Glamsquad Magazine Feb 2023

february 2023 

Best Street- 

Style 

Moments 

10 Gift 

Ideas For 

That Special 

Someone This 

Valentine 

Foods 

to Avoid 

Before a 

Big Date 

Night 

Exclusive 

Adesua 

Etomi and 

Banky: 

love 

actually 

The Naked 

Dress & 30 

Wardrobe 

Essentials to 

Consider in 

2023 

Matthew 

Ashimolowo 

predicts the 

president 

Jada 

Pinkett Smith: 

What Manner of Love? 

www.glamsquadmagazine.com 1

Inside 

Glamsquad 

Magazine 

February 2023 

BEAUTY 

66 

5 French Girl-Inspired 

Make-Up Tricks To 

Steal in 2023 

FOOD 

Jada 

Pinkett 

Smith: 


24 

74 

Foods to Avoid 

Before a Big 

Date Night 

glamsquadtv glamsquad3 glamsquadTV glamsquadtvmag 

2 

www.glamsquadmagazine.com

Paris Fashion Week S/S 2023: 

From Christian Dior to Chanel 

56 

Editor-In-chief / 

Publisher 

Remi Diagbare 

Editor 

Amenna Dayo 

Deputy editor 

Chioma Esui 

Stand-By/Ad-Hoc 

Praise David 

Grace Effiong 

Oyindamola 

Staff Writers 

Sasha Bokamoso 

Contributors 

Dr. Nkechi Omoson 

Chef Amaka Obiefuna 

Kabirat Opoola 

Social Media 

Yewande Falana 

graphics / 

Web Manager 

Layi Success 

MARKETING Director 

Tega Diagbare 

Imioms Dan Anyiam 

Head Office: 

Suite B70/71, Ikota Shopping Complex, 

By VGC, Lekki , Lagos, Nigeria 

Tel: +09150764272, +44 7424 594773 

For advert enquiries, please contact 

the marketing Director 08115933500 or email, 

info@glamsquadmagazine.com, 

glamsquad.magazine.tv@gmail.com 

We pay for exclusive celebrity stories. 

F 

ebruary is the month of 

love. You know, I thought 

of something interesting 

today – February is a 

unique month of the year. 

Not only does it have 28 days 

(instead of 30 or 31), it gets 

29 days every four years. How 

unique is that? It is like the month 

is alive and can make changes 

to itself – how awesome! 

It is not a coincidence that this 

is the month dedicated to love. 

The fact that it is different from 

others and not definite in terms 

of the number of days every four 

years makes it even more unique. 

This, although unconsciously – I 

must admit, makes our cover 

special. 

Our cover – “Jada Pinkett 

Smith: What Manner of Love,” is a 

reflection and refraction of love in 

a different light, and there is none 

other that fits the bill perfectly like 

Jada – want to know how? Then 

dive in to find out. 

For our sub-feature, we chose 

Nigerian celebrity love birds – 

Banky W and Adesuwa Etomi, as 

we ask the hard questions – Love 

actually? 

As you know, Glamsquad 

remains the most balanced 

fashion and lifestyle 

magazine – sorry, Vogue! 

We have taken that crown, 

and I am not just saying this 

because I am the editor. So 

check out our magazines, 

and you be the judge. 

This edition also has a full 

dose of Fashion, Beauty, 

Lifestyle, and other stories – 

Health, Food, and others. 

Let me leave you to it. 

Please do take a minute to 

write to me and share your 

experience or concerns 

with the edition or any 

other edition. We are 

always happy to read your 

feedback – as they are the 

only metrics on which our 

work is measured. 

We love you – and we 

know you are aware of this! 

Lots of love, 

A . 

Ameena Dayo 

Editor, G.S 

FASHION 

Accessories 

Every Chic 

Lady Should 

Have in Her 

Wardrobe 

14 

Disclaimer: 

Please note that all photos used in this special 

digital edition of Glamsquad Magazine were 

sourced freely online. 

Glamsquad maintains no rights over the images/ 

photos, while we have tried to give appropriate 

credit where due, we are aware some artistes 

were not credited. 

We remain committed to supporting intellectual 

property and creativity. 

© 2023 Tegali Communications 


FASHION 

The Best It Girl 

– Approved Looks That 

Are Perfect For Valentine’s Day 

Praise David 

Look2 

Look1 

Given the ubiquity of 

Barbiecore and the rise 

of pavlova dressing, we 

believe this is going to be a big 

year for Valentine’s Day outfits. 

After a few years of low-key 

(a.k.a. couch-oriented) date 

nights and Valentine’s Day gift 

exchanges in wrinkly pajamas, 

you and your partner may want 

to kick things up a notch by 

getting dressed up and locking 

in a buzzy restaurant reservation 

in advance. 

Or maybe you’re thinking of 

reuniting with the girls at a big 

bougie brunch—whatever your 

plans are, outfit prep is key. 

Even if you aren’t the biggest 

fan of Valentine’s Day, it’s still 

a fun excuse to celebrate 

your significant other or your 

friends—even if it is a Hallmark 

holiday. Let us tell you. Wearing 

anything adorned with hearts or 

flowers will make you look like a 

Valentine’s Day enthusiast. 

But, in case that’s not exactly 

the vibe you’re going for, we’re 

here to show you a selection of 

outfits that are on the subtler 

side. 

Check through the beautiful 

pictures to see the most stylish 

outfits to wear this Valentine’s 

Day. 

4 


FASHION 

Look5 

Look 3 

Look6 

Look4 


LIFESTYLE 

10 

Gift Ideas 

For That Special 

Someone This 

Valentine 

Chioma Esui 

1 

Initial Pendant 

Necklace 

This dainty and modern 

initial necklace will soon 

become their go-to 

accessory. They will think 

of you every time she 

puts it on. 

2 

Silk Sleep Mask 

Your king or queen deserves 

this silk sleep mask to help 

them dream about you. 

3 

Temperature Control 

Smart Mug 

If his/her coffee or tea is always 

getting cold before they are 

done with it, this high-tech 

temperature-control mug 

would be such a thoughtful gift. 

4 

Alexis Sunglasses 

Upgrade his/her frames with these 

classically elegant sunglasses that 

go with every outfit. 

There’s so much to love about 

Valentine’s Day. After all, it’s a 

day about honouring love in all of 

its forms. And there are so many 

fun ways to celebrate. Maybe the 

centerpiece of your day is a romantic 

dinner with your honey, or maybe it’s 

cocktails and conversation with the 

girls for a Galentine’s Day bash. 

No matter what you do on the big 

day — and no matter the special 

person in your life — thoughtful 

Valentine’s Day gifts for them (and 

Valentine’s Day cards with meaningful 

messages, of course) make the day 

extra memorable. 

Our list of the best Valentine’s Day 

gifts for that special someone includes 

picks anyone who means the world 

to you. From timeless classics like 

roses and jewelry to personalized, 

sentimental gifts created with love 

just for that special someone, these 

presents are sure to please. 

The options on 

our list are budgetfriendly, 

like beauty 

products, self-care gifts, and 

chocolate all items you can afford no 

matter your budget. 

Of course, the most important gift 

of all is your love for each other. But 

choose a little something from our 

list to go with it and you’ve got all the 

makings of a flawless Valentine’s Day! 

6 


LIFESTYLE 

Mini Heart Waffle Maker 

Nothing says “I love you” like 

a stack of homemade heartshaped 

waffles. 

6 

5 

7 

Active Noise Cancelling 

Bluetooth Headphones 

Whether he/she needs to focus 

while working from home or likes 

listening to podcasts while she’s 

doing household tasks, these 

affordable noise-cancelling 

headphones are perfect. 

Rose Heart 

Bath Bomb 

8 

Give that special someone the gift 

of self-care with this luxe bath bomb 

made with organic ingredients 

including rose petals and rose 

essential oil. 

Converse Chuck Taylor 

Hidden Heart Low Topa 

Sneaker 

If they are in need of some new 

sneakers, these stylish Converse 

with a peekaboo heart are the 

perfect upgrade. 

9 

Heart Linzer Cookies 

If you’re hopeless when it comes 

to baking but still want to get your 

person something sweet, these 

cookies are here to save the day. 

They’re spiced almond butter 

cookies, sandwiched with 

homemade raspberry jam and 

dusted with confectioners’ sugar, 

and they come with this heart 

design that’s just perfect for V-Day. 

10 

Chandelier Candle 

This champagne, saffron, 

and leather-scented candle 

is hand-poured signature 

coconut and soy wax blend, 

and has a 55-hour burn 

time. It is subtle, soft and 

quiet - the perfect backdrop 

scent whether you are home 

alone reading a book, or 

entertaining family and 

friends. It’s always my first 

choice to light, or to share 

with others. 


FASHION 

The Naked Dress & 

30 

Wardrobe 

Essentials to 

Consider in 

2023 


The 

Naked 

Dress 

Alongside a new year comes 

a new beginning; some 

changes either to your 

routines or wardrobe. 

We have noticed the naked dress 

crawling back into the fashion light 

and this particular fashion trend is 

not for the weak. Giving off sexy, 

spicy, and skin, the naked dress is 

the go to dress of the season. 

The naked dress is a dress often 

made from sheer fabric. You know 

it when you see it or don’t see it. It 

is a garment that reveals as many 

details as they conceal. The dress 

was first worn by burlesque artists 

and showgirls before it migrated to 

the movie studios and was worn by 

famous actresses including Marlene 

Dietrich, Mae West, and Theda Bara. 

Since then, the runways and red 

carpets have been graced by 

different shades and designs of 

the naked dress. The naked dress 

emerged out of the era’s neutral 

shades and sleek, unembellished 

silhouettes that exposed fresh areas 

of the female body. 

Apart from the naked dress, here 

are 30 other wardrobe essentials to 

consider in 2023. 

Slip Dress 

The slip dress is an essential 

you should consider 

adding to your wardrobe 

this year. For summer, the 

slip dress gives a chic 

appearance. You can also 

layer the slip dress over 

with knitwear during fall. 

8 


FASHION 

Black Pants 

Black pants would 

forever remain a classic 

wardrobe piece. For 

2023, you should 

consider adding classic 

black pants that you can 

wear for any occasion. 

Black pants are versatile 

and can be worn with a 

white t-shirt, round neck, 

denim, and sweaters 

Minimalist 

Earrings 

Always confused 

about which jewelry to 

wear with your outfits? 

Minimalist earrings are 

a wardrobe essential 

you should consider 

embracing this year. 

Denim Trousers 

No wardrobe is complete without 

a pair of denim trousers. Denim 

trousers are scared for every 

wardrobe and they are a go 

to outfit for every season. Tuck 

in a white t-shirt or pair with a 

crop top, the denim trousers 

are an item for a versatile look. 

If you don’t already have a pair 

of denim trousers, you should 

consider adding one to your 

wardrobe. They come in different 

designs including high waisted 

jeans, low waisted jeans, and 

baggy jeans. Baggy jeans and 

low waisted jeans are in trend. 

A Classic 

Shoulder Bag 

Every lady in one way 

or another needs a 

sophisticated bag to 

fit all her belongings 

either for a casual 

outing or a date. 

Silk Dress 

Silk fashion is in trend and 

one to own in 2023. A mini or 

maxi, high-silt silk dress for any 

party emergency. 


FASHION 

Tweed Jacket 

Tweed jackets are another outer layer 

outfit you can add to your wardrobe. 

The tweed jacket has more structure 

than a cardigan and would work 

wonders for your wardrobe. 

