The Nation Newspaper

Category: Glamour

  • I’m a very natural person Mistura Asunramu Alao

    I’m a very natural person Mistura Asunramu Alao

    Nollywood actress, Mistura Asunramu Alao, has become a household name for her ability to interpret her roles well in movies. The multi-talented actress, who is currently holidaying in the U.S, shares with Adetutu Audu what it takes to be a successful actress and how she has been able to stay off scandal. 

    What have you been up to?

    I have been doing well. Moving from one location to the other as usual. I stay at home with my family whenever I am not at location or don’t have event to attend.

    Do you still have plans to act again, since you have relocated abroad with your hubby?

    Relocated? No, I have not relocated. I am here on holiday and to attend to another issue which is not for public consumption. I am still very much in acting and can never think of leaving acting.

    You seem to place much priority on your marriage than your acting career. Is it your hubby that is taking you away from your dream?

    No, on the contrary, my husband has been encouraging me in my acting career. He never for a second discouraged me from acting. He does take me to locations whenever he is less busy and comes to check me if the location is not too far from where he is. Family is different from career; they are getting the treatment they deserve separately and one is not affecting the other.

    Among several roles you have played, which one was most challenging?

    I enjoyed every part I played in movies because they have different messages and challenges that come with them, but let me say Akiti and Fali Olomi. Akiti was the first movie that I would be involved in incantation; Fali Olomi was the first movie that I would be comical from the beginning till the end, and both were well accepted in the market.

    How long do you intend to stay in acting?

    Forever. It is something I love doing and derive pleasure in it.

    Very busy schedules are often the reason for most separations in the industry.

    Do you think your husband loves you enough to stay with you if you find yourself in any such situation?

    He is a caring father and loving husband, he understands the nature of my job perfectly. I have gotten lots of busy schedules since we married and he has been there for me, he never complained. In fact, he contributed immensely to my personal productions.

    Not many actresses will marry a journalist. For you, what was the attraction?

    I didn’t marry him because of his job, but because of his person. He is loving, caring, understanding. You will never have a dull moment being with my husband. I am glad to have him.

    What does it take to be a successful actress?

    One must be patient because you can’t be successful in a day no matter the profession you are in. Be focused, believe in yourself, learn from others and never stay away from God. With that, the sky will be your starting point.

    Don’t you think belonging to a particular association or caucus would have helped you get to the group of A-list actors today?

    I am an actress; I relate and work with every group in the industry. Every actor and actress is my friend. God makes stars and not human beings or group you belong to. I thank God, anywhere my name is mentioned as regard acting, it rings a bell. Alhamdulilahi.

    You seem to flow more with Yoruba movies. Do you have challenges crossing over?

    I started with English movies; I acted in Love and Pride. I am in Daddy’s girls, a soap opera. I am also in a movie titled The Unsaid, and so on. I have been contacted for some English movies yet to be shot. If I am called for any, I will go.

    As a fast-rising actress, how have you managed to stay off scandals?

    I don’t go beyond my boundary and never aspire for what I can’t get. I leave my life as a natural person.

    How do you manage advances from the opposite sex?

    I have been handling it the way any mature lady would. It is a free world and everyone has a right to make amorous moves when expressing their feeling. I always try to be friendly about it. I do appreciate those who show interest in me because I believe they must have liked me before proposing an affair. I try to tell them I appreciate and understand the feelings, but I am married to the love of my life.

    Describe your style

    I am a free person, who interacts with anyone no matter your status. I don’t leave a life of a star, I am just natural.

    Has your career enhanced your style?

    Not really, I can say my style enhanced my career.

    What is the most expensive fashion item you own?

    I don’t want to disclose that. But I love shoes and bags, as well as nice perfumes; they must not necessarily tear my pocket.

     

  • Copy Abisola’s cute ankara look!

    Copy Abisola’s cute ankara look!

