua of John 3V3 Hats
Eme is the founder and Creative Director of the renowned Couture Millinery outfit JOHN 3V3 HATS LTD. She started her career as a milliner in 1989 while training with Rose Cory the famous milliner of the Queen Mother in London, England. Eme worked with the famous Herbert Johnson, hatters since 1970 to several European Royal Houses located in the prestigious New Bond Street of London. She introduced the famous ‘Fila Oge’ head gear and has been on the cutting edge of hat making ever since. In addition to hats, Eme creates turbans, hair slides and other ‘head’ accessories. She has also inspired many by sharing her personal struggles (to have a child) and her business challenges.



That’s it for today…
Please leave a comment even if hats are not really your thing!
Would you rock any of these and for what occasion or do you think its better left on the catwalk? Let us know….
This post is dedicated to Isabella Blowwho passed away recently and was the most famous international ‘hat wearer’
and Nkiru Anumudu who is most definitely, Nigeria’s No 1 hat patron…

Ciao,
Much Love!
Bella

AUNTY BELLA - MISS NEW LEAF

Dear Aunty Bella,
I really enjoy all the Aunty Bella series and would like to share my dilemma with you.
I just turned 30 and feel like I have finally reached a turning point in my life.
See from my teens and all through most of my twenties, I was a real WILD CHILD.
I used to be very quiet, reserved and shy as a child but I was one of those girls that developed very early physically. My father is white while my mother is Nigerian so I am of mixed heritage. Along with all that came a false sense of confidence, boys (and men) were constantly chasing after me. I never had to do any work in school or elsewhere. Guys would do my homework for me, buy things for me etc…
I never knew my father, as I believe he was on a posting to Nigeria when my mother got pregnant and he left soon after never to be heard from again.
My mother tried her best but we never had much but from meeting me, you would never guess. I always looked well dressed and well groomed from head to toe.
When I was 18 and awaiting admission to university, I met this older gentleman who started ‘taking care of me’. Since my teens, I had had boyfriends who spoilt me but this was on another level, he sent me to school in Europe and just showed me the so-called ‘luxury’ life. I am talking about diamonds, trips round the world, living in the Dorchester for months and all that.
All this time, I told everyone I met that my father was a late European royal who died and left me his inheritance to explain how I could afford my lifestyle.
When I was in Europe, I rebelled against my older ‘boyfriend’ (this man was actually older than my father) and started keeping other boyfriends and that is how my life started to spiral further downwards.
My boyfriend dropped me and stopped paying my fees. All the guys that I was dating suddenly disappeared when I could not afford to keep up with the spending (I later realized that many of these guys were after ‘my money’ and fictional ‘inheritance’)
To cut the long story short, my twenties were filled drugs, men, hopping from one place to the other, squatting with friends and generally having no direction in life. I finally moved back to Nigeria about 3 years ago, I got here and continued on the same path of partying and men. 2 years ago, I woke up one morning and it was as if I saw myself for who I truly was. I looked in the mirror and cried. I looked old, gaunt, saggy and used. I cried for hours but that was a turning point. I prayed, I moved away from Lagos and built my relationship with God. Somehow, my pastor’s wife who had a similar background took me under her wing, allowed me to stay in their house and got me a job. I am now doing very well in my job and happy with my life. The problem is that after being celibate and staying off men for these 2 years, I have finally met someone who respects me. He is courting me in the Christian way and is very serious about our relationship. Here is my problem, I don’t know if to tell him about my past. Bella and readers, I have done some unimaginable things, things that you only read about in novels, the wildest things you can imagine both with drugs and men. It took me a long time to forgive myself but even now I still have crying fits and feelings of depression because of the wasted years.
My man is a saint, believe it or not, he is a successful, handsome man in his thirties yet he is celibate and focused on his relationship with Christ, he was born in Nigeria but grew up in the US and doesn’t have that many friends in Nigeria (I am guessing that is why he has not heard my story). I feel the need to tell him my story but I am scared that even though he loves me, he will not be able to handle it, other men who seemed serious have dropped me in the past once they found out about my past so you see why I am afraid. When I have children in the future (especially daughters), I don’t know if to tell them about my life as well.
Please what should I do, should I tell him or just enter this marriage like that.
Also, I am afraid that if I don’t tell him, one of his friends or family will spill the beans later. Please help!

Miss New Leaf

WOW! Please give her your advice. I admire Miss New Leaf for overcoming her past.