Evening Bag 

A clutch, pouch, or mini bag is 

essential for an evening event, 

formal event, or wedding ceremony. 

They are little details that give your 

dress a glamorous look. 

Cardigan 

Cardigans are 

essential, especially 

during fall. You can 

style your cardigan 

over baggy jeans 

or layer it over a 

dress. 

Timeless 

Wristwatch 

Adding a timeless 

wristwatch to your 

wardrobe is never 

a bad option. 

Something you can 

wear and still look 

good irrespective of 

the recent trend. 

10 

www.glamsquadmagazine.com 

Invisible Underwear 

Invisible underwear is comfortable and 

lay perfectly flat. You do not have to 

worry about your pant line showing. 

Neutral- 

Colored Blouse 

Another essential wardrobe 

addition for you this year is 

a neutral-colored blouse. A 

blouse that has the power 

to look good on any color of 

trousers. Nude, black, and 

white are some options you 

can consider for a capsule 

wardrobe.

Tote Bag 

Every lady needs 

a tote bag. They 

are durable and a 

great carry all bag. 

Tote bags exist in 

different designs 

and 

sizes. 

FASHION 

Versatile Belts 

Belts are essential to add fittings 

and shape to an outfit. When 

choosing a belt, consider belts 

designed with sleek leather 

and elegant buckles. They are 

timeless accessories to use 

over and over again. 

A Black Dress 

One of the outfits essential 

for every wardrobe is a 

black dress. Either as a 

mini, maxi, or a little black 

dress, a black dress sure 

works many wonders. 

Oversized Blazer 

Oversized blazers are of the 

latest fashion trends and are 

being rocked in different ways. 

An oversized blazer is essential 

for every wardrobe this 2023. You 

can style your oversized blazer as 

a dress or rock it as a jacket. 

Elevated 

White 

T-Shirt 

An elevated 

white t-shirt is 

essential for your 

wardrobe. You 

can pair them 

with a jean, or 

joggers and 

they can also 

be styled as an 

inner during fall. 

Silk Scarf 

Silk scarves are 

considered a fashion 

statement piece. 

Either styled as a 

scarf, neckpiece, or 

top, they add some 

glam to your outfit. 


FASHION 

Knitwear 

Sweater 

Knitwear sweaters 

can be worn across 

different seasons. Pair 

it with your jeans for 

a casual corporate 

look or layer it over 

with a coat during 

winter. 

Black 

Leather 

Jacket 

Leather jackets 

are back in trend 

and this time 

better than ever 

before. A leather 

jacket creates an 

opportunity for a 

chic look and also 

a baddie look. 

Oversized 

Shirt 

Oversized shirts are 

versatile and can 

be rocked as a 

dress or styled for a 

casual look. Belt an 

oversized shirt and 

there! You have a 

chic dress. 

Relaxed 

Tailored Pants 

Soft tailoring outfits were a 

highlight of the spring summer 

2023 collection. The fashion 

world is gearing towards 

comfortable fashion. Relaxed 

tailored pants make an outfit 

looks almost effortless. 

Leggings 

Like it or not, owning a 

legging makes a lot of 

things easier. For summer, 

you can layer your leggings 

over with a light chiffon top 

and in winter can be worn 

underneath a pant or jean 

trousers. They can also be 

paired with white t-shirts, 

coats, and blazers. 

Loafers 

Loafers are comfortable 

to wear and match 

numerous outfit 

combinations. 

12 


FASHION 

Turtleneck Tops 

Turtleneck tops can be worn in 

different ways. For a corporate 

look, you can consider layering a 

blazer over it. The turtle neck top 

can also be worn with a pair of 

jean trousers or pant trousers. 

Sleeveless Sweater 

Sleeveless sweaters are another 

essential you should consider 

adding to your wardrobe this 

2023. They can be rocked alone 

or layered over a white t-shirt. 

Tank Top Or 

Camisoles 

Tank top serves the 

function of an inner top 

for a blazer, leather jacket, 

and denim jacket. A black 

tank top would make 

fashion easier and less 

stressful. 

White Button-Up 

Shirt 

Every wardrobe needs a white 

button-up shirt. Whether for a casual 

or corporate appearance, the white 

button-up shirt is ready to play any role. 

For a chic night out, the shirt can also 

be styled as a dress. White button-up 

shirts will forever remain a classic in 

every lady’s wardrobe. 

White Sneakers 

Every wardrobe needs a 

pair of white sneakers. 

The comfort and 

versatility they 

give are 

captivating. 


FASHION 

6 Accessories 

Every Chic Lady 

Should Have in Her 

Praise David 

Wardrobe 

Every stylish woman knows that accessories are her best friend. They 

can pull your outfit together in an instant and make even the most 

boring everyday outfit look glamorous. 

And there are those must-have accessories for women that we just can’t 

do without and those over-the-top few we save for special occasions. 

Here’s a list of 6 core accessories that you need to complete your 

wardrobe to ensure you always look your best… 

Shoes 

Just as with handbags, shoes 

should be another top pick 

in your ultimate accessories’ 

checklist. Everything else may 

be additional, but shoes are 

the one accessory that you 

can never go without. Since you 

have to slip on a pair of shoes 

before heading out, why not 

match it to your outfit for extra 

style points? 

Having a few different styles 

means complementing each 

outfit perfectly. Sneakers or laceups 

for your casuals or athleisure, 

ballerinas for dressed-up 

casuals, heels for evening events 

or mules for ethnic wear, find the 

styles that fit your wardrobe. 

For sneakers, Ginger’s Light 

Pink pair with lace-up detailing 

has a sleek design that can 

be paired with everything from 

denims to joggers. And for 

something dressy? The opentoe 

block heels in Black will 

complement your western wear 

and ethnic wear alike. 

Jewellery 

From 

necklaces 

and bracelets 

to earrings and rings, 

there is so much you can choose 

from in this category of 

must-have accessories 

for women. You don’t 

have to pick every type 

of jewellery to elevate 

your outfit; even a 

single statement piece 

can give it the elegant 

touch it needs. 

Whether your 

jewellery consists of 

those everyday earrings 

you are always wearing or 

that shining layered necklace 

you wear with an evening dress, 

you can always find what suits your 

style and wardrobe. If you’re new 

to matching jewellery, choosing a 

complete set will take the thinking 

out of it. Estele has some gorgeous 

necklace and earrings sets that can 

be paired with anything casual, 

formal or even with your ethnic 

ensembles. 

14 


FASHION 

Handbags 

Bags come in a variety of 

colours, sizes, fabrics and designs 

– each with its own purpose and 

each adding its own value to your 

outfit. That’s why they are at the 

top of the list of must-have basic 

accessories. A large statement tote 

to put everything you need into 

or a stylish clutch for an evening 

out, pick a few handbags that are 

versatile enough to go with different 

occasions and outfits. 

A great everyday choice is the 

colour-blocked handheld bag 

from Code. The Brown, White and 

Mustard Yellow panels make it 

easy to match various looks, while 

the spacious compartments will 

make carrying everything you need 

less of a task. You could also add 

backpacks to your list of essential 

handbags to own – such as the 

Navy Blue backpack from Caprese. 

The playful floral print and denimlike 

texture give it that casual vibe 

that will go well with your weekend 

looks. 


FASHION 

Fragrances 

A very subtle yet one of the 

essential fashion accessories, 

perfumes go far beyond just 

making you smell good. Unlike 

other accessories whose 

colour or style needs to suit 

your body shape or outfit, 

perfume is that one accessory 

that is universal. It goes with 

every outfit, every body type, 

every occasion and definitely, 

can enhance every mood. 

Finding a signature scent you 

can turn to will make it easier 

to apply perfume every day, 

while you can save a few 

fragrances for those special 

moments. Choose from floral, 

citrus, woody, fruity, oceanic 

and the many other aromas 

that blend well with the natural 

smell of your skin. 

If you’re picking your 

signature scent, you can 

opt for some of the biggest 

perfume brands like Bvlgari, 

Burberry, Hermes, Michael 

Kors and more. Bvlgari’s 

Goldea Eau De Parfum 

has a sweet oriental scent 

that comes from the Ylang- 

Ylang and Orange Blossom, 

while My Burberry Blush 

from Burberry is more floral 

with hints of pomegranate, 

lemon, rose petals, jasmine 

and wisteria for a delicate 

feminine scent. 

16 


FASHION 

Sunglasses 

Regardless of the season, 

sunglasses are those 

fashionable and functional 

must-have accessories for 

women. They not only add a 

touch of style to your outfits, 

but they also protect your 

eyes from harmful UV rays and 

the glare of the sun that can 

cause damage in and around 

your eyes. Depending on 

your lifestyle, you can choose 

different coatings and lens 

technologies that can further 

protect your eyes. 

Apart from sun-blocking 

purposes, sunglasses can 

also make an edgy fashion 

statement. Pick from classic 

styles like Aviators, Wayfarers 

or round sunglasses, or if you 

like to keep up with fashion 

trends, you could try something 

oversized or micro. For versatile 

looks, the oval sunglasses from 

Kosch Elemente with Brown 

lenses in a metallic Gold frame 

will complement any look, while 

Kate Spade’s square sunglasses 

with a translucent Pink frame 

will add some colour to pep up 

your outfit. 

Watches 

One of the more classic essential 

fashion accessories a woman could 

have in her wardrobe, watches have 

been around for a long time. Like 

sunglasses, what started off as a 

functional piece to help you tell time has 

become a fashion favourite and a big 

part of people’s personal style. 

You can style a watch that is 

beautifully crafted and speaks of your 

overall style – a watch you can wear 

with every one of your outfits – or go for 

a more customised look that is curated 

to the event you are attending or the 

mood you’re in. Suppose you’re looking 

for a watch that will become a part of 

your everyday wardrobe or something 

you can style with anything. In that case, 

a metallic watch in Silver or Gold with 

a minimalistic analogue dial is a good 

way to go – like the Kenneth Cole watch 

with a Black analogue dial encrusted 

with crystal indexes has a stainless-steel 

strap. The embellished watch from Titan, 

on the other hand, is what you need for 

those special events. 

The Rose Gold strap is 

encrusted with Purple 

and Pink crystals, 

while the simplistically 

designed dial has a 

marble-like finish in the 

same hues – a luxurious 

touch to your outfit. 


10 Key Spring /Sum 

Fashion Trends 

TRENDS 

To Watch Out For In 2023 


1 

Coco Chanel once said; you 

live, but once, you might as 

well be amusing. The spring 

summer 2023 fashion is almost 

upon us. The collection runway 

show debuted lots of captivating 

styles, which took us quite some 

time to digest. The fashion trends 

for this year are mesmerizing. 

From heavy cargo pants to sheer 

dresses, creative denim, and 

oversized power blazers, the 

spring-summer 2023 collections 

brought back nostalgic trends but 

with a modern and fresh twist. 

The New York, Paris, London, 

and Milan fashion week took us 

through different amazing fashion 

moments to lead a new fashion 

trend. 

One of the highlights to take 

note of is the 80s fashion is back 

in trend big time, and leather 

jackets are becoming an almost 

inevitable option. That being said, 

here is a list of 10 key spring/ 

summer 2023 fashion trends to 

watch out for: 

Soft Shade Tailoring 

It isn’t spring if the dressing 

isn’t relaxed and comfy. Soft 

tailoring and relaxed, colored 

outfits are among the key 

fashion trends to watch out 

for. Unlike before, outfits for 

spring and summer 2023 are 

all about pastel blues, greys, 

and greens. Neon-coloured 

dressing isn’t left out too. 

