Plus-sized women have hips and curves men like

 
Jennifer Enujiugha is a 26 year-old plus-size model, choreographer and VJ/compere from Anambra State. The beautiful, dark-skinned graduate of crop production and protection from Abia State University is the current Miss Curvy Nigeria Top Model. In this interview with Juliet Ebirim, Jennifer who is also a creative consultant bares her mind on her plans, journey as a plus-size model, relationship and more. Excerpts…

What’s your take on plus-size modeling in Nigeria?

Plus-sized models are not appreciated as they ought to be, knowing fully well that almost all African women have the tendency to be plus-sized. Even if they were skinny before marriage,when they get married and after childbirth, they become plus-sized. We don’t appreciate them (curvy and plump models), we chase after skinny models but the truth is the westerners are beginning to accept the fact that there should be a place for the plus-sized in the fashion world. In the recently concluded New York Fashion Week, they had plus-sized models everywhere. Here in Nigeria, it’s difficult to see three plus-sized models on a runway show and that’s not nice. Most people who come to watch the shows are plump, but if they discover the outfits being showcased are for skinny people, they wouldn’t be motivated to go for them. A lot of people don’t know, but plus-sized modeling is a goldmine that’s yet to be harnessed in Nigeria.

How do you juggle modeling with other things you do?

Because I’m passionate about it, I don’t really see it as work. I enjoy doing it and besides, they’re all related, still the same industry – creative consultancy, VJ/compere, modeling, choreography – they’re all entertainment. It’s easy for me to combine them all. I was the logistics manager for last year’s ‘Dance with Peter’ reality TV show.

What are you working on at the moment?

I’m the current Miss Curvy Nigeria Top Model, I’m yet to hand over though. I represent plump models in every fashion show. I’m working on a project for the plus-sized. I want to get plump ladies to appreciate the fact that they are beautiful. It doesn’t matter their skin color, size or shape. You may be plump and still beautiful. You just have to be confident. Confidence is the best make-up you can wear. The project is aimed at changing the way Nigerians see plus-size people. It will also reduce the rate of anorexia and suicidal thoughts. When some of these plump people are rejected by the people they like, they tend to think that it’s because of their size. No, the person rejecting you doesn’t know what he wants.

How were you able to conquer the rejection you faced as a plus-sized when you ventured into modeling?

I think everything I’ve been into has helped me in one way or the other. As a dancer, I got used to performing on stage and that helped me loosen up. I became comfortable dancing before large crowds because I used to be very shy. Choreography helped me out so when I got into modeling, I started doing runway shows. Most times, I’m the only plus-sized model on the runway or for a job. I usually fight the temptation to feel inferior because I’m the only plus-sized, instead I chose to take it as an advantage.

Can you name some of the commercials you’ve done?

I’ve worked with Honeywell, Glo, I just did something for societal family health and a couple of other jobs. Actually, I just started doing commercials, I’ve been doing mostly fashion.

Based on your experience, what do you think is the major challenge plus-sized models face?

The major challenge is that people do not want to accept them for who they are. It’s not peculiar to Nigeria alone, but the westerners are beginning to accept plus-size models. Ashley Graham is doing very well. Nigerians have not really started accepting plus-size models. Designers should have ready-to-wear outfits for plus-sized models to encourage them.

Do you think African men are drawn to plus-sized women?

Yes, they are, but they pretend they are not because of friends. They don’t want their friends to say ‘the guy babe na Orobo!’ I think African men are actually attracted to plus-sized women. They may not admit it, but they are. Being plus-sized, you automatically have the hips and curves and that’s what men like. Few slim women have that.

Any awkward or embarrassing moment?

The first day I climbed on stage, everyone started laughing at me. I went to perform somewhere as a dancer and people started laughing at me because of my size. There’s always an awkward moment for everybody. There are occasions when there are only skinny models around, you make a mistake and they all stare at you in a funny way. Sometimes, you go for fashion shows and a designer will tell you straight up, that he doesn’t make outfits for plus-sized. Every career has its challenges, but it’s being able to learn from it all that matters. Anything that doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. It all boils down to passion.