    The fashionable incumbent Oyo State Governor’s daughter, Abisola Kola Daisi, nee Abiola Ajimobi, always stands out in the boldest of colours. She is never afraid to try new things and always hits the right notes.Most celeb don’t always find the right balance on the red carpet.

    Abisola looks glamorous in this peter-pan-collar  cute ankara dress paired with simple small studs, clutch purse and a black stilettos shoes with peach embellishment. Like Abisola,add sparkles with smoky eyes make-up that enhances the dress’s high neck style.She is sensational without being fussy; style is all about bringing a fashion vibe with a fresh twist.

  • DIY pedicure

    DIY pedicure

    In this period of ‘holiday’ when most of us are bored,why don’t  you take a little time out and give yourself a pedicure.save money for fuel/transport and don’t spend thousand at nail salon do it at home.Get all the tools together that you will need-nail polish remover,Basin filled with warm water to soak your feet,Epsom salt or peppermint foot soaks. Toes nail clipper,nail file,cuticle moisturizer[optional,but necessary for a high end pedicure]cotton balls or toes separator,base coat,nail polish,top coat,foot pumice buffer.This should be a fun relaxing thing to do for yourself.Have fun.

    Method

    -Remove any nail polish that you might have on.

    -filled a big bowl/basin with warm water to soak your feet

    -Add epsom salt or store bought product to warm water and soak your feet at least 15-20 minutes.The longer the better especially if your feet are hard and rough on the bottom.

    -clip toe nails with clipper.

    -Then smooth them with nails files.Also gently push back cuticles and use a cuticles moisturizer if they are still hard.

    -if you have a rough feet,use a special scrapers to remove dead skin.

    -dry feet and toes throughly.

    -Apply base coat and wait for it to dry completely.Next,apply the nail polish and finally the top coat.

    -Don’t forget the botten or toe separator.

    -Also be sure  to wait at least an hour before putting on shoe so you don’t mess up your new toes.

  • BRACKET: Nigerian music industry is more of fame than fortune

    BRACKET: Nigerian music industry is more of fame than fortune

    Obumneme Ali, a.k.a. Smash, and Nwachukwu Ozioko, a.k.a. Vast, popularly known as Bracket, rocked the entertainment scene with their hit Yori Yori, and also became a household name across Africa. Vast, one half of the popular singing duo, was diagnosed with lymphoma – a type of cancer of the blood. The duo opened up to Adetutu Audu how they survived the most troubled part of their career, their foundation and plans for 2015.

    THIS is a new year. What are your plans for the year?

    The last time we met, we discussed about the Bracket Cancer Foundation. One of us had cancer and by God’s grace he survived it. What we passed through, we don’t want other people to go through it. We are trying as much to get sponsorship to at least help people to survive. Even if the person dies, at least we helped. We have seen a lot of people losing their lives due to lack of fund. Their people watch them die due to lack of help.

    That is why we did that song alive. It is like thanking God for surviving. We featured Diamond and Tiwa Savage. It has already hit the airwaves.

    Who wrote the song?

    We were in America when the inspiration came. Vast brought the idea of the chorus. We were in the studio with Flavour then; we rubbed ideas together and eventually came up with it. We wanted to work with Davido but he was not available. We later met Diamond in South Africa.

    But it seems you did not do more in 2014?

    I think the misconception is that when people say after Yori Yori, they have not heard from us, I laughed. This is because we have a big competition in the industry and people pay more attention now to upcoming acts that just blew up. That is why you don’t really know that others are working. Last year, we had a song, International baby, though it may not be big.

    While my partner was in the hospital, we shot a video, Temperature, with Clarence Peters. We also did Nana and Mama Africa.  If I play the songs, I am sure they will be familiar to you. Aside Lagos, we are bigger in Africa. When we go outside Nigeria people appreciate us because they listen to album. In Nigeria, we don’t like to listen to album. We can perform 20 songs on stage and people will be screaming.

