These aspirations almost got shattered, as she got bullied in High School for being “too dark” and “ugly.” The incessant negative comments really affected her self-esteem for a while, causing her to want to dump her dreams.

But she persevered, and today, she is a succesful model. Nyakim, now 24 years old, recently spoke with Cosmopolitan about her journey to success. Here are excerpts from the interview:

What was your vision of America like when you arrived at age 14?

Oh, it was going to be like heaven. Living in a refugee camp [in Africa meant] sleeping in tents, not knowing where your dinner is coming from, not drinking clean water. America is education, food, hospitals, not feeling like your child will pass away because there’s no medical care. [But] you come here and realize you have to work hard for everything. Yeah, it’s not as heavenly as it seems, as it was made out to be back home. But at the end of the day, America is a really great country if you make it.

You haven’t always received positive reactions to your skin tone. You mentioned you were bullied by classmates when you moved to Buffalo, New York.

They would say, you know, I’m too black, my skin is too dark. They’d be like, “You don’t take showers. That’s why your skin is dirt.” Or, “Smile so we can see you, Nyakim. We can’t see you.” And then, in class, for example, the teacher would ask a question and say, “Oh, Nyakim, can you answer that?” A kid would say, “Who are you talking to? We can’t see her. She’s not here.” The whole class would start laughing, and I would just cry. The kid who would say that would go to the principal, or [he] would get in trouble. But the whole class was feeling what this kid was saying.

What were you thinking at the time?

I just kept to myself. I was like, “These people don’t accept me.” I was already having trouble with the language barrier and learning English to communicate with my teachers. I had always wanted to be a model, but after that I thought, “These kids think I’m ugly. I don’t see myself on social media, or TV, or in the magazines. I don’t think I’m meant to be a model.” I pushed that thought out of my head.

Did you ever consider bleaching your skin in the past?

At one point, I did consider it. When I came to America from a refugee camp in Africa [at age 14], I lived in Buffalo, New York. I would cry myself to sleep after being bullied [about my skin]. There are so many beautiful dark-skinned Sudanese women who bleach their skin. My own sister did it. But when I told her I wanted to [after living in America for a few months], she told me no. She said, “You would not just be bleaching your skin, you would be bleaching your mind. I did it and I regret it. I’m not going to let my daughter do it, or you — nobody.”

Did the bullying continue when you moved to Minnesota later that year?

I’d walk into the grocery store, and people would stare at me. I could hear people saying under their breath, “Oh my God, she’s so black. Is that even normal?” [To meet friends,] I tried joining sports — track and field. [My teammates would] say, “Are we going to be able to even see her when it’s her turn to pass the relay stick?” I quit track. I just kept to myself.

How do you react to online haters?

The negative reactions or comments don’t affect me as much now — some of them I laugh at. But there are some that go deep and bring me down for a little bit. Some people say I get followers because people feel bad for me, not because I’m actually beautiful. They say I’m the dumbest person ever. But there are millions more people who think I’m beautiful and give me positive feedback.

By sharing her experiences about people’s reactions to her dark skin, Nyakim, who is a part-time school teacher and part-time model, has amassed a huge following on Instagram.  She has more than 300,000 followers, and and has booked professional gigs ranging from local magazine covers to national campaigns for brands like Aldo. 

Read the entire interview here.

Photo Credit: Cosmopolitan/Ruben Chamorro

Queens, I’m sure you can relate.

This is why I’ve put together a list of 10 wardrobe essentials you should have, to ensure that you’ve got everything you need at your fingertips as you go about your morning routine of picking out clothes to wear.

Plain White Tee
Is there anything more versatile? Whether you style that perfect T-shirt with a pair of jeans, or a pencil skirt, no closet is complete without one.

Flats
There’s a reason everyone loves a good pair of flats: They’re chic and comfortable. You can use them to dress up your jeans and button-down combination, then transition that same pair to a dress for night time. Your outfit and legs will thank you.

Blazer
A great blazer is a must-have in any wardrobe. Need an extra something to pull together an office look? A great addition to a semi-formal look? Dressing up a slightly casual look? A blazer it is!

Slip-On Sneakers
These babies have solidified their place on my wardrobe-must have list. These shoes are comfortable enough to walk miles in and gives any outfit an extra dose of “cool.”

Black Trousers
Whether you wear them to work or wear them to a hangout, a pair of black pants that you feel great in is a true Monday-through-Sunday essential.

