Let’s not cheapen our compliments

BY ADAEZE AMOS

Compliments are good, they make us happy, no doubt! But let’s not cheapen it. Let’s not pass fake or false compliments. This of course is flattery and it’s not okay to do that. Let our yes be yes and our nay nay when it comes to complements.

Fake compliment is common on Facebook and Instagram where we post pictures and videos.

For instance, you see a picture of someone wearing a top that is showing her breasts or video  where a lady’s cleavage is open and seems to be  ‘screaming’ for space or attention and you start commenting positively  or complimenting on what she is putting on, whereas you know that  you are lying about what you are saying. 

So, ladies let’s not cheapen our compliments. Let’s be honest or authentic about our praises or what we choose to admire.

Check out these videos

 Wears you can leave for your teenagers

There are wears you should leave for your teenage daughters. Outfits you shouldn't be caught dead in especially when you are set for important occasion. Reason is that you may leave a wrong impression of you to others especially those that are meeting you for the first time. Remember that first impression matters a whole lot. And you are addressed the way you are dressed.  So, let's learn to jettison some outfits that may not speak well of us at some occasions. Our attires no doubt speak volumes. Please check out this short video. 

Enjoy!

Movies have the tendency or capacity to help people feel better.- Rekiyat Ibrahim Attah, Veteran Nollywood Actress

 'Rape cases have  gone up, it took a pandemic like this  to see how relatable these issues could be'

Rekiyat Ibrahim Attah is a Nollywood actress with numerous fans. She has really endured in the Nigerian movie world and has no doubt  paid her dues. This is  the second section of the interview. The first part was published on the same blog adanneamos.blogspot.com 
You can log into it and read the beginning of the story.
Story by ADAEZE AMOS

Excerpts:
Since movies are one of the tools that help to address social vices, do you encourage us to watch more movies at these times?
Oh yes, I agree with you that movies  are very powerful tool to fight social vices. But remember as an entertainer, sometimes, we say there is no entertainment just for entertainment sake. You want to be sure that someone learns something out of the efforts or out of the story that you are trying  to tell in the movie and all of that. And I think a lot of directors or film producers would say to you,  that something happened and they want to either correct a notion in the society or there is a personal story of someone that they feel  other people would learn one thing or the other  from. So, ehm, I think there is no doubt about the fact that movies have the tendency or capacity to help  people feel better.

It may appear as if we 've lost empathy, but we have not! - Rekiya Ibrahim Attah, veteran Nollywood actress

Her face is in fact her signature. Take a closer look at her picture. Remember her? Rekiya Ibrahim Attah, a veteran  Nollywood actress and producer  who has starred in so many movies and soap operas. Did you ask what about her? Well, she recently posted on her  facebook wall that everyone should endeavour to be happy regardless of what is happening around us. Hear her:  “decide to be happy always. Never allow anyone’s negativity get on your inside. Be you!”

Those were her words. Adaeze Amos in this press chat took her up on  whether it is possible for one to be happy at these times when many are dying and no one is sure of who would die next?

 I would say yes it is possible to be happy! I always would advise that people try as much as possible to stay happy but that’s not forgetting the fact that human beings have their own natural senses. It is natural to get angry, it’s natural to cry, it’s natural to feel sad. And so, when I say that don’t let anybody’s negativity hit at your person, I would be referring strictly to the fact that you shouldn’t let anybody  hit your own self esteem. Because you need your self esteem at a high level to now be able to react to what is happening around you. For me, I think it’s natural that people get angry or sad about some things. But you see, you need a complete human being who is confident of himself or herself to react to some of those natural phenomenon.

It worries me why nobody seems to care or talk about people living with arthritis-Felicity Akachukwu, founder of Save The Arthritis Patients (SAP)

Story By ADAEZE AMOS

Felicity Akachukwu,  the founder of Save The Arthritis  Patients (SAP)  is worried about  the way and manner many people talk about such ailments as cancer, diabetes, blood pressure, HIV, cardiac arrest, Covid-19 to mention but a few without mentioning arthritis. It's not only the above mentioned ailments that have the tendency to torture  one's life and perhaps kill. "Arthritis too can cause so much pains," she commenced.