    I remember when we had a show in Enugu, our manager gave Jimmy Jatt about 14 songs that we wanted to perform. He was surprised because he said even the big acts cannot do more than five songs. By the time we were through, Jimmy said he became our number one fan again because he knew all the songs but did not know we sang them.  It is not like that we are not doing enough, the Nigerian music industry is more of fame than fortune. But I will tell you I would rather get the fortune than the fame.  Everywhere in the east they play our songs, but we don’t feel it here in Lagos. Any artiste that can last six years in the Nigeria music industry has tried. The biggest thing is that we are international artistes and not Nigerian artistes. Our first concert was in Sierra Leone and later other East African countries and the francophone countries, which is our biggest base now.

    The most challenging period of your career was when Vast was down with cancer. How would you describe that period?

    That was in 2013. When it started, we had series of concerts outside Nigeria. We were going and they were paying. The last one was in Burkina Faso where we were to perform for the first lady. They had already paid but he was really feeling down. In all these, we were waiting for the result of the tests he had undergone.  Someone now advised that instead of waiting, we should go to London and start afresh. The guy in Burkina Faso had to come to the hospital to confirm. The most challenging is returning the money. And when people sent us invitations for events and the money involved and we could not even reply, despite that we were spending money and could not work to get more.

    It was a setback. I had to get up from the hospital bed to shoot the temperature video with Clarence Peters in London.

    Did you ever think that you were going to die?

    That was at the initial stage when the news broke and the doctor said ‘I hope you survive.’   But I prayed and told God I needed love. People showed me love and I was encouraged. I thought I would lose all the blood in my body but thank God I survived it. After a week, I started having complications; I had to return to the hospital to have blood transfusion after which I felt better. We spent a lot of money. At a point, I was hopeless and was only praying to God for His mercies. After the second chemotherapy, I started exercising because the doctor advised me to do regular exercise. However, it was after the third chemotherapy that the pictures I took while in the hospital leaked. By then, I was already bouncing back to life because I passed through the valley of the shadow of death. After the fourth chemotherapy, we shot a video, Temperature, in London.  I was only going to the hospital, then to the gymnasium and back to the house. After the seventh chemo, I was told to do a lumber punch – they would have to inject my spine. It was done after the fifth chemo and it was very painful. I thought I would be paralysed. I was told the lumber punch was necessary to prevent the disease from getting to the brain. At that point, our account was almost in the red.

    Are you fully well now?

    The whole cancer thing has been cured. I only need to see the doctor for the next five years. I have done that for over a year now. The essence is that I go through a scan and if they see any tumour growing, they fight it. But if they don’t see after five years, that means it is gone.

    The doctor warned you against having sex then. Why?

    The essence is that by mistake if I impregnated a lady, the child may be deformed. The white people know what they are doing. Before the commencement of the treatment, they took some sperm and save in case the treatment later affected me, I can still bear children. But thank God nothing of such happened.

    What have you learnt from your experience?

    I learnt that life is very precious. No matter what you do and wherever you are, don’t look down on anybody because you don’t know who will help you tomorrow. Another thing is that you don’t have to be scared of death. You have to face the challenge. Live a normal life. If you are scared of death, you will die. At a point, when I got very scared, the sickness came in full force, but when I started picking courage, it subsided and I recovered.

    While all this was going on, did Smash not think of pursuing a solo career?

    It never occurred to me. The only thing that was in my mind was how I was going to face his mum if anything bad happened. The family was aware that he was sick but they didn’t know how bad it was. They don’t even know it was cancer.  We were the only one encouraging ourselves; nobody called to give us any money.

    Cancer treatment is capital intensive. How much are you looking at for your foundation?

    We are planning a big concert from our state, Enugu, and the train will later move to Lagos. Whatever we raised, that is how we are going to start up.  I went to a hospital recently and I met a man with both nose and ear swollen. On enquiry, the nurse said when the man had cancer of the nose, when he came initially, he only needed N150,000 and because of lack of fund, he returned home. By the time he was ready with the money, the tumour had spread to the ear.