18 


TRENDS 

mer 

2 

Heavy Cargo 

Spring and summer fashion is 

always geared towards comfortable 

fashion. Cargo pants are still in trend 

and are getting heavier than ever 

before. Cargo pants are spotted in 

different colors and are also made 

from fabric, including denim cargo 

pants. Collections debuted by Dion 

Lee, Fendi, and LaQaun Smith, to 

name but a few featured highquality 

and creative cargo designs. 

Fendi silk cargo pants made quite a 

statement piece. 

3 

Shimmering Sequins /High 

Octane Sequin 

Like it or not, sequins are one of the key 

spring summer 2023 fashion trends to 

watch out for. And for this year, they are 

available in different colors, with lighter 

color palettes, nudes, and pastels being 

commonly spotted color trends among 

designers. Valentino, Michael Kors, and 

Tom Ford, to mention but a few kept us 

captivated with their shimmering sequin 

designs. 


TRENDS ESCAPE 

4 

Brighter Shade Outfits 

The world has moved towards a form 

of fashion where color has become 

very important. Although blackcoloured 

outfits remain a classic and 

always will, brighter shade and neoncoloured 

outfits have become a trend 

all over the world. Fashion houses, 

including Gucci, Valentino, Bottega 

Venetta, Versace, and Chanel, 

highlighted this trend in their springsummer 

collection for 2023. 

5 

20 


TRENDS 

Belts 

Another fashion trend to 

adopt in 2023, if you haven’t 

yet, is the addition of belts to 

your outfits. Belts are no longer 

only used to give fitting to a 

trouser but have nowadays 

become a fashion accessory. 

Belts help to give style to an 

outfit and also do wonders in 

highlighting your body shape, 

especially when rocking 

baggy cloth. Belts can be 

used around 

Fringes 

Fringes always add an interesting 

look to an outfit. Whether full-on 

fringing or towards the edge, 

fringes give an outfit the drama 

and creative look it requires. 

Different styles of fringes were 

spotted on the spring-summer 

runway debut. Bottega Venetta 

debuted statement color fringe 

dresses. Fashion houses, including 

Victoria Beckham, Etro, Balmain, 

and Jacquemus, were not left out 

of the fringe game. 

6 


TRENDS ESCAPE 

Sheer Outfits 

What is spring and summer 

without a bit of skin? Sheer 

fabrics have been spotted in 

recent fashion trends but are 

at the forefront of the spring/ 

summer 2023 fashion trend. 

From sheer dresses or sheer 

tops to sheer everything, these 

sheer trends were spotted in 

collections debuted by Prada, 

Bottega, Chanel, Tom Ford, 

and Valentino. The sheer outfits 

range across a sheer dress 

which can serve as an overlay 

over a dress or for a super 

sexy look. Sheer outfits are the 

perfect way to show a little or 

a lot of skin this spring. They 

are considered one of the big 

key spring and summer 2023 

fashion trends to watch out for 

7 

Creative Denim 

While designers have 

always featured denim in 

their collections, there was 

a reported 64% increase 

in the spring summer 2023 

collection debut. And 

apparently, the denim 

is not your usual denim 

but a more creative and 

upgraded version. Denim 

mini dresses, denim fulllength 

maxi skirts, denim 

cargo pants, layered denim 

pieces, and co-ord denim 

sets were spotted across 

different fashion brands, 

and they appear to be one 

of the spring and summer 

trends to watch out for. 

8 

22 


TRENDS 

Super-Sized Blazers/ 

Oversized Power 

Blazers 

No doubt, blazers are a real 

fashion piece for an elegant and 

classy appearance. For the spring 

and summer 2023 collection, 

blazers are getting oversized and 

designed with power-padded 

shoulders. Oversized and supersized 

blazers are back in trend, 

highlighting comfort as an 

important aspect of fashion. The 

oversized blazer is styled over a 

jacket, while some are spotted 

being rocked as a dress. 

9 

Low Rise Waist 

The evolution of low rise waist has 

been quite an interesting topic. 

From being a highly soughtafterafashion 

in the early 000s to 

declining in the 2010s, low-rise 

waisted outfits are back in trend. 

We noticed the collection for spring 

and summer 2023 has low-waisted 

outfits in different designs. Jeans, 

maxi skirts, and cargo pants are 

becoming sexier than usual. Baggy 

jeans are also gaining ground. Hello, 

80s fashion! 

10 


REPORTAGE 

Jada 

Pinkett Smith: 


By Amenna Daayo 

With Credits to Amy Francombe & Laura Hampson 

From 2Pac to Will Smith, to August 

Alsina – and then back to Will Smith, 

there is no denying that Jada Pinkett 

attracts only the best! Well, with such 

a figure and ageless beauty that Jada 

adorns, even the toughest of them all will 

melt at her presence. 

“Here is how I will change my statement... 

Will and I BOTH can do WHATEVER we 

want, because we TRUST each other to 

do so. This does NOT mean we have an 

open relationship...this means we have a 

GROWN one,” this was how Jada Pinkett 

Smith addressed the rumours she and 

her husband, Will Smith, were in an open 

relationship. 

This wasn’t the only time the two referred 

to their marriage in fluid and confusing 

terms. In a 2018 episode of TIDAL’s Rap 

Radar podcast, Smith said they don’t 

see themselves as married. “We refer to 

ourselves as life partners, where you get 

into that space where you realise you are 

literally with somebody for the rest of your 

life. There’s no deal breakers. There’s nothing 

she could do – ever. Nothing that would 

break our relationship.” 

However, in a 2021 GQ cover story, Smith 

finally confirmed that “for the large part 

of our relationship, monogamy was what 

we chose,” however, they were now “not 

thinking of monogamy as the only relational 

perfection.” 

Later that year, Oprah Winfrey interviewed 

the Men in Black star about his relationship 

with Jada. “I think the difficulty that people 

have and difficulty in discussing it is people 

only think in terms of sex,” he told the 

billionaire talk show host. “People are trying 

to put something on it: ‘Will and Jada— 

what they doing with other people?’ Will and 

Jada ain’t really doing too much of nothin. 

Will and Jada are on a spiritual journey to 

cleanse the poisonous, unloving parts of our 

hearts. And we’re doing it together in this 

lifetime no matter what.`` 

24 


REPORTAGE 

Glamsquad 

Exclusive: 


REPORTAGE 

The 

Entanglement 

The year 2018 was termed the year 

of ‘entanglement’ all thanks to Jada 

and Will, after their explosive round table 

interview where Jada opened up about 

her relationship with a 27-year-old R&B 

singer named Agustus Alsina. 

The two reportedly met in 2015 at her 

children Jaden and Willow’s concert in 

London, and they struck up a friendship. 

“He asked me that day, ‘Man, I could 

really use some help dealing with life,’” 

Pinkett Smith said on a 2018 episode of 

her Red Table Talk. “And then [I came] to 

find out that he was abusing Percocet 

[prescription painkiller].” 

The friendship eventually turned 

romantic, with Alsina revealing that they 

had been together for four and a half 

years and that he “truly and really, really, 

deeply loved” her. 

“I just wanted to feel good, it had been 

so long since I felt good,” Pinket Smith 

told viewers on Red Table Talk on July 10. 

“And it was really a joy to just help heal 

someone. I think that has a lot to do with 

my co-dependency.” 

The romance made several headlines 

in the past years, memes surfaced on 

the internet, and even the rumours of 

the Smiths regarding an open marriage 

surfaced. 

“I truly and deeply have a ton of love 

for [Jada]. I devoted myself to her and 

gave myself to her-so much so to the 

point that I can die right now and be okay 

with knowing that I truly gave myself to 

somebody,” he said. 

During the tell-it-all episode of Red 

Table Talks, Smith said, “we decided that 

we were going to separate for a period 

of time and you go figure out how to 

26 


REPORTAGE 

make yourself happy and I’ll figure out how 

to make myself happy.” While Pinkett Smith 

added, “From there, as time went on, I got 

into a different kind of entanglement with 

August…Yes, it was a relationship absolutely.” 

That said, Pinkett Smith denied that Smith 

ever gave permission to August, saying, 

“One thing I want to clean up…about 

you giving ‘permission,’ which is…the only 

person that can give permission in that 

circumstance is myself.” 

The relationship between Pinkett Smith 

and Alsina had since ended, and the Smiths 

remain happily married. “Me and Jada, 

to this day, if we start talking, it’s four hours. 

It’s four hours if we exchange a sentence. 

It’s the center of why we’ve been able to 

sustain [our relationship] and why we are still 

together, not choking the life out of each 

other—the ability to work through issues,” 

said Smith during his 2021 interview with 

Winfrey. “I’ve never met another person that 

I connect with in conversation more blissfully 

and productively than Jada.” 


REPORTAGE 

Did Alsina Get 

Will’s Approval to 

Get ‘Entangled’ 

with Jada? 

Alsina said Will gave him and Jada 

his “blessing”, adding: “I actually sat 

down with Will and had a conversation 

due to the transformation from their 

marriage to life partnership that 

they’ve spoken on several times and it 

not involving romanticism.” 

Alsina added he “totally gave 

myself to that relationship for years 

of my life and I truly and really, really 

deeply loved and have a ton of love 

for her.” 

The same day Alsina’s claims 

surfaced Jada’s reps said they were 

“absolutely not true”. 

Less than two weeks later, Jada 

and Will appeared on an episode 

of Jada’s Red Table Talk, where 

Jada confirmed that she did have a 

relationship with Alsina, saying that she 

and Will were separated at the time. 

“We decided that we were going 

to separate for a period of time and 

you go figure out how to make yourself 

happy and I’ll figure out how to make 

myself happy,” Jada said at the time. 

“From there, as time went on, I got 

into a different kind of entanglement 

with August...Yes, it was a relationship 

absolutely.” 

Jada also said that Will didn’t give 

permission as the only person who 

could give her permission was herself. 

28 


REPORTAGE 

The Slap For Jada 

True to their vows, Smith and Pinkett Smith have 

stayed together through thick and thin. After all, even 

following last night’s incident, the two held hands 

throughout the ceremony, and we’re sure they’ll 

continue to do so for many decades more. 

Then just when we thought we had heard it all about 

Jada and Will, the pair will grab the headline again in 

2022 when Will Smith slapped Chris Rock at the 94th 

annual Oscars before he yelled at the comedian to 

“keep my wife’s name out your f***ing mouth.” 

It quickly became the most talked-about moment 

of the evening, with the pair initially appearing to laugh 

off the tense moment. 

The altercation came after Rock said: “Jada, I love 

you. GI Jane 2, can’t wait to see you,” referring to 

Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, and her shaved head. 

The comment prompted Smith to walk up on stage 

and hit the comedian, a reaction that has not been 

confirmed to be an act or not. 

Will and Jada have had very public ups and downs 

during their 28-year relationship, so where do they 

stand now? 


REPORTAGE 

How Did Will Smith 

and Jada Pinkett 

Smith Meet? 

Will and Jada met after she 

auditioned for the role of Will’s 

girlfriend on The Fresh Prince of Bel- 

Air. While she did not get the part, 

the pair hit it off - despite Will being 

married to Sheree Zampino at the 

time, with whom he shares a son 

Trey. 

“I had a realisation I wasn’t with 

the person I was supposed to be 

with,” he told Jada’s Red Table Talk 

in 2018. “I was sitting in a [bathroom] 

stall and I was crying and laughing 

uncontrollably, and I knew [Jada] 

was the woman I was supposed to 

be with.” 