Read More

Hope For Tiwa And Hubby Reconciliation

   About six months after her marital squabble made the front page of newspapers, magazines and dominated discussions on radio and TV talk shows, it appears Tiwa Savage, is ready to mend fences with her estranged hubby, Tunji Balogun aka Tee Billz.
   According to sources close to the singer, her body language indicates that she’s ready to reconcile with her baby’s daddy. Already, there have been meetings between both families aimed at a peaceful reconciliation.
Tiwa is also said to have been meeting with older couples and counsellors who have been advising her to give her marriage another chance in respect of the ‘for better, for worse’ vows she took at the altar.
Our source who commented under the condition of anonymity stated that, “You can take my word for it that a reconciliation is in the offing between Tiwa and Teebillz. She has told people close to her that she misses Tunji, and she wants him back in her life. Also, as their son, Jamal (Jam Jam) is growing older, Tiwa wants to ensure that he has a father figure around.”
Speaking further, the source said, “Of course, she has also given a condition that Teebillz gets help so that all the issues that led to his public meltdown will not happen again.”
However, there are also reports that Tiwa’s mom was badly hurt by the negative things Teebillz said about her on Instagram, but she’s ready to forgive and forget all because all she really wants is her daughter’s happiness.
As a pointer to the fact that Tiwa is ready to accommodate her husband, she paused her performance last Sunday at the Three Thrones concert which held at the Eko Hotel and Suites, to seek for marital advice from ‘veteran’ singing couple, Tunde and Wunmi Obe (TWO).
“You’ve been married for so long, and you’re also in the limelight; how have you managed to keep your relationship intact for all these years? There’s a lot of pressure on young couples and I’m very jealous of you,” Tiwa said right on stage.
The elderly couple responded by telling her that it is imperative to ‘marry the man you love, communication, the only third party in your marriage should be God.’
Meanwhile, Teebillz’s whereabouts is been jealously guarded like a high-value painting at a museum.
    His known friends in the entertainment industry have studiously maintained sealed lips in response to inquiries about where their friend is.
But it was gathered that Teebillz is presently not in Nigeria, as he travelled out shortly after the couple’s fight in April. But the good news is that the hermit guy has reopened his Instagram page which he surreptitiously closed down in the wake of the marriage problems.

Read More

I will gladly play a dead whore on "Game of Thrones"

       Rachel Bloom, who leads cast of "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend " TV show, is interested in a "Game of Thrones" role.
Speaking at the inaugural EW PopFest in Los Angeles on Saturday, December 29, 2016, Bloom stated that she would gladly play a dead whore in the hit HBO TV show, "Game of Thrones".
“I just want to make it clear, if they want me on Game of Thrones, I will be on it,” Bloom joked.
“I will gladly play a dead whore just to be on that show. No other show. I will play a dead whore, like, on a dead zombie corpse with, like, my eyeball coming out, just to be on Game of Thrones. Anyway, just putting it out there. Just a pitch for next season.”
Bloom is popular as Rebecca Bunch i n The CW comedy-drama series "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend." On January 10, 2016, she won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy series.

During the Season six finale, the Mother of Dragons and her army were making their way across the Narrow Sea to Westeros. Viewers also got to find out the true paternity of Jon Snow, who is actually a Targaryen.
Titled "The Winds of Winter," the season six finale of "GOT" also ended with Jon Snow as king of the North and Cersei sitting on the Iron Throne.
"Game of Thrones" returns for its penultimate season in 2017.

Read More

Reps summon Customs boss over N200bn insurance fund

   THE House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee investigating cash paid out to government officials annually by insurance companies has summoned the Controller General of Customs, CGC, for allegedly refusing to furnish it with details of its insurance transactions between 2013 and 2015.
    The Adekunle Akinlade Abdulkadir-led Committee which last week queried insurance companies for insuring dysfunctional coaches for Nigeria Railways Corporation, NRC, had invited the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, to appear last Friday over the insurance transactions in the last four years, but the Customs representatives failed to turn up.
   The Committee which is also probing the alleged misappropriation of over N200 billion of public funds in insurance transactions at the sitting, uncovered a scheme involving the payment of over N910million to two unregistered insurance brokers.
Disclosing this at the investigative hearing, Chairman of the Committee, Abdulkadir, expressed disappointment over how insurance firms attempted to misinform it through distortion of facts in their presentations.
According to him, “The issue is that these companies got business consistently just because some people in the MDAs are being paid.
“Since the commencement of this investigation, we have sent invitations to the NCS but they have refused to make any submission to the Committee.
“We are summoning the CG to explain why he refused to honour the Committee and why it engaged services of unlicensed brokers and agents that cost over a quarter of a billion Naira.
“Many of the insurance companies that appeared deliberately gave us wrong information thinking we can never go to the extent of scrutinising every detail in their submissions.
“Having discovered that it is not business as usual, all the Chief Executives are now saying they did not know about the figures quoted in the documents they submitted.
“What they want now is to give us (Committee) new figures because the earlier ones were no longer correct.
“We will oblige them but in their new submissions, every cover must be accompanied by relevant documents to prove the authenticity of the new figures.”
Source _vanguard