DEOLA SAGOE - JAMAICA & NEW LOOKS

Hey Everyone!
How's it going?
Thanks for the congrats on my non-existent engagement! I was really deeply touched...LOL
Anyways, some people guessed right so you can go take a look at the comments from yesterday and find out what's going on.

Deola Sagoe showed an updated collection at the CatWalk the World - Fashion For Food Event in Jamaica a week or so ago.
The international press was sooooo impressed and she was commended in various high profile magazines and newspapers so congrats to Deola!
The Times UK Article
Jamaica Gleaner Article

The CatWalk the World movement has raised thousands of dollars and highlighted the issue of child hunger since it was launched in Lagos over a year ago.
Anyways, here are photos from the event in Jamaica.
Show styled by Ayomide Macmillian Akan

THE SHOW









Here are some photos of Deola's exquisite new collection including Haute Couture line, Couture footwear line and her new denim line (I believe this is a first for a Nigerian designer)
All Photos below styled by Arieta Mujay

THE FOOTWEAR




THE DENIM



THE COUTURE





Also check out Toni Payne's Blog for more pics
Check out Deola's Official Website
For more on CatWalk the World, visit their official website
For more on the World Food Programme
We can all make a difference!!!

Anyways, every single thing is pure HauTeness! No questions asked...I love Deola's creativity and I'm glad she is applying it to a great cause as well!
Have a great day everyone!!!
I have been meaning to say this, make sure you check out the LadyBrille Website and Blog...Tres Fab!

Ciao

TREND - AGE AINT NOTHIN' BUT A NUMBER

Hey Everyone!!!!
What’s good? I hope you had a great weekend because mine was f-a-b!
My friends threw me a surprise party! I was sooo shocked…Thanks sweeties!
It wasn’t my birthday nor was it a bridal or baby shower LOL…so you’ll just have to guess what the surprise party was for…
Anyways, hope that you are enjoying your summer so far…wherever you are in the world! I can’t wait to go to the beach somewhere and start rocking the bikinis and all that.
Did you vote for your fav on the Blogville Idol blog? This weekend’s theme was Nigerian songs! The contestants did a really great job…I was impressed! Pink Satin and Opeke…u girls rock…the judges are very impressive too so check out all the action - HERE

LOL…Today’s post is soooo random!
Sometimes when I am trying to figure out what to post, the most random ideas come into my head…Anyways, here goes enjoy…
I have noticed that over the last year or so, several prominent male Nigerian musicians have married or become engaged to women older than them. I actually think this is a progressive movement, in that, these men and women are bucking societal restrictions and following their hearts.
So many men in Nigeria marry women, decades younger for whatever reason and noone bats an eyelid…So why not the women?

Dare Art-Alade and Deola Ayeni
Earlier this year, Dare married his girlfriend, Interior Designer, Deola Ayeni. I really think they complement each other as a couple. All the best in their marriage.

Peter Okoye (P-Square) and Lola Omotayo
Peter from the Nigerian musical duo, P-Square has been dating ad executive, Lola Omotayo for over a year. Despite the age difference and all the uproar, they are still together, doing their thing.

Soul E (Emmanuel Oluwatosin Ifechukwude Okose) and Ure Queen Okezie
The Nigerian newspapers and magazines have been having a field day with this over the last week. Rising musician, Soul E of ‘Soul E Baba Dey Here’ fame is engaged/married (Apparently they have completed the registry ceremony) to Ure Okezie, a divorced former bank executive who is 11 years older than him.


Usher Raymond and Tameka Foster
This has also happened on the international scene with 29-year-old singer, Usher who is currently engaged to Tameka Foster, who is over a decade older than him divorced with 3 children.

Please this is a fun discussion so lets not break it down to something else.
Anyways, so what do you think?
Ladies, would you marry/seriously date a younger man?
Guys, would you marry/seriously date an older woman?
Let us know…

Have a great week!

TIDBITS

Hey Everyone!!!
It’s Wednesday already! WOW! The week is going by really fast!
So what have you been up to see far? Nothing much is happening over here….same ol’, same ol’ really.
Since, nothing much is happening, here are some tidbits. ENJOY

The ThisDay Festival is back!!!
SOURCE
After all the drama and debate that last year’s inaugural event caused, Nduka and the ThisDay family are back with another stellar lineup.
Shakira, R&B rising star, John Legend and UB40, are among 12 Nigerian and international artistes who have confirmed participation at the second edition of THISDAY Music Festival scheduled to hold on July 14 and 15 at THISDAY's brand new event centre in Lagos. The centre has a seating capacity of 15,000. More artistes billed to perform in the star-studded music festival are expected to confirm their participation next week.