30 


1995: The pair officially begin dating 

It wasn’t until 1995 that Will and Jada 

began seriously dating after Will finalised 

his divorce from Zampino. 

1997: Will and Jada get engaged 

and married 

Will popped the question to Jada in 

November 1997 before getting married 

just one month later in Baltimore. 

Jada wasn’t initially sold on the idea 

of marriage. She told People in 2019: 

“I never wanted to get married. But 

my mother was like: ‘You have to get 

married’ - she’s so old-school - and 

Will wanted a family. So I said: ‘All right, 

maybe it’s something I should do.’” 

1998: Their first child is born 

Jada and Will’s first child together, son 

Jayden, was born in July 1998. 

2000: Their second child was born 

Jada and Will welcomed their 

daughter Willow in 2000. Willow is now a 

singer. 

2013: Jada denies open marriage 

rumours (sort of) 

After a quiet decade and a half 

making movies and raising their children, 

Jada took to Facebook to address 

rumours she and Will were in an open 

relationship. 

She wrote: “Here is how I will change 

my statement...Will and I BOTH can do 

WHATEVER we want, because we TRUST 

each other to do so. This does NOT 

mean we have an open relationship... 

this means we have a GROWN one.” 

2015: Will addresses divorce 

rumours 

Timeline of the Relationship 

Between Will Smith and Jada 

Pinkett Smith 

REPORTAGE 


REPORTAGE 

Will addresses persistent 

separation rumours by clarifying the 

pair were not getting a divorce. 

“Under normal circumstances, I 

don’t usually respond to foolishness. 

But, so many people have extended 

[to] me their ‘deepest condolences’ 

that I figured – ‘What the hell… I 

can be foolish, too!’ he wrote on 

Facebook at the time. “So, in the 

interest of redundant, repetitious, 

over and over-again-ness… 

Jada and I are… NOT GETTING A 

DIVORCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!” 

2018: Will revealed that he and 

Jada don’t refer to themselves as 

married 

In an episode of TIDAL’s “Rap 

Radar” podcast, Will said he and 

Jada “refer to ourselves as life 

partners, where you get into that 

space where you realise you are 

literally with somebody for the rest 

of your life. There’s no deal breakers. 

There’s nothing she could do - 

ever. Nothing that would break our 

relationship. She has my support till 

death and it feels so good to get to 

that space.” 

2020: August Alsina claims he 

had an affair with Jada 

August Alsina and Jada were 

introduced in 2015, but it wasn’t 

until 2020 that he claimed that he 

and Jada had dated while she 

was married and that she and Will’s 

marriage was open during that time. 

2021: Jada discusses her and 

Will’s sex life, Will’s memoir is 

released 

In another episode of Red Table 

32 


REPORTAGE 

Talk in October 2021, Jada said it 

“takes work” to maintain a 

spark in the bedroom. 

“It’s hard...The thing Will and I 

talk about a lot is the journey. We 

started in this [relationship] at a 

very young age, 22 years old ... 

I think you expect your partner to 

know - especially when it comes 

to sex. It’s like: ‘Well, if you love 

me, you should know. If you love 

me, you should read my mind.’ 

That’s a huge pitfall,” she said at 

the time. 

The next month, Will’s memoir 

is released, which details several 

issues the couple has had over 

the years. He wrote they were 

“suffering the brutal death of 

our romantic fantasies, the 

burning away of the idealistic 

illusion of the perfect marriage 

and the perfect family. Neither 

of us wanted a divorce; we 

knew we loved each other, and 

some aspects of our union were 

magical. But the structure of the 

life that we had established was 

strangling both of us.” 

2022: No infidelity statement 

and Oscars incident 

During an interview on CBS 

Sunday Morning earlier this 

month, Will said he and Jada 

had never accused each other 

of cheating. 

On Oscars night on 27 March, 

Will appeared to get riled up by 

comments Rock made about 

his wife at the Oscars. During his 

teary Best Actor acceptance 

speech, Will said he was a “fierce 

defender of his family.” 


Jada 

Pinkett 

1996 

Will Smith, Jada Pinkett-Smith (wearing 

a monochroamtic black look with 

matching booties) and her mother in 

Los Angeles on June 28, 1996. 

and the Bhad 

Girl Fashion 

Identity 

Amenna Daayo 

1997 

Jada Pinkett-Smith in all-black with 

matching boots and her husband 

Will Smith on a red carpet in Los 

Angeles on Feb. 01, 1997. 

2002 

Jada Pinkett-Smith, wearing 

a black plungin dress with 

matching black pointy pumps, 

with Will Smith at the 7th annual 

Critics Choice Awards in Beverly 

Hills, Calif., on Feb. 03, 2002. 

Jada Pinkett loves events 

and loves to make bold 

fashion statements – this 

is so obvious! But she has 

this unique fashion touch and a 

sort of Bhad Girl Fashion Identity. 

Don’t you believe it? 

Well, we will give you an array of 

random photos of Jada on the 

red carpet to show you what 

we mean. 

She always rules the red carpet 

in the sleekest outfits. We look 

at some of her best fashion 

and shoe statements. Let’s give 

you a sneak peek into what we 

mean when we say Jada has a 

bhad girl fashion Identity. 

Check it out! 

34 


2011 

Jada Pinkett-Smith 

in a gray jacket, 

black trousers and 

black sandals at the 

premiere of ‘Justin 

Bieber: Never Say 

Never’ held at Nokia 

Theater L.A. Live on 

February 8, 2011. 

2010 

Jada Pinkett-Smith, wearing 

a black plungin dress with 

matching black pointy pumps, 

with Will Smith at the 7th annual 

Critics Choice Awards in Beverly 

Hills, Calif., on Feb. 03, 2002. 

2017 


wearing a gold, high slit 

gown with sharp black 

pumps at the BET Awards 

17 held at the JW Marriot 

in Los Angeles, California 

on Sunday June 25, 2017. 

2017 

Jada Pinkett- 

Smith in a green 

embellished dress 

with strappy silver 

sandals at the 

‘Girls Trip’ premiere 

in Paris, France on 

Nov. 20, 2017. 

2012 

Jada Pinkett-Smith at the 

‘Men In Black 3’ premiere at 

La Caja Magica in Madrid, 

Spain wearing a minty green 

minidress adorned in gold 

accents with gold peep-toe 

platform sandals on May 13, 

2012 


2018 

Jada Pinkett-Smith in a 

white fluffy coat, black 

skinny trousers and black 

strappy pumps at the 

premiere of “Skate Kitchen” 

during the Sundance Film 

Festival at the Park City 

Library in Park City, Utah. 

2018 


seen out at dinner 

with newly single 

actor Duane Martin 

and her mother at 

‘Mastro’s Steakhouse’ 

in Beverly Hills, CA 

Jada was wearing 

designer above the 

knees beige boots 

and a fluffy coat with 

a matching turban 

25 Feb 2018. 

2019 


wearing a silver suit 

and black pumps at 

the 2019 MTV Movie 

and TV Awards on 

June 15, 2019 in 

Santa Monica, Calif. 

2019 


in a black midriffbaring 

ensemble 

embellished with 

sparkles coordinated 

with black strappy 

sandals at the “Angel 

Has Fallen” world 

premiere in Los 

Angeles on August 

20, 2019. 

2021 


wearing a red high 

low gown with red 

tights and sparkly 

sandal heels at The 

Matrix Resurrections 

in San Francisco, 

Calif., on Dec. 18, 

2021. 

2021 

Actress Jada 

Pinkett-Smith 

wearing a white 

off-the-shoulder 

Vivienne 

Westwood gown 

at the 2021 

AFI Fest closing 

night premiere 

of “King Richard” 

in Hollywood, 

Calif., on 

November 14, 

2021. 

36 


2019 

Jada Pinkett-Smith in a 

black leather boxy suit with 

a denim shirt and a plaid 

top wrapped aound her 

waist paired with black 

strappy sandals at the 

screen of Apple TV+’s 

“Hala” in Los Angeles on 

Nov. 18, 2019. 

2019 


wearing a scarf 

wrap top, leather 

pants, and black 

suede pumps on 

‘Late Show with 

Stephen Colbert’ in 

New York on Aug. 

13, 2019. 

2019 

Jada Pinkett-Smith in 

a monochromatic 

orange outfit 

consisting of a 

cape top and 

billowing trosuers 

with platform heels 

at the “Gemini 

Man” premiere in 

Los Angeles on Oct. 

06, 2019. 

2022 


in a green Jean 

Paul Gaultier 

ruched gown 

with matching 

peep-toe platform 

sandals at the 94th 

Academy Awards 

on March 27, 2022 

in Los Angeles. 

2022 

Actress Jada 

Pinkett-Smith in a 

nude crystallized 

off-the-shoulder 

gown with a 

matching train at 

the 2022 Vanity 

Fair Oscar Party in 

Beverly Hills, Calif., 

on March 27, 

2022. 


FEATURE 

Jada Pinkett 

and 2Pac 

Relationship 

Oyinkansola Fatoki 

In case you missed 

it, the late rapper 

Tupac Shakur is now 

something of a 

permanent figure in 

Jada Pinkett Smith’s 

decades-long marriage 

to Will Smith. 

Every time there is a 

drama involving the 

Smiths, internet users 

somehow find a way to 

link it back to Tupac — 

even if it’s not actually 

related to him at all. 

The Surprising Job Teri 

Hatcher Had Before She 

Got Famous 

Take, for instance, the 

recent infamous Oscars 

slap, where Will stormed 

the stage after Chris 

Rock made a joke about 

Jada’s shaved head. 

“Will Smith slapped 

Chris rock and it was 

all Tupac’s fault fr,” one 

person jokingly claimed 

on Twitter. 

Another user tweeted, 

“Will smith put so much 

strength behind that slap 

he probably pretended 

Chris rock was Tupac.” 

So yes, for every new 

Will and Jada headline, 

Tupac’s name is lurking 

just somewhere in the 

corner. 

That is because, for 

many years now, Jada 

has seemingly given 

people more than 

enough reasons to do 

38 


FEATURE 


FEATURE 

just that. Back in 2021, fans went 

wild after Jada shared an old 

poem Tupac wrote to her. 

Per the online reactions, many 

seem to believe that Jada and 

Tupac were in love at one point. 

But is that really the truth to their 

relationship? Or is this just yet 

another Hollywood rumor that won’t 

go away? 

Jada Pinkett Smith met Tupac 

back in high school 

Per Insider, Jada Pinkett Smith and 

Tupac first met back in the ‘80s 

when they were both students at 

the Baltimore School of Arts. “It was 

the first day and he came over to 

me and introduced himself,” she 

said of their first meeting. 

The two immediately connected, 

despite Tupac not being the kind 

of guy she would normally roll with. 

“And in high school, Pac was a 

little funny looking. Definitely from 

looking at him, wasn’t necessarily 

the type of cat that I would even 

like, deal with,” Jada added. 

But none of that seemed to 

matter, as the rapper went on to 

become one of her best friends. 

Even though the pair’s bond was 

mostly platonic, in 2015, Jada told 

Howard Stern that she once forced 

Tupac to kiss her — but it was a 

total disaster. 

“There was a time when I was like, 

‘Just kiss me! Let’s just see how this 

goes,’ and when I tell you it had 

to be the most disgusting kiss for 

us both,” she said with a laugh. 

She explained that it must’ve not 

worked because a “higher power 

40 


FEATURE 

just did not want that.” 