Black Pumps
These pair of shoes are for so essential to keep around. From meetings, to church, to a dinner date, they are super versatile. A huge advantage of these shoes is they can live under your work desk: Reserved for important meetings or an after-work appointment. Can you tell I adore my pumps?

White Shirt
Consider a white shirt a core essential in your wardrobe. There are endless options for how to wear it: Pair it with a simple skirt or pants for a classic look, or layer it under a sweater or dress to give an outfit some added dimension.

Little Black Dress
No item is more ideal for accessorizing and styling, because it serves as a blank canvass upon which you can build your look. The Little Black Dress! It has gotten us through some tough times, and serves as a hit outfit for any wardrobe.

Everyday Sandals
You definitely need these. Perfect for a trip to the grocery store, the beach, casual hangouts, etc.

Denim Jacket
Quick question, what is fashion without a denim jacket? For real, what is fashion without it? It is INCOMPLETE!

Which of these items do you own and which are you adding to your wardrobe ASAP?

Photo Credit: Pinterest

There is a reason why Bonang regularly makes the best dressed list of just about every publication – she has one of one the best wardrobes in the business. The media personality wears trendy designer clothing 24/7, and is even known to fly in stylists from the United States.

There are many things you’d expect to find in a woman’s closet and when it comes to Bonang , she has everything a woman needs.

The boss babe invited Cosmopolitan SA into her Johannesburg home for a rare and exclusive all-access view of her incredible home and closet. From her Balmain blazers to her Gucci handbags, take an exclusive look at everything in Queen B’s dazzling collection.

Well we’ve got news for you! Girl, you can have a succesful career in the fashion industry without necessarily being an Instagram vendor.

I started my clothing line in my first year at University. Five years later, today, I can stay I have learnt a whole lot, and my ideas are evolving. I always wondered what do about by love for fashion.

After researching over time, I discovered that there are so many career opportunities for fashion lovers like me, who want to be in the business, but don’t necessarily see themselves going the Instagram vendor route, which is currently trending in Nigeria.

You don’t have to join the popular trend of selling shoes and bags on Instagram. Did you know you can actually secure the bag by monetizing your love for fashion in other ways?

Here are some attractive fashion career opportunities I discovered during my research:

Fashion journalist 

You don’t necessarily have to a journalism graduate before you can become a fashion journalist. As long as you have a flair for writing, you can create a niche for yourself in the fashion industry. Thank God for social media, you can create a blog for yourself through your smartphone or computer and write about fashion.

If you frequently create good content, your audience will grow over time, to the point where you became a thought-leader about all things fashion. And soon, you can begin to monetize that influence.

In addition, you could freelance for existing fashion publications.

Fashion Stylist

Do you have a good sense of style? Do you have an effortless ability to combine different items of clothing in fashionable ways? Then you could actually start a career as a fashion stylist. You can begin by styling your friends and family members for  events and special occasions. Use them to build your portfolio, and then eventually; you can start pitching your services to celebrities and other public figures.

Fashion designer

A fashion designer is the brain behind the beautiful garments you see around. A fashion designer sketches the designs and brings the whole idea of the outfits to life.  You can be a designer when you have knowledge and skills in designing.

Marketing & PR

A Fashion Marketer and Public Relations professional sells the business and its products. This can include writing press releases, organizing shows, managing social media accounts and a host of other savvy media methods to help create a buzz about a fashion brand.

Fashion Retailer

Buying and selling ready-to-wear or bespoke clothing to a targeted audience. Some sell menswear, unisex, kids clothing, sportswear and so on. You may own a boutique or do personal selling.

Fashion Influencer

The era of social media has birthed the “influencer” culture.  With consistency and persistence, you will build followership and gain endorsements from bigger brands.

Other jobs in fashion to consider include: Merchandiser, Personal Shopper, Sales Representative, Store Manager, Perosnal Assistant, Fashion Illustrator, Tailor, etc.

I hope that after reading my article, you have gained some business insights, and you are ready to launch a career in the fashion world.

I wish you success in your fashion career.

Feel free to share your progress on this journey! Happy to read

Photo Credit: satisfashionug

Nollywood actress,  has officially launched her new women’s ready-to-wear brand, Kasham by Adedamee, and it’s got the Nigerian fashionista crowd on the ‘gram talking.

She took to her Instagram page to announce the news:

Finally, by the grace of him alone who is the source of my strength, my new clothing store for women is open and ready to serve you queens! Please visit us on Road 3, Ikota shopping complex beside Victoria Garden City Lekki, and follow our Instagram page @kashambyadedamee for the most simple yet elegant pieces, to constantly remind you of just how BEAUTIFUL and STRONG you are!

