A REMOTE WINTER GET-AWAY

Sight seeing is fun. Hanging out is fun too but getting away from work and all the hustling and busy city life during the Winter is mega awesome!

Last weekend I went away with mine to a remotely quiet city, far away from the sun and 80 degrees Fahrenheit weather in December, crazy right?  I blame it all on "global warming", a topic for another day. The highlight of this getaway was the snow even though I normally can't stand extreme chilly weather which is funny for someone who was born and lived close to the North Pole, no kidding. Like I always say, everything looks more beautiful when it snows.

The drive up here was fun because I wasn't the one driving. Okay I'm kidding, road trips are always fun (if you don't get road sick) P.S I got mint gums to the rescue since I normally get road sick over long rides. The scenery and change in altitude as we moved closer to the mountains were extremely breath-taking and since I caught a new hobby (taking pictures of mother nature) I could not resist taking a lot of pictures. I've decided to share some of them here :)

Beautiful right? I obsess over nature and don't know if it's a good thing but I love nature and I'm not afraid to show off beautiful pictures from my amateur nature photography album, which I'll be doing more often now and I'm particularly excited for that. It was quite a long drive but soon we neared our destination and yes! Heavenly snow! Everywhere! See Pictures below

Another thing that fascinates me is Water. I mentioned in one of my previous post how the beach is  one of my favourite place to hang out, well I found out there is a lake here and took some beautiful  pictures of it as soon as I had savoured the moment just to always remind me of one the beautiful  creations of Allah (God). See pictures of the lake below

   

I didn't want to leave but knowing I probably won't survive the harsh snowy weather for long  anyway was a consolation for me. Overall, it was great, beautiful, quiet and I'd love to come back  someday soon. :)

NEITHER HERE NOR THERE

We live in a world where a person is largely defined by his/her race. Certain non-positive things that has happened today and in the past has been due to the answer of this very simple non-destructive question... "What race do you belong to?".

Growing up as a mixed/bi-racial girl, i wasn't quite sure if I was lucky or unlucky to be of  European and African descent. It wasn't until I grew older and started feeling really lucky because despite all the negativity from family members and random people everywhere I visited, I realized my awesomeness doesn't depend on what race or races I belong to or my genetic makeup as people like to think.

One would think it is easy growing up mixed but asides the awkward stares over the years, i have had to answer to a billion and one questions from people, friends, teachers, lecturers wondering what i am. Questions that made me feel weird because of their replies to my answers. For instance, when someone asks me "where are you from?" I automatically tell them where my dad is from - i identify as being Nigerian. The next thing they say is No, you can't be Black, you are too pale to be Black. Are both your parents black? You don't look like us (this has to be the most annoying/painful remark for it made me feel unwanted quite a lot of times), there's something else about you. That's how most of my conversations go. Other times, i answer them with my mum's country, i get various other negative kinds of reactions ( you cant be from Russia, you are black). Okay society, what do you want me to say really?  Suddenly, i stopped wanting to answer anyone. It's like i didn't belong here or there. Many times i have felt embarrassed just for being mixed but of course they didn't think it was coming off that way and up till date i sometimes don't know how to react to these remarks. 

I had a hard time coming to terms with my racial identity. Was i black? Was i white? What am i? Did i belong to that race or this race? I knew what my parents racial identities were but my racial identity as a kid and through my teenage years was a drag. Always explaining or wondering what to identify as is still a tough decision when people make you feel like you have to choose just one. The one-drop rule. You can't be black and white people have told me severally. Deciding what race to be on when you look nothing like either but a mix is tough. I was born and brought up in a predominantly white society and i have also lived most of my youth in an all black country. If there's one thing i learned, it is that the majority of the white society don't see you as one of them neither does the Black community. They both believe you to be foreign, different and honestly, it isn't a complement. 