This revelation has, of course, not 

stopped people from speculating 

that Tupac and Jada had 

something more than friendship, 

with Will Smith once admitting 

that he was jealous of the two’s 

friendship. “He was the image of 

perfection, but she was with the 

Fresh Prince,” Will told “The Breakfast 

Club” in 2020. “I was deeply 

insecure and I wasn’t man enough 

to handle that relationship.” 

Jada Pinkett Smith and Tupac 

were estranged when he died 

When Jada Pinkett Smith first met 

Tupac, she was in a much different 

place than she is now. “One of the 

things that’s very interesting that 

I’ve never really said before is that 

when I first met Pac when we first 

met, I was a drug dealer,” Jada 

said during an appearance on 

SiriusXM’s “Sway In the Morning.” 

But while Jada was trying to get 

out of the drug-dealing business, 

Tupac was trying to get in. “As I 

was coming out of the life, he was 

going more into the life,” she said. 

With the two friends going in very 

opposite directions, their friendship 

was put to test and they ended up 

having a major falling-out. 

Jada revealed to Howard Stern 

that she and Tupac were not on 

speaking terms at the time of his 

death — because she was not 

okay with the new life he had 

chosen. “We had a very hardcore 

disagreement ... I just wasn’t in 

agreement with the direction that 

he was taking,” she explained. 

Jada battled guilt following Tupac’s 

death, but she was comforted that 

he knew exactly how much she 

loved him. “But, I know he knew 

that,” the “Girls Trip” star said. “It 

wasn’t the first time that we had a 

bad argument and had stopped 

speaking. That was kind of a 

constant in our relationship.” 

Even all these years later, it’s clear 

Jada had a deep level of care for 

her former friend. 


FEATURE 

Model To 

Celebrate 

42 


FEATURE 

Adesuwa 

Aighewi 

Sasha Bokomoso 

Adesuwa Thongpond 

Pariyasapat Aighewi is 

a Nigerian American 

fashion model and 

filmmaker. In 2018, she was 

chosen as the runner up for 

“Breakout Star of the Year” by 

models.com. As of January 2019, 

Aighewi ranks as one of the “Top 

50” models by models.com. 

Dubbed by i-D Magazine as 

one who has “captured fashion’s 

imagination.” Adesuwa represents 

the epitome of a new generation 

of models who seek to vocalize 

the deep layers of culture, history, 

and societal impact embodied 

by the fashion industry. 

Of Chinese, Nigerian, and 

Thai descent, Adesuwa initially 

entered the modeling world with 

the intention to earn money for 

a NASA internship. Her first big 

break arrived when she opened 

the Coach Spring/Summer 2018 

show, a feat that earned her 

much momentum from the 

who’s-who of today’s top fashion 

houses. 

Soon, campaigns for 

Alexander Wang, Bottega Veneta, 

Chanel, Dior, Marc Jacobs, Vera 

Wang, and Versace became part 

of her repertoire, alongside covers 

for Numero, i-D, New York Times 

Style, and editorials for multiple 

editions of Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, 

CR Fashion Book, AnOther, Dazed, 

and many more. As notable 

global brands gradually became 

significant supporting forces 

behind her career, Adesuwa 

decided to utilize the new 

relationships cultivated within this 

field to amplify other pertinent 

issues. 

As her career ascended, 

Adesuwa’s creative potential 

has also extended to new 

heights: since 2017, she has 

penned think pieces for The 

Guardian on diversity issues within 

fashion, directed short films for 

LOVE magazine, and became 

Contributing Editor for i-D. In 

2019, the British Fashion Council 

recognized her as one of the 

leading Creatives of the “NEW 

WAVE.” 

Currently, Adesuwa works 

diligently on preserving African 

culture and promoting its 

legacy to the world, with 

numerous projects in the works 

simultaneously to achieve her 

vision. As she stated to i-D, “I 

want to have a summit with all 

the coolest Africans worldwide. I 

want people to come together 

– everyone thinks they’re alone 

— but I want to bring everyone 

together and make a plan and 

help our continent.” 


FASHION ESCAPE 

Best 

Street- 

Style 

Moments 

Of Adut Akech, Adesuwa 

Aighewi & Nicolas Mayowa 

through the Years 

Praise David 

Adut Akech, Adesuwa Aighewi, and Nicolas 

Mayowa have been on the fashion circuit since 

they made their runway debuts many years 

ago. From that moment, the supermodels 

have racked up international covers and become the 

faces of premium brands worldwide. 

They have made their marks as one of the most indemand 

models of the moment and cemented their 

status as fashionable street stylers too. 

Below, we have shared the best street-style moments 

of Adut Akech, Adesuwa Aighewi, and Nicolas Mayowa 

throughout the year. Enjoy! 

44 


Nicolas Mayowa

FASHION 

Adesuwa Aighewi 

Adut Akech 



Adut Akech 

46 


FASHION 



Adesuwa Aighewi 

48 


FASHION 



Nicolas Mayowa 

50 


FASHION 


FEATURE 

Adesua 

Etomi and 

Banky W 

A Union Made 

in the Stars? 

Chioma Esui 

Call them the number 

one celebrity couple 

in Nollywood, and you 

won’t be wrong. The question 

on the lips of many is whether 

this is actually love, or would 

it end like the other celebrity 

marriages we have been used 

to in recent times? We hope it is 

not the later – sincerely, we all 

do. 

Recently, Nigerian singer 

Bankole Wellington, popularly 

known as Banky W, and his 

actress wife, Adesua Etomi, took 

to social media to celebrate 

their fourth wedding anniversary 

with the most amazing pictures. 

The amiable couple, who 

got married in Cape Town, 

South Africa, in 2017, took to 

social media to celebrate each 

other and say loving words for 

each other. 

The singer and actor cum 

politician described Adesua as his 

song, rhymes, heart, light, muse, 

melody, and everything. Adesua, 

on her part, stated that Banky W 

will always be a favourite part of 

her, adding that without him, she’d 

be living in black and white. 

You will recall that this is not the 

first time that Banky W has openly 

professed his love for his wife. In 

November last year, he revealed 

that marrying his actress wife, 

Adesua Etomi, was the secondbest 

decision he has made. The 

singer said this while celebrating 

his wife’s birthday on his Instagram 

page. 

52 


FEATURE 

Sharing a video of himself and 

his wife, the father-of-one noted that 

his best decision was giving his life to 

Christ while marrying Adesua was the 

second. 

He wrote, “The second best 

decision I’ve ever made was to ask 

@adesuaetomi to be my wife (the 

best was giving my life to Christ). 

“Happy birthday to my crown, my 

queen, my everything, my lover, my 

baby mama, my partner-in-purposeand-destiny. 

“You’re my inspiration and support 

system, my motivation and source of 

encouragement. 

“Thank you for loving me and 

building with me. Thank you for 

looking out for me and praying with 

me. 

“In Jesus’ name, this will be your 

best year yet, and the rest of your 

years will be the best of them. You 

will shine like the star He created you 

to be. 

“You will never be held back by 

the limitations or expectations that 

others have of you. 

“Your validation will only ever 

come from who God is and who He 

created you to be. You will increase 

in wisdom, grace, strength, and 

anointing. 

“You will achieve your destiny and 

manifest your dreams. The peace of 

God will guard your heart and mind 

in Christ Jesus, and the purpose of 

God will guide your life’s journey. 

“We will grow old together and 

live to see our children’s children in 

abundance, joy, peace, love, and 

contentment. 

“Shuga, I will forever be your 

biggest fan and cheerleader. I’m so 

grateful for you, proud of you, and 

thankful that I have the honor of 

being your husband. You are light. 

You are love. You are beauty. And 

you’re mine. 

“I don’t need to win the lotto 

because with you, I’ve clearly won in 

life. Until the day we die, it’s gonna 

be you, me and the Most High.” 

You will recall that Banky W and 

Adesua Etomi tied the knot on 


FEATURE 

November 19, 2017 in a star-studded 

ceremony, and they welcomed their 

first son, Hazaiah, in January 2021. 

It appears Banky W is really 

enjoying his marriage to Etomi and 

has found the secret ingredient to 

sustain the union. In a recent interview, 

the musician cum politician shared 

some nuggets on why he believes 

couples do not enjoy their marriages. 

The 41-year-old singer shared his 

thoughts during a radio programme 

together with his wife, Adesua Etomi, 

hosted by the Nigerian media 

personality, Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, in 

the series, the Black Box Interview. 

The singer, who was responding 

to a question on how he had met his 

wife, Adesua, revealed that he wasn’t 

able to pay attention to her after they 

had met a number of times because 

he wasn’t ready to settle down. 

He also pointed out that couples 

struggled to stay together because 

they rushed into marriage when they 

were not ready. 

He said, “I honestly think that God 

blinded my eyes until I was in a place 

where I would be working to be the 

type of man that would treat his 

daughter properly. Until I got to that 

place, God didn’t let me see her. 

“So I saw her, you know, and I was 

like, ‘nice girl, fine girl, okay nice to 

meet you,’ and I kept moving. I was in 

a different place in my life. And men 

know, men always know when we are 

ready. And until you’re ready, you’re 

not ready. 

“And if you’re not ready, it doesn’t 

matter how great somebody is, if you 

as a man, you’re not ready to settle 

down and be dedicated or whatever, 

you’re just gonna mess it up or end up 

in this miserable situation. 

“And that’s why I think today that 

marriage has turned into this thing we 

endure rather than enjoy.” 

Banky W and Adesua got married 

over four years ago on 19 November 

2017, and in early 2021, they 

announced they had a baby boy. 

Recently, Adesua, has for the 

“ 

And if you’re not ready, it doesn’t 

matter how great somebody is, if 

you as a man, you’re not ready to 

settle down and be dedicated or 

whatever, you’re just gonna mess 

it up or end up in this miserable 

situation 

54 


FEATURE 

first time, revealed why she agreed 

to marry popular singer, Bankole 

Wellington, aka Banky W. 

According to her, Banky’s first 

message to her made her laugh which 

guaranteed they were going to get 

along. 

She noted, “If you can make me 

laugh, I can almost guarantee that 

we are going to get along and his first 

message made me laugh. I wasn’t 

planning on getting married to anyone 

in the industry. And here comes this 

one (Banky), and he completely 

shattered all my plans. But when he 

proposed to me, it was yes. It was an 

instant yes. I didn’t even think twice 

about it.” 

Mrs. Wellington revealed this in a 

documentary titled, ‘The Wellingtons’ 

which aired on DSTV. 

In the revealing documentary, 

Adesua said that she wasn’t looking 

out to date or marry anyone in the 

entertainment industry until Banky 

W came along and changed her 

perception. 

She added, “We are pretty much 

on the same page because we know 

what we both want, the kind of family 

we want. I keep emphasising about 

the importance of memories. It wasn’t 

just about us getting married; it was 

about sharing our experience with 

other people. I’m glad it came to pass. 

I know without a shadow of doubt he’s 

for me, I was more excited God gave 

me this person after so many months,” 

she said 

The singer, who had contested for 

the House of Representatives seat 

representing Lagos’ Eti-Osa Federal 

Constituency during the 2019 general 

elections, recently announced that 

he had defected from the Modern 

Democratic Party to the Peoples 

Democratic Party. 

He is seeking the PDP ticket to vie 

again for the same seat in the 2023 

general elections. 


FASHION 

Paris Fashion 

Week S/S 2023: 

From Christian 

Dior to Chanel 

Jack Moss & 


Acne Studios 

Coperni 

Akris 

Paris Fashion Week S/S 2023 

arrived as energised as 

ever. Here are our highlights, 

spanning historic houses and 

runway debuts. 