According to her, people living with arthritis go through so much pains that they cry like babies when the crisis starts. And that was what gave birth to her pet project. Hear her:  "Save The Arthritis Patients(SAP) has always been what I wanted to work on. Thank God I have started. The reason I chose SAP as a pet project is because  I have someone close to me who suffers arthritis  and that's my dad. Its been quite a challenging and painful experience  for him.  Initially, I knew nothing about arthritis, I used to think it's one small  ailment with an easy cure. But I was wrong. I never knew it's very painful."

Social media is now flooded with sad stories that dampen my mood-Queen Mercy Ndubusi, Political Scientist

Story By ADAEZE AMOS

Queen Mercy Ndubuisi , is not only beautiful. She is both  brawn  and brains. Aside from being a Political Scientist she also had a masters degree in Public Administration from Nasarawa State University keffi.  While she was in the university, participating in so many beauty pageants and clutching numerous diamond-studded  crowns but she was not deterred from studying hard and coming out in flying colours. “During my university days, I participated in so many beauty pageants and winning almost all yet I was serious with my studies. I took part in the Miss Go University and I happen to be the first runner up in 2010. I wasn’t satisfied with that position, then I contested for the Face Of Pemvim in 2016 and won. I also took part in the Face of New Haven Nigeria 2017 pageant, and I got the crown. Then of course, there were  Face Of Sanda Southeast in 2017 and Face of Aminity Global in 2018 and I emerged as the winner in both pageants. But guess what excites me about the whole thing? I was still very much focused on my studies because my mother had drummed it into my ears that an empty-headed beauty queen should always hide her face in shame. So, I had to study hard.”

Attention brides! Ponder over these bridal make-up tips by Susan Adejoh, an ex-beauty queen cum bridal make-up artist

Are you getting prepared for your wedding and you want a flawless make-up? Then read this short piece.

It is true that Susan Adejoh, an ex-beauty queen is an Accountant by profession but she is focused  on what she has a big passion for; which of course is make-up artistry. Wonder why an Accountant should ignore some juicy banking jobs for bridal make-up, skin therapy and cosmetology? "I have always loved colours and beauty and it has been my passion to make friends look beautiful right from my childhood. So, make-up artistry I would say is my safe haven, it makes me happy. Remember when you are passionate about something from childhood you just will always find your way around it even after studying a different course in the university. That is exactly what happened to me. I studied Accounting from Kogi State University and I'm happy with what I do for a living. It pays my bills, no doubt," she shrugs.

As an ex- beauty queen, I have started impacting lives and I'm ready to do more- Debby Akogun, Miss Kogi Ambassador 2018

Story By ADAEZE AMOS

• Queen Debby steps out in stylish nose mask

Have you asked some beauty queens what they did through out  their one year tenure? Well,  it may shock you that they would just be starring at you not knowing what to say. Simply because they didn't just do anything. Hence, majority of them shy away from granting press interviews where they would be asked to talk about their pet projects.
But the good news is that we still have some, (though very few) who love to give back or impact to their world thereby leaving  their feet prints  on the sand of remembrance. One of such beauties is  Queen Debby Akogun from Bassa Local Government Area of Kogi State.  She was the Queen of The North Nigeria 2017 and Miss Kogi Ambassador 2018.
During her tenures as a beauty queen she floated  Debby's_ Empire, her own company which is known  for  taking care of children and widows.  "I have a great passion for children and widows. Debby's_Empire is out to put smiles on their faces."

As if Debby's_Empire was not doing enough, she still pushed harder (further). "I'm also the Chief Executive Officer of Mr and Miss Bassange Nigeria which is the founder of  Bassange Beauty Pageant Nigeria (BBPN). This very beauty pageant is unique because it is strictly a  traditional pageant where  a queen and a king are  crowned every year to boost the tradition and culture of Kogi State which is my own state. My focus honestly  has been on my people, you know  we the Kogi people are parts of minorities in this country. So, I'm doing everything humanly possible to bring my people out to the positive light."
Did you ask if that was all that the English and Literary Studies graduate of  Kogi State University could boast of? Well at least she is doing something  unlike majority of others who just love to sit before their mirror applying  lipstick and fixing false lashes.  "Well, I have started impacting lives. Giving out to children and widows.  And my company Debby's_Empire is still open to receive ideas from people. I know there is always a starting  point for every body, this is my own starting point."

"I hate seeing make-up blunders on faces of ladies you would expect to wear flawless make-up- Queen Eniola Christabel, Ex-Beauty Queen, Model cum Make-Up Artist

'I'm charismatic, bold and courageous!'