Read More

Bill Cosby has been declared Legally blind by his attorney

Legendary American comedian/actor Bill Cosby has said he’s legally blind, hence, he would not be able to identify the women accusing him of sexual assault.

Cosby will on Tuesday present to the court, a doctor’s report certifying that his sight is defective and that he’s registered with a state commission for the blind.

“No 79-year-old blind man could possibly defend himself against a claim that he sexually assaulted someone he supposedly met once, half a century ago,” his attorneys said in court documents filed in Pennsylvania.

“Without his eyesight, Mr. Cosby cannot even determine whether he has ever even seen some of his accusers, let alone develop defenses and gather exculpatory evidence,” the documents further stated.

The veteran comedian is facing three charges of felony indecent assault on Andrea Constand, who claims that he drugged and violated her in 2004.

Read More

Iyanya Joins Mavin Records, Drops New Single With Don Jazzy and Dr.Sid

After months of speculation about his future, Iyanya has finally broken the silence by announcing that he is officially joining Mavin Records with the release of a new a song featuring Don Jazzy and Dr. Sid.

The new hit tune entitled “Up 2 Sumting” is produced by Mavin Records head-honcho, Don Jazzy.

It was released on Monday, October 31 which coincides with the singer’s 30th birthday.

With this new move, Iyanya joins other artistes on the record label including Tiwa Savage, Dr. Sid, D’Prince, Korede Bello, Reekado Banks and Di’Ja.

In his own words, Iyanya said, “I am at a decision-making curve in my music career where I have to make the right professional and creative decisions. At this point, I realised the need to put in solid structures in place to move to the next level of my career. I think I have found that professional and creative backbone in Mavin Records.”

Don Jazzy, who broke the news on his Twitter handle on Monday, was also excited about the new partnership.

“Iyanya brings his own unique style and sound to the Mavin Records family,” he said.

“From the first time I stepped into the studio with him, there was an instant chemistry and energy. He is an amazing talent and he has great musical versatility. This is an exciting time for us and our fans have a lot of great music to look forward to.”

The groundbreaking move is the Cross River State born singer's first major one after his decision to sign a management deal with leading creative talent agency, Temple Management Company as part of efforts to launch a new phase of his career.

About Mavin Records

Mavin Records is a Pan-African record label and the brainchild of African renowned producer and entrepreneur, Michael Collins Ajereh (Don Jazzy).

Created as a wholly independent music label on May 8, 2012, the label is home to 6 of Africa's most exciting performing music artistes and 3 producers, who have won dozens of awards and regularly churn out chart-topping singles.

About Iyanya

Iyanya Onoyom Mbuk launched into a blistering music career when he won MTN Project Fame West Africa in 2008. The Graduate of Business Management from University of Calabar (UNICAL) grabbed global attention with the hit single Kukere and went on to get nominations at Channel O Music Video Awards, Soul Train Music Awards and Nigerian Entertainment Awards.

Iyanya who won The Headies Artiste Of The Year (2013) has three albums to his credit namely My Story (2009), Desire (2013) and Applaudise (2015). He has been endorsed by several brands including MTN, Solo Phones, Yudala and Zinox Computers.

In 2016, he was signed to Temple Management Company and becomes the 7th artist to ink a recording deal with Mavin records.

T: @Iyanya

I: @Iyanya

#Up2Sumting

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD

Read More

Obafemi Martins Acquires N216m Boat

Martins who now plays professional football in China for Shanghai Shenhua turned 32 on Friday and posted a picture of his new addition – a luxurious boat “Iguana 31 Expedition” which is worth up to $460,000 (N216,200,000). Obagal tagged it the world's most expensive speed boat in a post on his instagram account, next to the picture.

Read More