Paris Fashion Week S/S 2023 looks 

set to round out fashion month in 

climatic manner – from spectacular 

shows courtesy of France’s historic 

houses (Louis Vuitton, Dior, Chanel, 

Saint Laurent and Hermès among 

them) to a new wave of emerging 

designers showing across the city 

(Ester Manas, Ludovic de Saint 

Sernin, Ottolinger and more), 

Europe’s spiritual home of fashion 

feels as energised as ever. 

New additions to the nine-day 

schedule include Victoria Beckham, 

in her Paris debut, Ib Kamara, 

who reveals his vision as art and 

image director of Off-White, and a 

contingent of Japanese designers 

making their womenswear return 

after two years of Covid-19 

restrictions, including Comme des 

Garçons, 

Junya Watanabe and Yohji 

Yamamato (Issey Miyake will also 

show its first collection since the 

eponymous founder’s death earlier 

this year). 

Here is the runway report of 

Paris Fashion Week S/S 2023. 

Andreas 

Kronthaler 

for Vivienne 

Westwood 

Balenciaga 

56 


FASHION 

Chanel 

Courrèges 

Hermès 

Chloé 

Givenchy 

Ester Manas 


FASHION 

Lanvin 

Issey Miyake 

Ottolinger 

Rick Owens 

Miu Miu 

Loewe 

Victoria Beckham 

Paul Smith 

58 


FASHION 

Saint Laurent 

Rokh 

Thom Browne 

Sacai 

The Row 

Valentino 


A Beginner’s Guide to Fa 


Aaron Royce & 

Ameena Daayo 

No matter who you 

are, keeping up with 

the ins and outs of 

the fashion industry 

can be a full-time job in itself. 

For example, you might hear 

about a designer’s amazing 

creative work for a brand only 

to be ousted and replaced 

weeks later. 

Or, you may hear about a 

namesake label showing in 

the present day under the 

name of a designer who 

passed away years ago –– 

who knew Coco Chanel was 

still making couture in 2020? 

Well, she’s not. 

Even the best of editors have 

confused a Fall versus Spring 

collection before, it’s nothing 

to be ashamed about. But, 

we’ve done our homework on 

the need-to-know essentials to 

get you started in the industry. 

The more you know when 

starting out, the more 

prepared you’ll be to become 

the next great editor, stylist 

or designer (just to name 

a few). Think of this as your 

comprehensive, myth-busting 

guide to the basics of the 

fashion world-from us, to you! 

60 


FASHION 

shion Industry 

Basics that will Change Your 

Fashion Mindset in 2023 

1. FASHION WEEK 

LASTS ONE WEEK 

Fashion Week is actually a full 

month, believe it or not! Though 

many people refer to one of the 

‘Big Four’ fashion capitals, New 

York, London, Milan, and Paris, 

when attending one Fashion Week, 

the back-to-back schedules of 

these cities’ womenswear shows 

and presentations last a full month. 

Editors and industry insiders will 

often attend all or most Weeks, 

though many take a day or two 

between each to travel to the next 

country, prepare their schedules, 

and take in the sights. 

Lots of local fashionistas will only 

attend one Week due to their 

sphere of influence, line of work or 

budget. Plus, there’s even more 

beyond a month: Fashion Month 

doesn’t include categories like 

menswear, pre-fall, resort, couture, 

or designers who show outside of 

the traditional Fashion Calendar. 

2. DESIGNERS 

STAY WITH BRANDS 

FOREVER. 

Many brands still have their 

namesake designers at the helm 

(Nicole Miller, Cynthia Rowley and 

Tom Ford, for example), but most 

are no longer at the brand. Though 

a brand’s original designer may 

have a shift in duties yet remain at 

the brand, it’s important to know 

who’s the current designer for 

certain brands. 

Many will even have different 

designers for specific facets, 

such as separate womenswear 

(and/or menswear) and couture 

designers. Usually due to sales, a 

change of heart in said creative 

director or brand owner, brands will 


FASHION 

change designers every 4-5 years 

depending on their contracts; 

John Galliano, then Raf Simons, 

and now MGC have all designed 

for Dior in recent years, and that’s 

just one example! 

3. LOUBOUTIN OR 

LOUIS VUITTON? 

What’s in a name? Similarities in 

brand names can be confusing to 

decipher as a beginner, especially 

when so many brands exist under 

the same companies or product 

categories. Some might rhyme, 

have similar syllables, or even 

have the same words in their 

names. Here’s a quick breakdown: 

Louboutin is not Louis Vuitton, Pucci 

is not Gucci, Balenciaga is not 

Balmain, and Fenty is not Fendi. 

If you’re unsure of a specific 

brand’s name or what they’re 

known for, look them up online 

to see what products they make 

or which celebrities they dress. 

Hearing name mix-ups is often 

humorous to industry vets since 

brands with similar names can 

have vastly different products or 

aesthetics. 

Of course, nobody’s perfect; 

mistakes happen! Just don’t 

say ‘Versace’ when you mean 

‘Valentino’ in front of Anna Wintour. 

4 GLAMOUR IS 

THE NAME OF THE 

GAME 

Glamour isn’t everything in the 

fashion industry! Though we all wish 

we could be running between 

fashion shows and red carpets 

in six-inch designer stilettos as 

interns, that’s just not how the 

industry works. There’s a lot of 

grunt work, hard tasks and lastminute 

emergencies that happen 

to anyone, on any level of the 

industry, on any given day. 

PR firms will have seating conflicts 

for fashion shows, celebrities will 

argue at parties, and editors will 

need to coordinate a way to 

get a dress to set in a seemingly 

impossible timeframe. 

Lots of influencers and celebrities 

borrow clothing from designers or 

brands for partnerships only to be 

returned afterward. It might look 

like lots of editors and influencers 

62 


FASHION 

are living the glamorous life on 

Instagram, but know there’s always 

more than meets the eye when 

it comes to that perfectly-filtered 

office #OOTD post. 

5. SEASONS ARE S/S 

AND F/W 

This is a tricky concept for some to 

understand if they aren’t involved 

with fashion, but the two most 

popular “seasons” for brands to 

release products for are S/S (Spring/ 

Summer) and F/W (Fall/Winter; 

sometimes referred to as A/W for 

Autumn/Winter. Pick your poison). 

To make it even more confusing, 

there’s also RE (Resort) and PF (Pre- 

Fall). 

To make sure editors, buyers, stylists, 

and influencers know what’s going 

to be trending for future 

seasons and plan events, 

shoots, and respective 

schedules, brands will 

typically show their fall 

collections in February and 

their spring collections in 

September. 

It’s a little confusing at first, 

and some brands have 

switched to a see-nowbuy-now 

model, where the 

clothes and accessories 

they’re promoting at a show 

are just recently available, or 

about to be, for purchase. 

Nonetheless, it’s important 

to know the product you’re 

seeing on runways usually 

won’t be shoppable, or 

shown in editorials, for 

another 5-6 months. 


WELLNESS 

5 Key Signs 

You’re Vitamin 

D Deficient 

and it Can Affect your 

Beauty, Health, and 

Wellness 

Dr Nkechi Juliet 

1 

We’re constantly being told we need 

to up our vitamin D intake. But, in fact, 

according to multiple medical surveys, 

across the population, approximately 1 

in 5 people have low vitamin D levels — 

a figure which isn’t helped by the fact 

that we’ve spent a lot of time cooped up 

in our houses this New Year. 

Vitamin D is imperative for maintaining 

our overall health and well-being, but it’s 

also needed for healthy, glowing skin. 

Here, we have revealed the five skin 

signs that you might require some 

Vitamin D. 

DULL COMPLEXION 

Much like all organs, skin needs vital vitamins to 

function properly, and vitamin D is one of them, 

Vitamin D is primarily synthesised in skin which is 

exposed to UV light, if not achieved by diet or 

supplements. A dull complexion can be a sign of 

a lack of Vitamin D. Your complexion may appear 

slightly grey, your skin not as plump or supple as usual, 

and you may also have darker under eye circles, this 

is because the skin needs Vitamin D for the skin cells 

to regenerate properly and remain healthy. 

BREAKOUTS 

Vitamin D can reduce 

inflammation on your skin, which 

therefore means fighting against 

skin conditions such as acne and 

rosacea. Due to its action on 

your blood insulin response, your 

acne breakouts could be vastly 

improved too, this lowering of 

inflammation will also help with 

your general skin health too. 2 

64 


DRY SKIN 

WELLNESS 

One tell-tale skin sign of a vitamin D deficiency is 

dry, itchy skin on the face, which may occur all over 

or on areas such as cheeks, chin and forehead. In 

some severe cases, those with a deficiency may also 

develop eczema, this is thought to be caused by an 

immune system dysfunction. Studies have shown that 

vitamin D can be effective in its treatment whether the 

vitamin comes from direct sunlight, supplement or a 

topical skin application. 

4 

3 

5 

SWEATING 

A deficiency in vitamin D can cause your 

skin to sweat and is considered to be one of 

the first signs of a problem. You will sweat all 

over your body, including your face which 

can cause your skin to become dry and 

irritated, as well as increasing your chances 

of breakouts - so upping your vitamin D could 

help. 

FINE LINES 

Vitamin D acts as an antioxidant, meaning that its able to 

help against fine lines and wrinkles. This vitamin helps your 

body to fight off free-radicals which are thought to cause 

lines on our skin and the general deterioration that comes 

with age. A lack of vital vitamin D sources could mean our 

wrinkles appear much deeper and more visible, a lack of 

vitamin D may also mean that we develop new wrinkles at a 

much quicker rate. 


BEAUTY 

5 

French Girl- 

Inspired Make-Up 

Tricks To Steal in 2023 


Of course, crafting each character’s 

make-up look hinges on telling a 

larger story about who they are. 

A good make-up should translate to 

“simple, natural, classy” rosewood tones, 

balmy skin, and imperceptible faux lashes. 

But for some, it’s more extreme, colourful 

beauty codes that infiltrate scenes. 

To be candid, it is all about balance – a 

balance that can be achieved from mixing 

up instincts and keeping a finger on the 

pulse of new products. Everything is good; 

it’s just a question of how you use it. 

When it comes to beauty and make-up, 

you will agree with me that the French girl 

is the go-to girl! Here, we have highlighted 

5 French-girl make-up tricks to steal from 

the typical French girl. 

Embrace French 

nudes 

The key to French girl beauty is 

finding and wearing tones that 

don’t look overtly cosmetic. In 

France, the real specificity is the 

nude — they love nudes because 

it’s not that common to have a 

lot of make-up on. For the French 

look, it’s more like minimal makeup 

— natural skin, light foundation, 

and light concealer — just to hide 

tiny things, not to contour. A French 

nude isn’t necessarily a shade of 

tan or brown as one might think, 

but a shade that appears naturally 

on the face, like a pinky hue of 

Chanel’s lip and cheek balm 

dotted onto cheekbones. 

Parisian faux 

lashes are 

imperceptible 

Unlike the heavy lash extensions and 

strips that we’ve come to associate 

with American beauty queens and 

television stars, the Parisian faux 

lash is nearly imperceptible for the 

French. To achieve it, apply a thin 

line of brown or black pencil and 

single eyelashes in different lengths. 

Take singles one by one and mix 

the longest one with the tiniest one. 

The result is an optical illusion that 

dramatically enhances the length 

and thickness of natural lashes. 