Tickets for the two-day event will go on sale at all branches of GTBank on June 14. The classic ticket will cost N10,000 per day, while the VIP ticket will go for N25,000 per day. Tickets for the exclusive but limited state box will go for N50,000 per day.
I am actually surprised by the ticket prices ‘cause I thought they would ‘give it to them’ by pricing VIP tickets at 500k or something. On a more serious note, it should be fun.

Banned Nigerian Actress, Ini Edo now dedicated to Charity
SOURCE
Recently banned screen goddess, Iniobong Edo seems to have taken her fate with all equanimity and opted for a new job as a humanitarian worker.
The Akwa-Ibom State born actress who has been in a sober mood since proscription by the Actors Guild a few weeks ago, recently visited three charity homes in Lagos as part of her contribution to the society that made her.
The ‘World Apart’ star spent the day with them giving them gift items worth half a million naira to appreciate God for what he has done for her.

LOL...I think its a good move on her part! All the best to Ini!

New Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria, Munachi Nwankwo Interview

All the beauty queens always disclaim having a boyfriend, I wonder why....

On a more serious note, she was brought up by a single mother who was crippled by polio yet she persevered and is going very well for herself. So I am proud of her!

Genevieve Mag

A reader named Toke (I am not sure if she wants her surname to be published) sent me this scan of the Editor's note of the new edition of Genevieve Magazine, the editor's note referred to an incident that occurred when shooting the cover of the March 2007 Edition of the magazine which featured HIV-Positive mother and activist, Yinka Jegede-Ekpe. Read the Editor's Note below.

I love and respect Betty Irabor but the article left a bitter taste. I decided to give it some more thought before posting it on my site. During that time, I received an emailed apology from Betty which is posted below. I do not believe Betty intended any harm but incidences like this highlight the fact that we need to educate ourselves and get rid of the stigma attached to HIV positive people. We (Women and Men) also have to take proper steps when we go to the barbers, hair salons (you know those weave needles) and manicurists/pedicurists. That said, I believe we should not turn being careful into discrimination and paranoia. I respect the fact that Betty issued an apology.

Re: C’est la vie – An Apology
My attention has been drawn to the outrage my last MorningDew has evoked in my readers, and to say the least, I’m mortified. But like the title says, C’est la vie. That’s life. Let’s just say that it took our readers’ ire for me to see the specs in my eyes this time. I accept and I apologize. Let’s just say that my view has been misconstrued to mean that I’m being judgmental, but who am I to judge? I never meant it that way, and like I said, I am simply mortified. What I wrote in that piece was just a reflection, or should I say, an expression of how any average human being can feel given that circumstance. I was only trying to show how panicky and ignorant the best of us can be about HIV/AIDS. Perhaps it’s just the human side of me taking over. For over four years, Morning dew has inspired; it has taught and shaped people, and those are the things that I love to do and they have kept me going! Morning dew is where I keep it real and that’s what I’d hoped to do with Cest La Vie but it went very awry and I stepped on our readers’ sensitivity in a big way. If what I wrote to playfully caution people has come across so wrongly, I can only apologize.
I have also apologized to Yinka Ekpe herself and her husband, and they’ve taken it in good spirit and forgiven me. Maybe this is the time for me to crave your indulgence – all you readers out there. To err is human, and if after over four years of Morning Dew, you’re finding me guilty just this once, then I deserve the privilege of a pardon. PLEASE, it’s not in my character to hurt people.
Betty Irabor

Please share your thoughts and thanks for all the voice messages!

Thanks to Toke for highlighting this issue.
Take care...
Ciao!

RUNDOWN - LA FAMILIA EDITION

Hey Everyone!!!
How are things going?
How was your weekend? Mine was alright....I didnt do much really....I went to see Oceans 13 - Brad Pitt + George Clooney = Uber Hot...LOL...Y'all should check it out!
Anyways, I decided to do something a lil' bit different today.
As much as I feel that Africans are underrepresented in the media, there are some African celebrities that get some airtime.
Here are some African celebs at recent events and in recent mags. I decided to throw in a couple of tidbits and family photos too. Sooo ENJOY!