I look forward to seeing you soon.

With all my love,
Damilola Adegbite.

So far, the brand has unveiled a range of dresses, jumpsuits and stylish co-ord sets for the everyday millennial woman.

Damilola has had quite a hard time over the past 3 years with her divorce and custody disagreements with ex hubby, Chris Attoh. We are so happy to see her moving on with her life and doing big things.

Congrats girl! Wishing you loads of success with this new venture.

Fashionistas all over social media are currently in a frenzy over these fist-sized bags designed by Simon Porte Jacquemus from his Spring 2018 collection. It’s a bit astonishing that despite the fact that these bags were released since last year, there has been a sudden rise in their popularity just recently.

The bag, which is just 3 inches tall, has been found on the arm of A-listers like Rihanna, Beyonce, Kim Kardashian amongst others.

The Jacquemus’ Le Chiquito Bag is sold for $500which is equivalent to N180,000.

What are your thoughts about this new trend? Would you splurge on this?

For me, I love carrying big bags, I want to comfortably leave the house with all my accessories for the day intact: My phone chargers, headset, comb, makeup, power bank, etc. If I have to carry this Jacquemus’ Le Chiquito Bag at this price? hmmmmm(*rolls eyes*)… I reserve my comment.

Share your thoughts in the comments section below!

Regina King was white hot in this Oscar de la Renta gown that showed off her sexy legs. Guys, this woman is in her 40s and giving us millennials a run for our money. Chileee!

Amandla Stenberg looked simple-yet-elegant in this Miu Miu dress. Love the braids too!

Jennifer Hudson slooked red hot in this Elie Saab dress. Love the minimal makeup look too!

Angela Bassett stunned in this hot pink Reem Acra mono-strap dress. Aunty Angela is giving us life still slaying in her 60s. Yassss

Danai Gurira‘s braids and golden foil dress by Brock Collection made her look like an African goddess. We stan!

David Oyelowo opted for thus deep green ETRO Tuxedo, and we love it! He definitely stood out from the crowd of usual black and white tuxedos most of the men were rocking.

Media maven, Elaine Welteroth looked extremely gorgeous in Celia Kritharioti.

Serena Williams oozed demure sexiness in this strapless number.

Kiki Layne effortlessly elegant in Versace.

Billy Porter looked amazing in this Christian Siriano tuxedo-dress that made our jaws drop!

Who was your best dressed celeb?

Photo Credit: Getty Images

The norm has been said to be that quality products are expensive while most affordable (in other words, cheap) products have less quality, and in the long run, buying them usually leads to regret.

Our #MillenialQueenBoss today Sophia Ike-Onu has successfully combined quality and affordability and has built two flourishing businesses – The 5k Shop and MyT5s

The 5k Shop is an e-commerce platform that stocks high-quality Nigerian products that do not exceed N5,000. Yes, you heard that right!

The 5k Shop started from Sophia’s home after she partnered with a tailor to make the pieces, whilst also funding it with her savings. She launched her business at a fashion exhibition and her products sold out by the end of the two-day event.

Fast forward to almost 5 years later, the company now has about 10 staff, 8 working full-time and the other two on contract basis. Sophia has gone on to start her own fashion label T5S which contributes to 80% of The 5k Shop‘s inventory, with the remaining coming from other retailers.

Sophia has also gone on to receive awards because of her work with The5kShop including the British Council Enterprise Challenge 2016 which allowed her to be privately mentored by Sir Richard Brandson. She was featured on CNN in 2016 for promoting affordable products made locally. Also in 2016, she was listed as one of the 100 most influential women in Africa by Leading Ladies Africa and lastly, she was also named Brand Ambassador for Virgin Atlantic.

Sophia Ike-Onu is a BSc holder (Architecture) from Covenant University and a Masters degree holder (International Architectural Regeneration and Development) from Oxford Brookes University.

Sophia is promoting the #BuyNigerian movement and has proven that quality and affordability can be mutually exclusive.

These photos serve as a reminder that we are all beautiful, and the idea that we all should conform to one standard of beauty is simply erroneous.

According to stylist, Fayosola Aina, the aim of the editorial is to raise awareness about albinism and redefine perceptions about beauty.

We love it!

In this edition, the mortgage industry worker-turned lifestyle blogger who is based in Atlanta, takes us on her style journey as she gives us a rare peek into her wardrobe and her life.