66 


BEAUTY 

A bold mouth 

It’s French to have very red lips. One point to note 

is that when you’re doing a really beautiful red 

mouth as a French make-up artist does, the eyes 

should be less done. If you get bangs and bold 

lips and then something strong in the eyes, your 

face would get lost. So instead, a more natural 

gaze enhanced with black mascara brought a 

level of French-girl balance. 

Beautiful skin is always 

the priority 

Taking care of your skin should be your number one 

priority before make-up. Skin prep always consists 

of simple but consistent rituals. Start with a mask to 

tone down any redness, followed by hydrating eye 

patches and a dose of face mist and cream. The 

primary lesson is that beauty is natural, a seemingly 

bare complexion is the ultimate goal — even when 

it’s enhanced with cosmetics. 

There’s always 

room to play 

Even with the traditional guidelines 

of subtlety and balance, French 

girls take cues from global trends 

and relish statement beauty 

moments. You should have the 

most fun in terms of make-up 

— with really crazy colourful 

and graphic eyeliners — you 

are always ready for the stage. 

French-girl make-up doesn’t 

always shy away from colour. To 

them, it is elegant to play with 

make-up and be elegant and 

fashionable. 


FEATURE 

Pastor Mathew Ashimolowo 

needs no introduction. The 

world-renowned televangelist 

and global ambassador for 

Christ lead the largest gathering of 

the Christian faithful in the United 

Kingdom. The head pastor of 

Kingsway International Christian 

Centre (KICC), headquartered in the 

UK, with branches all over the world, 

Pastor Mathew is both a motivational 

speaker and a preacher of the Word 

of God. 

As Nig he sheds light on some 

doctrinal teachings pitching 

Christians on moral opposites, 

the elections and the leadership 

question in Nigeria. He talks, with 

passion, of his yearly celebration 

of widows, a charity project he 

organises every December, when 

over 1,000 widows are given money 

and ankara fabrics in an effort to 

cushion their sufferings. 

I started by asking if this was 

not a ‘failure of leadership’. He also 

gives prophetic insights on ‘when 

tomorrow dawns’ for Nigeria. An 

exclusive for Allure. Please, read on. 

Is it not a failure of leadership that 

people have to line up for this type 

68 

G 

lamView 

With Remmy Diagbare 

A President shall 

arise who will 

change Nigeria 

- Pastor Mathew 

Ashimolowo 


of charity; and, it takes somebody 

like you to show appreciation to 

widows in your community? 

I think it is a potpourri of many 

problems; number one is leadership 

(then) lack of vision and lack of 

infrastructure to care for people who 

have fallen through the crack. 

Some children and widows have 

fallen through the crack. People who 

didn’t go through an employment 

system that created a pension 

scheme have fallen through the 

crack. Part of my vision which I am 

praying that I will achieve in the next 24 

months is to build a place to be called 

Ile Awon Agba. They will not live there 

but if they are 70 plus and live in the 

Odoomu, we will take care of them at 

the home. 

You are concerned with only those 

people around your state of origin 

but Nigeria is a big place. 

(Laughing)... Let us leave that for 

the government. How do you eat an 

elephant…? ...Little by little. So, I want 

to build this ile awon Agba. If you are 

elderly and over 70 years, you go there 

once a week. There will be doctors 

and nurses to take care of you. They 

will give you food, check your health; 

you will share fellowship with other old 

people like yourself. At a point, I will 

have a vehicle for the ile awon agba. 

I will even go and pick the ones who 

are very, very old. I like to celebrate the 

elderly; to make them feel special. 

For my yearly widows’ charity, 

once in a while, I think of a widow to 

celebrate and when we are talking 

to the widows, I bring this one widow 

out and celebrate her the more. Two 

years ago, the woman who took me 

to church as a young man – I was a 

Muslim – my name was Ahmed. My 

mother was Aishat, my brother was 

Mudashiru, my sister was Hadijaat. 

The woman is still alive. She is about 

92 years. I brought her and celebrated 

her. This year, the person I celebrated is 

the woman who follows my mum. She 

is 91 years. I told her son to drive and 

bring her from Ile-Ife to the event and 

celebrated her again in the presence 

of everyone. 

Let us look at the leadership 

question in Nigeria. It is generally 

believed that the problem of Nigeria 

is a failure of leadership. Do you 

agree? 

The challenge of Nigeria, like you 

said, is leadership but there are two or 

three things involved. If you only look 

at leadership and you get yourself the 

greatest leader on earth, he will still fail 

if the system is broken. Nigeria is not 

just a failure of leadership but also a 

failure of system. This is my opinion. 

President Barrack Obama is a 

gifted man but he is not exactly the 

most unusually gifted person on earth. 

However, he found himself running 

a water-tight system that has been 

perfected over three hundred years. 

In fact, if you put a fool in the White 

House, he will succeed because the 

system of America is on automation. 

Everybody knows what to do and no 

one is interested in grabbing what 

belongs to the government. 

I live in the United Kingdom. If you 

put anyone as Prime Minister, the 

nation is on automation. So, while you 

are trying to blame the President or his 

acolytes for failure in leadership; even 

if you get the smartest, wisest, greatest 

Nigerian, until the system is also fixed, 

there will be a problem. 

In my opinion, I will say that is what 

I see in a person like Governor Raji 

Fashola who, in his little time, tried to fix 

some of the broken system in Lagos. 

So haven fixed some of the broken 

systems, you find out that some things 

now work in Lagos. If Fashola leaves 

and you put Joe Block, who is not 

as gifted, as long as they keep the 

automation he started, it will work. 

Another thing is good education

FEATURE 

of the public; because, you see, a 

Nigerian keeps blaming those at the 

centre of power. They do not realise 

that if election is going to work, ‘I am 

part of the processes’. Good system, 

good government, good citizenship. 

What do we do to address this 

problem? 

If you ask me what we can do, I 

think, number one, it seems almost 

late but we should stop voting people 

because we want to change one 

person. We should look at what they 

offer us; whether the person we want 

to change or the person who wants to 

come in can offer a better deal. 

Number two, what can he do to 

mend the fractured system? Let me 

give you an example of places where 

they have amended a fractured 

system. We all pack our bags every 

day and run to Dubai. We want to 

Pastor Mathew Ashimolowo 

enjoy Dubai. Dubai was a desert. There 

was nothing but sand for two hundred 

years until suddenly, almost 30 years 

ago, the late Sheikh Marktum, the 

father of Sheikh Marktum – who just 

passed – decided ‘I want to turn this 

desert land to a play ground of the 

world’. He came up with a vision that 

was outrageous, even for those around 

him. 

If your vision does not scare the 

people around you, it is not big 

enough. He came out with a great 

vision. A vision to build a harbour on 

the mainland; where the biggest 

ship on earth can berth. They dug a 

channel to the sea; they did not come 

to the sea shore, they dug it on the 

mainland so that they can have more 

space; more capacity and now dug 

the channel to the sea. 

Those are the kind of audacious 

dreams he had. We need visionaries 

who will not only see the things to 

be done but will be able to make it 

come alive. Nigeria is under a serious 

challenge. There is tribal arrest. There 

is geographical arrest, forgive me to 

say, and I am bold to say it. I am 62 

years old and I have nothing to lose 

anymore. I will say (that) many of our 

people we call leaders are not leaders 

but tribal chiefs; because when they 

come up, they speak for the region 

they came from. They do not speak 

with such robust vision that is allencompassing. 

They should not just say I am a 

Yoruba, I am an Ibo. One of the 

presidential candidates, at one point, 

just 10 months ago, said an attack 

on Boko Haram was an attack on 

the North, which is too myopic. That 

is what the late Dr. Azikiwe will call 

akatakaism. 

What Nigeria needs now is a 

visionary leader who will have a 

marshal plan that covers about five 

E’s. The E of: Education, Economy, 

Environment (which includes 

agriculture) and Engineering – 

everything in Nigeria is imported. 

We don’t fabricate anything. South 

Africa fabricates most things. Of 

course, because of sanctions, they 

learnt to produce most things. They 

build ships, aircrafts. 

So, where are we? There is no 

moving forward, is there? 

There is moving forward. If you now 

want me to speak as a prophet, I will 

tell you – I do not know when – but it is 

not going to be up to ten years, a man 

will rise in Nigeria that will bring this glory. 

It is not going to be up to ten years, 

a man is coming who will shake the 

system. He will be different. I don’t know 

who it is; I don’t think we know him. 

Not any of the presidential 

contenders? 

I am not sure if it’s one of them but 

before ten years, somebody is going 

to rise and restore the glory of this land 

So, Nigeria is not going to break? 

Nigeria will not break. Nigeria will 

keep her prophetic mandate of being 

one nation although after the March 

elections, twenty percent of a certain 

region will not submit to the President. 

That is what I saw. And, it will take six 

months to one year before he will now 

be able to govern that area. 

This interview was first 

published in Vanguard Allure, 

April 5, 2015 


ESCAPE 

A Trip to 

Tenerife 

Island 

Anyone? 

Praise David 

70 

Tenerife is a place that 

should be on everyone’s 

bucket list. If you haven’t heard 

of it, and you love exploring 

new and unique places, you’re 

missing out. 

The largest island of the 

Canaries is not your typical 

island destination, and has 

something for everyone. It’s a 

place where you can imagine 

yourself in multiple places 

around the globe - without even 

stepping off the island. 

Picture this: the volcanic 

landscapes, boardwalks and 

resorts of Maui, combined with 

the food, wine, port and Spanish 

colonial architecture of Barcelona, 

and the white/black sand beaches 

of Costa Rica - all on one island! 

If you’re in the process of 

choosing where your next trip 

should be and you can’t decide, here’s 

why it should be Tenerife. 


Birdwatching 

While many travel to 

Tenerife to explore its black 

sand beaches, many also 

come for birdwatching. The 

island is home to some rare 

species because of the 

various habitats and unusual 

geography. One of these birds 

is the Blue Chaffinch, which 

is easily recognizable with its 

blue feathers and is only found 

in the mountain forests of the 

island. While birdwatching in 

Tenerife you’ll also probably be 

on the lookout for two species 

of laurel pigeon that live in the 

forests and the mountains of 

the island and the Great Grey 

Shrike, an uncommon bird 

in the UK but one that lives in 

Tenerife high on Mt. Teide.

ESCAPE 

Black and White 

Sand Beaches 

Featured in CNN, Forbes 

as a trending beach 

destination and the Active 

Times, Tenerife’s beaches 

live up to the hype. But with 

so many Tenerife beaches 

(there’s 70) how do you 

narrow down the options? It’s 

all about what you’re looking 

for. If black volcanic sand is 

what you’re seeking, check 

out the El Bollullo beaches 

in the north, surrounded by 

green cliffs and banana 

plantations. If you’re looking 

for a more traditional beach 

- you’ll want to be in the 

south in Adeje, which is filled 

with golden sand beaches. 

We teamed up with a 

Tenerife expert and listed our 

6 favorite beaches here. 

Waterpark 

Siam Park is one of the biggest and best waterparks in Europe 

for those seeking an adrenaline rush. So good in fact that it was 

rated as the #1 waterpark in the world by Trip Advisor in 2016 and 

2017. Set in a Thai-themed paradise, the lush, green and tranquil 

environment makes it great for any age to enjoy. Thrilling rides like 

the Tower of Power, The Dragon, and the Mekong Rapids will set 

your heart racing. If you’re in the mood to relax, visit the bars or 

restaurants on the white sandy beach. 