Ethiopian model, Liya Kebede attended the CFDA Awards in New York recently. There she is pictured with designer Michael Kors, model Heidi Klum and actress, Debra Messing.

TIDBIT: Did you know that Liya was a contestant in the 1998 Face of Africa (the year Oluchi won) and she didn't even place in the Top 5.
LA FAMILIA: Liya married Ethiopian hedge fund manager Kassy Kebede in 2000 and they have two children together; son Suhul, born in 2001) and daughter Raee born in August 2005.


Supermodel and Entrepreneur, Iman attended the CFDA Awards with her husband, music legend, David Bowie.

TIDBIT: David and Iman met on a blind date arranged by their mutual hairdresser friend Teddy Antolin at a dinner party in Los Angeles on October 14th 1990.
LA FAMILIA: They have a daughter named Alexandria Zahra Jones, born August 15, 2000 (Iman also has a child - Zulekha from a previous marriage while David also has a son from a previous marriage)



Academy Award nominated actor, Djimon Hounsou attended the CFDA Awards with his new girlfriend, Kimora Lee Simmons. They have been dating for a couple of months. Kimora is separated from her husband, Russell Simmons. She is the brains behind Baby Phat.

LA FAMILIA: Kimora's children, Ming Lee Simmons and Aoki Lee Simmons are said to be fond of Djimon and recently hung out with him and their mum in Cannes.


Ghanaian/German Actor, Boris Kodjoe is on the cover of Ebony Magazine’s 2007 Father’s Day Edition.

LA FAMILIA: Boris is married to Nicole Ari Parker and they have 2 children, a girl named Sophie Tei-Naaki Lee Kodjoe and a boy named Nicolas Neruda Kodjoe. For more Kodjoe family pics, click HERE


Grammy Award-winning Musician Seal and his wife, Model Heidi Klum are still going strong.

LA FAMILIA: Here are their 2 sons, Henry Günther Ademola Dashtu Samuel and Johan Riley Fyodor Taiwo Samuel. Heidi also has a daughter, Leni with Italian Billionaire Playboy, Flavio Briatore. Seal has always played the father role to Leni as he and Heidi began dating while she was pregnant.


Here are first post-baby photos of Oluchi. Oluchi walked the runway at the Luca Luca Resort Fashion Show.
LA FAMILIA: Oluchi gave birth to she and Luca Orlandi's first child on the on 25th of April 2007. Oluchi is quoted to have said "The day I went for my sonogram, I called Luca immediately to tell him it was a boy. I knew he was overjoyed, but he tried to hide it because he was aware that I wanted a daughter” Their son is rumoured to be named Ugochukwu.


That's it for today! Let us know what u think....
Thanks for the voice messages! I will go and leave some today....Good luck to all the Blogville Idols contestants!
Much Luv

WEEKEND LUV - THE ROUND 'EM UP EDITION

Its the Weekend again!!!!!
Wow! This week went by fast, didnt it? Anyways, I had a great week...it had its ups and downs but I am grateful to God as always....
The BIG change in my life is creeping closer and closer, Jesus take the wheel!
A friend of mine was like 'Bella, u have been blogging a lot this week, what's up?'..Basically, I havent seen a certain someone this week LOL so I have had all the time to concentrate on all my passions such as my blog....distractions, oh distractions!
Anyways, here is Weekend Luv - The Round Em' Up Edition!!!!

THE CLICKS

BLOGVILLE IDOL!! Need I say more??? – Check on it ASAP - HERE
Big-ups to Opeke and Pink-Satin for producing the show!

Dipo Tepede’s Blog is 1 Year Old!!! Yay! To celebrate he is holding a contest with a 33,000 Naira cash prize sooooo check on it - HERE

Nigerian movies are TAKING OVER in Tanzania and Botswana…I am proud of Nollywood but there is still room for loads of improvement

Jim Iyke recently organized a charity event in Liberia as part of his non-profit work with the Jim Iyke Foundation - HERE

The Nigerian Canadian Reunion is coming up soon! Go ahead and register if its your thing, the team has been working really hard preparing and organizing the event! Click HERE


The Nollywood Foundation Convention 2007 is coming up! I know this will be a fab event but more importantly, it’s a PROGRESSIVE event as loads of important issues will be discussed and hopefully many of these new ideas will become reality - HERE


Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has been named winner of the Orange Broadband Prize for Fiction. She beat five other contenders for the £30,000 women-only award. CONGRATS to her. Here are pics from the prize presentation and some pics from the Guardian Hay Festival last week. To read more, click HERE



Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie at The Guardian Hay Festival


Stella Damasus-Aboderin participated in the Walk the World campaign in Monrovia, Liberia some weeks ago. Check out the pics! I’m proud of Stella for her effort.