I just wanted to be a person. A human being of the human race that'll be accepted just the way i am with no lingering questions and negativity but unfortunately that isn't the world we live in. Consciously or unconsciously, race depicts so many aspects and bits of our lives. Now that i'm older and learning that my racial identity is a part of who i am, i will not choose where to belong. I can be black and i can be white and exist as me. I will not let any imaginary boundary others push onto people like me make me have to choose what race to identify as and love, what cultures to adore, what things to get interested in as regards to race. I am who i am, I am Bi-racial and this does not mean i am anti-black or pro-white, it is just me accepting myself for what i am regardless of what the society wants me to identify as and accepting yourself is one of the greatest form of love :)

MY JOURNEY IN THE MODELLING INDUSTRY AS A MUSLIMAH

Over the years as I grew up, I have had people question my religion. More like basically everything with me. I get questions like “why do you always wear a head scarf” ? “Why can’t you open your hair today”? What does your hair look like? Sometimes its oppressing as people can ask way more intimidating questions but I’ve learned never to get thrown back by these and one thing I always thought of being, asides a medical personnel was to be a Model.

Not your regular fashion “Victoria secret models” as my religion wouldn’t allow that but a different kind of model. A model that will stand out and be recognized everywhere as a unique one and I had that chance back in 2012 when I made my debut in the Nigerian Modelling Industry signing a contract with a Telecommunications Company (MTN) as a commercial model on their billboard campaign advert that year.

I was called for series of auditions in which only myself appeared with a headscarf. I had glances here and there and I thought to myself, “maybe I’m the wrong place” as other Models  appeared in short dresses, 6″ heels, tight pants and I was there modestly dressed with my hijab.

Backstage with other models from a tiring MTN  Televison commercial shoot

I got called back from among hundreds of models, along with another female model (Mildred Odimegwu Miss Tourism Nigeria) for the campaign Ad. I was so thrilled and never saw that coming because women who wear headscarves are usually shunned in the fashion/modelling world. I was reluctant at first but I eventually took it up.

Selfie backstage with a Beth model

Over the years I’ve been to various auditions, meetings with clients, gone for castings and I can tell you; every time I walk into the room, I am the only one using a headscarf. So much so that many other models present both male and female have consistently asked me if it was a costume or not because what are the odds? A muslim and a model? Something isn’t right they thought. But I looked beyond the odds. I looked at diversity. I looked at what the media thinks of Muslims.I looked at what the fashion industry thinks of Muslims and their fashion sense and these just plunged me forward, gave me the courage to walk into every cast I have ever been to and walk out only to be called back for the job. And when they ask most of the time but very politely “can you take off your headscarf”? I reply “No, i can’t..”With a smile. And we still work together at the end of the day! So much so that I don’t mind anymore when I appear among other models as the only model using a headscarf! It gives me great joy and a sense of fulfillment, Masha Allah.

Apart from being recognized as a Muslim Model, everyone I work with respects my religion and preferences. My relationship with other male models if I have to work with them or male make-up artists, stylists, directors, photographers, the entire cast per say.. they have always been mindful and respectful. I can remember being on a scene for a television advert for Galactic sweet (Nigeria) when the directors told everyone on set to allow me just sit for my scene instead of doing the choreographed dance like every other model on set did just to respect my religion because in the director’s words “he wouldn’t want a hijab wearing model to appear dancing on TV and to not stir up negative comments” . That was awesome!

Billboard ad for Purple Nigeria.

I cannot say it has been rosy all through, side comments, agencies requesting for my pictures without the headscarf for modelling jobs, tempting offers, and so on, but I have remained relentless in my vision to keep representing Islam in every way that I can and that includes being a practicing muslim woman and a model on the side.

I’m amazed at the response gotten so far from the modelling industries as I’ve always been called back regardless of my hijab and I have been approached to be represented by top modelling agencies in Nigeria and Africa recently. They get it. There should always be space for accepting other cultures, religion and diversity as a whole.

Alhamdullilah, over the years I’ve worked with various top Brands in Nigeria representing them and still being a Muslim.

Some may say modelling disagrees with the tenets of Islam but I disagree. As long as I’m dressed modestly and according to Islamic rules and that means not exposing any part of my body, I’m good. It’s just Dawah in a form, promoting the Hijab and Islam as a whole. Showing the world a different side to us than what the media might have proclaimed us as, and that isn’t forbidden in Islam.