Michelin Star Restaurants 

And for all you foodies out there, cuisine is another great hallmark 

of Tenerife’s culture. Traditional food in Tenerife is rustic but simple, and 

the favour combinations and rustic ingredients are worth trying. Spain 

has 182 Michelin Star restaurants, but Tenerife is the only island in the 

Canaries with four Michelin Star restaurants. A Michelin Star is received 

after anonymous restaurant reviewers try different restaurant cuisines 

and come to a consensus on which restaurants will be awarded the 

stars. Forget Yelp and Zagat, as you can see, no consumer reviews are 

used in making the Michelin determination. 


ESCAPE 

The Diving 

The crystal-clear 

waters of the Atlantic 

Ocean around Tenerife 

and the Canary Islands 

are internationally 

known for their quality 

and temperatures 

of 70 degrees. Filled 

with a rich diversity of 

marine life, the island is 

an undersea paradise 

for experienced or first 

time divers. Above the 

waves, there’s plenty to 

do too - you can choose 

from windsurfing, surfing, 

kayaking or deep sea 

fishing. 

Europe’s Largest 

Lava Tube 

Maybe you want to travel 

alone, or maybe you’re 

looking for an interesting and 

informative trip for the family. 

Whatever the case, the Wind 

Cave is a no-brainer if you’re 

looking for a unique and 

educational activity for the 

day. Shaped by lava flows 

from Pico Viejo, part of Mount 

Teide is The Cueva del Viento. 

Also known as the Wind Cave, 

this lava cave is Europe’s 

largest lava tube and the fifth 

largest in the world. The top 

four largest are all located in 

Hawaii. 

72 


ESCAPE 

Wine 

If you’re a wine connoisseur, you’ll want to add some vineyards to your 

trip itinerary to truly experience Tenerife’s culture. Luckily for you, Tenerife is 

internationally recognized for its wine. The main reason why is because the 

island grows nine varieties of ungrafted vines that can’t be found anywhere 

else in Spain. Listán Blanco, Malvasiaa, Gual, Albillo Criollo, Vijariego, Moscatel, 

Marmajuelo and Verdello are the grapes used to make whites, whilst rosés and 

wines are made mostly of Listán Negro, Negramoll and Tintilla. 

The World’s Best Stargazing 

While this bustling Spanish island is 

widely known for its spectacular beaches 

and busy nightlife, Tenerife is also 

considered one of the best places to go 

stargazing in Europe. In the darkness of 

the Atlantic Ocean, Tenerife’s Mt. Teide, 

Spain’s highest peak, is also one of the 

few places you can see constellations 

and different galaxies because of its 

elevation. With no light pollution and cities 

vastly spread out, everything is completely 

lit up and you’ll be able to see thousands 

of stars. If you really want an incredibly 

unique experience, go up late in the 

afternoon to Mt. Teide National Park and 

go to the Parador (a hotel/ restaurant 

inside the Caldera) to enjoy a memorable 

five-star dinner from Michelin-awarded 

chefs. Read more about stargazing and 

the Sunset and Stars experience here. 


FOOD 

Foods to Avoid 

Before a Big 

Date Night 

Chef Amaka Ibeme 

When it comes to preparing 

for a big date or event, 

we have so much to think 

about. From what we’re going to 

wear, what perfume or cologne 

we’ll wear, where we are going 

and more can wreak havoc on the 

stress-o-meter. 

What we don’t always think about 

is the foods we eat and their 

impact they have on us leading 

up to the date. If you’re preparing 

for something important on the 

calendar, you’ll want to check out 

this list of foods that you should 

definitely avoid. 

From smelly breath, acne, bad gas 

and bad body odor we have got 

you covered in what to stay clear 

from. So let’s dig in, oh, and good 

luck at that event! 

Onions 

The anticipation of an 

upcoming date can be quite 

stressful on its own. For some of us, 

this leads to excessive sweating 

especially so on the day of the 

event. We can also sweat to due 

high temperatures in the weather, 

and exercise. 

If you know you’ll be stressed 

before the date and believe the 

agenda of the date will require 

you to be outdoors then you’ll 

want to stay clear of the foods 

that could seep through your 

pores. 

Just like garlic, onions too can 

cause bad breath and body 

odor. The high sulfur compounds 

can make the odor of onion linger 

in your breath and your body odor 

days after you have consumed it. It 

does add flavor to many dishes but 

it might be wise to stay clear of it 

leading up to your date. 

74 


FOOD 

Garlic 

Garlic may be an obvious food 

to avoid that can ruin your breath 

but it can actually make a mark 

on more than just in your mouth. It 

can also become absorbed into 

the bloodstream. 

As a result, it can not only linger 

in the mouth but it can actually 

emit a scent out of our pores 

too. Garlic is still really good for 

us and shouldn’t be eliminated 

from the diet completely but 

when an important date or event 

is approaching it may be best to 

stay clear of anything garlicky for 

a little while. 

Alcohol 

Happy hour or innocent patio 

drinks with coworkers on a Friday 

seems harmless, however, if a 

hot date is on your agenda that 

weekend you may want to opt 

out of the bevvy that day. Most 

of the alcohol consumption will 

metabolize in our body but some 

of it gets released into our sweat 

as well as our respiratory system. 

We already know that you 

can smell alcohol on your breath 

after you drink it but if you drink 

too many bevvy’s it can start to 

linger when we sweat too. It could 

also cause less saliva production 

which could make our mouths 

the perfect habitat for bacteria to 

thrive. Furthermore, alcohol can 

be considered a natural diuretic 

which could result in dehydration 

in the body. You may not have to 

eliminate alcohol before you date 

but it is important to be mindful of 

your consumption. 

Coffee 

While a daily cup of joe will 

do no harm to your big date 

chugging back a cup before the 

date is not highly recommended. 

Coffee surely tastes good but 

the compelling smell can linger 

in your mouth which could be 

unpleasant to the person you talk 

to. 

Beware of consuming too 

much coffee because it could 

give you the jitters. Caffeine is 

well known to help boost our 

adrenaline levels. Due to this, 

too much caffeine could cause 

a jittery sensation and excess 

sweating which combined with 

the nerves you’re already feeling 

is just a recipe for disaster. A cup 

of coffee may, however, give you 

the extra energy you need just 

make sure to drink it hours before 

your date or simply, brush your 

teeth and gargle with mouthwash 

after. 

Dairy 

Those who are lactose 

intolerant know it is enough of a 

reason to avoid dairy products 

altogether, especially before 

something big planned. For 

others, dairy could be an IBS 

(irritable bowel syndrome) 

trigger which is another reason 

to avoid dairy before the big 

event, although, we know that 

ooey-gooey cheese dish looks 

tempting! 

Furthermore, many dairy 

products have loads of 

sugar and as we discovered 


FOOD 

previously sugar could be the 

culprit to bad breath! Lastly, 

for some, dairy products can 

cause acne breakouts and we 

all know we try to avoid those 

especially when getting ready for 

somewhere you want to make 

an impression. You might want to 

avoid the dairy and put on a face 

mask instead! 

Horseradish 

Horseradish is known for its 

tart and unique flavor. It offers 

a lot of nutrition such as a great 

supplement of dietary fiber, 

folate, vitamin C, potassium, 

calcium, and several others. We 

shouldn’t cut horseradish out of 

our diet completely but it may 

be wise to stay clear of it on the 

day of your date. 

Horseradish may add the 

Sugar 

If you’re gearing up for a 

big date or event you’ll want to 

watch your sugar intake leading 

up to it. When we eat and drink, 

bacteria begins to build up in 

our mouths. The bacteria that 

causes bad breath specifically will 

take advantage of sugar once it 

perfect zing to your sandwich 

but it can also cause unwanted 

bad breath. The reason for this 

is due to it’s overpowering and 

smelly oil. Raw horseradish that 

is left intact will have next to no 

odor but once you grate it or cut 

it, it will emit what some claim to 

be the smelliest oils in the world, 

mustard oil. This odor can linger 

in the mouth and can be a 

huge turn off if your date comes 

into contact with it, uh oh! 

reaches the mouth and uses it as 

a super fuel. 

While we often reach for gum 

and mints when we feel the bad 

breath coming on, many of these 

gum packets and mints are full 

of sugar. It may subside your bad 

breath momentarily but the sugar 

content could actually cause 

the bacteria to become active 

long term. Not only can sugar 

cause bad breath but it can also 

contribute to gum disease and 

decay, yikes! Make sure to look for 

sugar-free gum and mints to help 

keep that bad breath at bay. 

Canned Fish 

It’s amazing how food is so 

accessible to us in so many ways 

which also means we can enjoy 

foods that aren’t in season 24/7 

all year round. Canning is a great 

way to hold onto bulk foods for 

long periods of time. However, 

when getting ready for your date, 

you may want to stay away from 

canned fish. 

I’m sure we’ve all been there, 

either opening or being present 

while a can of fish is being 

opened. Immediately you’re 

bombarded with a wretched fish 

smell. The process of canning fish 

will cause it to oxidize and due 

to this is why it has a strong scent. 

76 


FOOD 

Cruciferous Vegetables 

Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, bok 

choy and Brussels sprouts are all considered 

cruciferous vegetables. They all come from the 

same family and each offers their own unique 

texture and flavor but they all have one thing 

in common, a sulfur compound. This sulfur 

compound can be quickly absorbed into the 

body and seep back out when we sweat, 

resulting in body odor that smells rank. 

Furthermore, our bodies sometimes have 

a hard time digesting these foods thanks to 

an oligosaccharide called raffinose. We don’t 

have the enzymes in our bodies to digest 

this so in result it passes to our large intestine 

undigested. This then causes the large intestine 

to ferment them. A byproduct of fermentation 

in the large intestine would be gas, that 

combined with its sulfur compound results in 

not just gas, but smelly gas too. Make sure to 

stay clear of any of these veggies on the day 

of your date and if it’s completely unavoidable 

make sure not to eat them raw. When these 

vegetables are cooked they make the 

digestion process easier. 

However, this scent can linger on 

your breath, giving it a fishy and 

unpleasant odor. If you can’t cut 

the craving of canned fish before 

your date make sure to gargol 

with mouthwash, once or twice 

or 10 times, better safe than sorry, 

right? 

Refined Grains 

Some examples of refined 

grains include pasta, cereal, 

crackers, desserts and bread 

that are made out of white flour. 

Refined grains might not give you 

bad breath but you’ll still want to 

avoid them leading up to your hot 

date because they could be the 

cause of sudden and annoying 

breakouts. 

As we talked about earlier, 

dairy has been shown in several 

studies to be the cause of 

breakouts and acne and now 

many are looking into refined 

carbohydrates too. Refined grains 

can cause an increase in blood 

glucose levels up to 2 hours 

after eating said food. It may 

be obvious that someone with 

diabetes should avoid a diet 

with a high glycemic index but 

those seeking to avoid acne 

and clear acne should be wary 

too. Instead, try and reach for 

foods that are whole grain and 

unrefined. 


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Glamsquad Magazine 2.0 is a Women’s Fashion, Culture, and Lifestyle Magazine. 

Targeted at an upwardly mobile segment of the Nigerian and African market, 

Glamsquad seeks to provide inspirational yet attainable fashion, entertainment, and 

lifestyle culturing to Women. 

Contributing to conversations on contemporary fashion, dining, beauty, wellness, music, 

and movies; our goal is to positively shape the conversation on these topics in a way that 

Informs, inspires, empowers, and ultimately entertains Nigerian and African women. 

Glamsquad is for the sophisticated, tasteful, yet fun-loving woman. 

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