Nigerian student, Shaherah Uchenna Obika wins the Miss Caribbean & Commonwealth beauty pageant. She is the first Nigerian to win this title since its inception - HERE


THE HITS
Sanchez – Pick It Up
This is the hottest rap song in Nigeria right now…Catchy yet kinda gritty! I’m feeling it!
5 5 - Afrikan Gurlz
I love this song!!! Infact, I think I am falling in love with Ghana and Ghanaian music…maybe I should go and find a Ghanaian lad LOL…Anyways, thanks to my boy Chale from Museke for the Ghanaian hits!

Have an absolutely wonderful weekend!
Check this out...its really funny - Urhobo Home Training
Oh by the way, check out the Voice Mail thing on the sidebar....tres fun!
Much love!
~Bella

GENEVIEVE IN MADE MAG

Hey People!
I already had one MAD Weekend Luv planned but decided to shake things up a little bit. I will put up Weekend Luv tomorrow. In the meantime, courtesy of Made Mag, here is a new Genevieve Nnaji photoshoot. Thanks to Mona for the link (I have missed her blog but its back on fire so go check it out!)
Anyways, Genevieve is looking hot! Her weave is on point, her skin is on point and I can tell that she has been working out. Go ahead, rock on girl!
Chude did the interview…..so that is what he was cryptically talking about HERE
Ohhh Kudos to Obiora Okoye, Onuorah Iyizoba, Jon Slade and Gbenga Ashiru on the mag. Great job!

See y'all tomorrow.....

Kisses!

AUNTY BELLA - MS. FADING SELF-ESTEEM

I know Aunty Bella is usually up on Thurdays but I felt the need to put this up ASAP as I had initially promised to put it up last week. I feel her pain as we all have insecurities especially we, Young Women. I hope she can overcome this and move on. Please offer her some advice.
___________________________________________________________________
Hi Bella,

I'm a single (and yes, I’m searching) 25-year-old lady. I've always loved my body, and thanked God whenever a compliment is passed to me; I’m on the fair side and quite voluptuous.

I can’t really place blame on anything, but ever since I broke up with boyfriend last year, I noticed I’ve gained quite a lot of weight, say 20 pounds (I'm presently weighing in at 192lbs) and I’m really working hard at loosing it, only that it's been so so difficult for me to loose. In addition to the weight, three months ago, I noticed some stretch marks on my arms, and it's becoming more and more obvious.
It's almost summertime now, and I can't even wear either short sleeves, or sleeveless dresses. Imagine, wearing dresses or tops that would be long-sleeved all through the summer? It is killing me and because of my insecurities, I have been declining to go out with friends and family members. I've had four wedding invitations and 6 graduation parties this month, and I haven’t been able to go to any except one, because it was chilly that day, which accounted for me wearing an elbow length sleeved gown. I know, it sounds crazy but that’s how bad it's affecting me.

Bella, the truth is that I’m loosing my self-esteem! I feel my weight may have been putting off guys. Also, I am afraid that even if I start dating again and this new guy sees my stretch marks, How will he react? I don't know what to do, I’ve prayed to God and it seems like the stretch marks are even more obvious on my right arm now. Please, I need help and advice. I have tried several remedies and they don’t seem to work, I'm on a diet now and trying to work out as much as I can. But I would appreciate if you would post out this message and ask for anything I can do. To all the readers please I’m so desperate as in, it's affecting my psyche and like I said my self-esteem is slowly crumbling down. I NEED HELP. Thank u.

Ms. Fading Self-Esteem

~ Personally, I think this is deeper than the stretch mark issue. Perhaps it’s the weight gain but I think Ms. Fading Self Esteem might be carrying some baggage from her previous relationship. Please offer her some advice.