Tell us about yourself

My name is Titilola Sogunro. I am from Lagos, Nigeria. I spent my childhood and a greater part of my teen years in Lagos. As a kid you would always find me in my mom’s closet playing dress up. I was particularly drawn to her shoes and accessories. My mom had/has quite an amazing collection. My love for fashion started right there in her closet.

My formal education consists of a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and a Master’s degree in Finance. I held a corporate job in the Mortgage industry for years, but eventually decided to follow my passion, the things that truly make me happy: Fashion and Baking! I run a baking business from my home in addition to the blog.

I started Titi’s Passion as an outlet to connect with other women and share my experience, knowledge of fashion, and things that I love. I fully committed to this journey in April 2015.

Fashion, to me, has always been personal and I explore that with my audience. My goal is to help them define their personal style.

I decided to go natural with my hair a few years ago and along the way, I have acquired a solid base knowledge that will be resourceful to anyone on this journey; or someone considering going natural.

Travel has always been an integral part of who I am. And so on my blog, I also share my experiences from my travels and ways I save on my vacations.

In a nutshell, how would you describe your style?

I would describe my style as a no fuss, minimalist approach to fashion but I’m very versatile in my fashion choices. Also, I love my style because it’s an easy approach to fashion that can easily be replicated by anyone who is looking for style inspiration or someone who needs a style change.

What is your style mantra?

Wear whatever makes you happy but most importantly ensure it’s a perfect fit.

Where are your favourite places to shop?

My favorite online stores are Ladyee.com, Asos.com, Nastygal.com, Netaporter.com and Amazon.com. My favorite shops are TopShop, Bloomingdales, Zara, ClubMonaco, Forever21, Neiman Marcus & GAP.

How is your style a reflection of your lifestyle?

I am a mom of two kids who are both under the age of 7, so I am always on the go and constantly picking up after them, so on a week day I live in basics, tees, shorts, boyfriend jeans and leggings. The weekend is when I unwind and spend time with my husband and my girlfriends. This is the time you will see me in my 4-inch heels, cocktails dresses and in makeup. I typically dress based on the destination for the day or night.

We love your hair! What’s your routine for keeping it healthy and manageable?

I went natural a few years ago and that has changed my hair routine drastically. I started off being afraid to manage my hair, so it was easier to get it straightened at the salon every few weeks but I decided to change that this year. I reduced my salon visits and I started styling my hair myself. I wash it every two weeks and style it according to my mood. You might see me in a high bun (my typical everyday go to style) or flat twist outs and every now and then I like to give my hair a break and wear protective styles like weaves and braids. I almost never go to bed without my silk scarf and my favorite hair routine is an overnight coconut oil treatment the day before I wash my hair with sulphur free products.

The changes with my hair over the last few years from using relaxers for over 12 years to my transition to natural hair that I self-maintain, is in itself a journey of my life’s story. As I have matured and become more comfortable in my skin, I am able to do whatever pleases me and that is reflected in my hair style choices.

Tell us about your makeup routine
I am not an everyday makeup gal. I do not enjoy applying makeup except it’s the weekend and/or I have a fun event planned, lol. When I do wear makeup, I favor a simple natural look and a bright matte lipstick. Bright lipstick changes everything!  It takes the attention away from minor skin issues.
I don’t wear makeup everyday but my go-to no fuss look consists of concealer, my BB cream and bright colored matte lipstick.

What are some of your favourite accessories?

A fashionable pair of sunglasses  (any one) and my Christian Louboutin Pigalle black patent pumps.

What are some items you believe every woman should have in her wardrobe?

A pair of black patent leather pumps 3.5 inch or higher, a crisp white shirt, a pair of jeans that fit perfectly, a pair of fashionable sunglasses, a black blazer, a bright colored envelope clutch and an LBD (Little Black Dress.)

If you could raid an African celeb’s closet, who would it be?

Lisa Folawiyo

What is your advice for people who need help with defining their style?

My advice to anyone who is trying to define their style is this; find a muse and draw inspiration from their style, but make it your own. Let that be your roadmap to finding what works for you. Don’t limit your muse to someone with your body type. I find style inspiration from every woman.

Also, don’t be afraid to try something new. People get stuck in the same old routine even though they secretly crave for something new, they never take that chance or risk. Get a new haircut. Do a wardrobe haul. Try stilettos. It never hurts.

Photo Credit: Titilola Sogunro | Titi’s Passion