 Story By ADAEZE AMOS

• ...regale and stylish 

There are  some make-up blunders that  put Queen Eniola Christabel off. And you wouldn't  blame her for reacting that way because she is a professional Make-Up Artist,  a model, a young politician who loves mixing up with well dressed/ elegant socialites and she is of course The Face Of Western Nigeria Convener.

Eniola  can't stand shabbily applied make-up. "I hate to see make-up blunders on the faces of ladies you would ordinarily  expect to wear flawless make-up. When I see  eyebrows that are not well drawn or  eyelashes that are not properly fixed. I get pissed off. Its better you don't wear make-up at all, than making a mess of it. I often see ladies wearing wrong colours of foundation or even when they get the right colour, it is heavily applied. Remember that make-up is an enhancer. Meaning that it shouldn't be heavily worn. Then wearing wrong colour of  bronzer is another blunder that I can't stand," she says, as a matter of fact.

Aspiring models should be ready to face an industry that’s pretty tough with no space for slackers- Saadat Bibire, Model and Ex-Beauty Queen

Story By ADAEZE AMOS

• Queen Saadat has got both poise and confidence

• She has got panache that can set fashion runway ablaze  

Do you admire both billboard and runway models  and wish to be like them one day? Oh that's a good dream. But have you for once inquired or asked models what they go through to get to the peak of their career? Or do you think modeling is an easy  profession? No! Not at all.
Queen Saadat Bibire, an Ex-Beauty Queen  who has been a model for close to a decade  gives an insight of what modeling is all about in our society. "If you want to be a model in Nigeria, try and be professional about it. What this means is that you have to be trained for it. You don't have to walk into the modeling world just because you have the right attributes. Although it is important to have the right physic but you have to be properly trained. Then after being  trained, you need to be registered into a good modeling agency that would be getting jobs for you. Reason is that  freelancers do have issues getting jobs and they  are always underpaid. Secondly, no one would give you your due respect if you are a freelance model. The disrespect so many freelancers  encounter in this country is  disheartening believe me."

It pains me when people die of skin cancer due to bleaching creams- Winnie Amangele, Ex-beauty queen, plus-sized model cum artist (painter)

My dark complexion do boost my confidence- Queen Winnie Amangele, Miss Curvy Ebony Nigeria, 2016

Story By ADAEZE AMOS

• My dark skin do boost my confidence

• Black is indeed beautiful

Queen Winnie Amangele,  an ex beauty queen from Bayelsa State says it pains her when people die  of skin cancer that ought to have been prevented. "Health experts have said that the major cause of skin cancer is bleaching which of course is the corrosive removal of skin melanin that ought to protect the skin from UV rays. So, based on this explanation, it honestly annoys me when patients die of skin cancer due to bleaching creams. I'm one dark complexioned person that  has never tried bleaching my skin before and I will never do it. What for? I love my black complexion with a passion," she commences, proudly.

Echoes of Covid-19 lockdown

Covid-19 pandemic has personally forced me to look inwards for creativity-Temitope Olanre-Alade,  Director Of Studies, Ibile Vogue Academy

Story By ADAEZE AMOS

It is true that Covid-19 or Corona Virus came with some health issues or challenges, but if you truly look inwards, it also has some other sides too. Temitope Olanre-Alade,  a TV Presenter/Official Costumier at Orisun TV, a   Director Of Studies at Ibile Vogue Academy says that "Covid-19 pandemic has changed the whole world. Personally it has forced me to look inwards and find creative ways to  have meetings, teach my students, grade their assignments,  communicate with my faculty, run my business, take orders, sell and run the home front too. Before now my use of e-commerce was very passive, but now it has to be the main platform for any entrepreneur who does not wish to loose her clients."
The English Studies graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife recounts the echos of Covid-19  lock down. " In fact, the first three days was a total shutdown for me, all I did was to eat, watch movies and sleep. I slept so well that I could hear my body say thank you. I actually needed it,  but after then came a phase of boredom. So I commenced early morning walks with my family, but then we discovered that the roads were a bit busy with residents of my estate also walking. This made keeping social distancing a bit of a challenge. The truth is most of us weren't walking to keep fit, but rather to kill boredom and get some fresh air. So we decided to do our walks in the evenings which was a lot better."