So Ms. Fading sent in an update but it’s quite long so I summarized it, if you want to read the full update, email me - bellanaija@gmail.com
UPDATE SUMMARY:
She and her bf broke up because he said they were both AS, but he knew that in the past and had promised that despite them both being AS he would stay.
She has never been a skinny girl and is not trying to become skinny
She is 5’7
The stretch marks is her major physical issue
Most of her friends are in Nigeria while she is in the US, so she feels isolated
Her closest friend in the US just got married so she has to give her space
Has already lost 3.5lbs and is working on losing more (it’s a start)
Thanks for the advice and she’s glad people kept it real and not as a ‘pity party’

TEIKO DORNOR + PARTY PICS

Hey peoples!
What’s going on? Wow! Everything is so crazy (in a good way I guess) in my life right now….Oh well, I will try to keep u guys updated.
I have featured Teiko Dornor on bellanaija before and I got some new pics of her and decided to put them up!
Something that makes me happy is the diversity of ‘African beauty’ that we are seeing in the media. From Teiko to Agbani to Oluchi to Liya to Alek! I think its really encouraging.
Teiko is also the founder of Miss Plus Africa – an international beauty pageant for full-figured women of African origin. Check out the site - HERE



Random Party Pics – Courtesy PureFoto
Dele Momodu ~ Buki de la Zaria ~ Zizi Cardow

Sunny & Betty Irabor ~ Patrick & Karen Koshoni ~ Eloho Elizabeth Isiorhor

Ebuka Obi-Uchendu ~ Shola Ojora ~ Fred & Dunni Igbinedion

LMAO ~ The Celebrant, Mike Igbinedion with his wife

Group Dance (LOL)


I make it a rule-of-thumb not to discuss politics but I got sent this and found it simply hilarious.
PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE LEAVING CERTIFICATE
NAME OF STUDENT: Aremu Mathew Okikiolu Olusegun Obasanjo
CLASS: Aso Rock Villa
YEAR OF GRADUATION: May 29th 2007
SUBJECT - SCORE - GRADE
1. Energy 12% F9
2. Agriculture 19% F9
3. Education 17% F9
4. Poverty Eradication 5% F9
5. Telecommunication 50% C5
6. Human Right Abuse 75% A3
7. Globe Trotting 100% A1
8. Fuel Price Hike 175% A1+
9. Reforms 40% C6
10. Fighting Corruption 20% F9
11. Transparency 9% F9
12. Accountability 12% F9
13. Credible Election 2% F9
14. Crime fighting 10% F9
15. Women Affairs 200% AAA REMARK: Outstanding!
No resit please.
PERFORMANCE: YOU BE THE JUDGE.

That's it! Have a fabulous day....
Bella

CAROLINE CHIKEZIE IN MYA BY MARIA ODUNSI

Hi Everyone,
So how was your weekend? Mine was sooo much fun! I went go-cart racing on Saturday…I admit that I didn’t want to go but I am glad that I dragged along ‘cause it was a blast! If y’all haven’t tried it, you should. I also went to see Pirates of the Caribbean – At World’s End……I just saw the first 2 parts last week and I loved them but I was disappointed in this one…..I don’t know, it just felt way too long. That said, it wasn’t a complete waste of time because I have a brand new crush…I never appreciated Orlando Bloom before but that boy is finnnnne! I even have a nickname for him ‘Ollie’ haahha…at my old age right? Oh well…

I was reading through my blog over the weekend and I realized that there are some Nigerian designers that I LOVE yet I have never really featured them on this site. One of such people is Maria Odunsi of MYA. I have loved her clothes for years! Ever since I saw her collection at the St. Moritz Style Selection some years ago. Maria is a graduate of ISL and the London College of Fashion. She also won the Fashion Designer of the Year Award in 2003. Anyways, I am still going to show more of Maria’s stuff in the future but as a teaser, here is the Caroline Chikezie cover of True Love from some months ago. All the clothes used in the shoot were by MYA by Maria Odunsi.
Absolutely stunning! Caroline looks amazing as well. I love her look especially her short hair-cut. I wish I could pull it off. For more on Caroline, click HERE



All Outfits by MYA by Maria Odunsi
Photographer: Ben Ingoldby @ Exposure Studios
Hair: Bobby Eke @ Bobby's Signature
Make-Up: Bunmi Olunloyo
Stylist: Omoyemi (Yemi) Akerele

Anyways, have a great week! Don’t worry, Bella Naija (the blog) hasn’t fallen off the deep end yet…I still have a lot planned…now is just a really crazy busy time.
Thanks for the luv….Much Love ~ Bella!