    Do we see you guys break up in the nearest future?

    After all that we went through, we don’t foresee a break-up. The situation has proved that we are born to be together, though we started as three. Ali Baba once described us as coke and fanta.

    What are we expecting from you in 2015?

    We want to do a remix of our song Nana, launch our foundation and if possible drop our album by April.

  • Keeping your skin hydrated during this season

    Keeping your skin hydrated during this season

    Harmattan period is usually associated with low humidity which simply means there is very little amount of water in the atmosphere compared to other season of the years. And as a result the weather appears harsh to everybody’s hair and skin. We can use some things to keep our skin fresh and prevent it from cracking

    The skin

    *It needs mild moisturizing soap or body baths creams.

    *Invest in body oil to retain moisture on the skin after bath.

    *Do not dry your skin completely after bath.

    *You can drop little oil in to water before bath.

    *Apply moisturizing cream or lotion all over your body including your feet. Hydrating cream and lotions are best for all skin types this season.

    *Apply hand cream day and night.

    *Apply nail polish on the nails it helps to protect nails from excessive drying and hardening.

    The face

    *Use mild soaps to wash the face.

    *Stop the use of face facial cleansers and toners that contain alcohol or astringents. Use only mild facial cleansers toner.

    *Always moisturize your lips before going to bed

  • Staying stylish and warm this Harmattan

    Staying stylish and warm this Harmattan

    Although most designers showed at least a jacket or two in their new year collections, a few of them concentrated on harmattan wear, and even when they showed warmth clothing on the runway, they were frequently paired with stilettos, rather than  well covered shoes, which  would certainly be more practical. Because January is the harmattan month of the year in Nigeria, it’s only natural that most women will need to bundle up to keep warm when they go out during this period.  Sometimes it’s difficult to be stylish when we are wrapped head to toe in thick clothing.   We bring you some ideas on how to update your look in this period. It’s wrong to think that there is no place for fashion during harmattan as we have to pull thick fabrics in order to keep warm.

    Now, there is a way to stay in style during these month because the easiest thing to do is to choose the right accessories. A great jacket, neck scarf, cute hat/cap, turtleneck dress and sweater can update your look in no time; make it classier and more stylish. The fashion trend for January is all about warmth!

    Harmattan essentials

    -Natural fruity lip balms

    -Black blazer or boy friend jacket

    -Hand lotion in your bag or office

    -scarf for the hair and neck

    -Essential oil and vitamin in-based body cream or African shear butter populary known as Ori.

    Stocking or leg warmer to keep the feet warm throughout the day.

  • Wunmi Fatukasi hits 50

    Wunmi Fatukasi hits 50

    Beauty expert and CEO of Fatus Beauty Centre, Olawunmi Benedicta Fatukasi, has turned 50. It was celebration galore at her Lagos home where friends, celebrities and loved ones turned up to make the golden moment count for the birthday girl. Looking cool and glamorous, Fatukasi and husband used the opportunity to thank God and count their many blessings.

  • Toyin Saraki providing succour

    Toyin Saraki providing succour

    Since she quit office as the first lady of Kwara State, Mrs. Toyin Saraki, the Founder/ President of Wellbeing Foundation Africa (WBFA), has been involved in one project or the other. The wife of the new strongman of Kwara politics and chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment, Senator Bukola Saraki, has since 2003 brought several initiatives and interventions to make life better for the people.

    Toyin, international campaigner for maternal, newborn and child health, rights and empowerment, reaffirmed this commitment on her recent visit to the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) in The Hague, Netherlands where she clamoured for the critical need to provide universal access to a well-educated, well-equipped and regulated midwifery workforce, especially at the grassroots level in developing countries like Nigeria.

    A qualified barrister, she had built a successful private sector career before dedicating the last 21 years to philanthropy.

  • Jennifer Obayuwana pampers self with high end wristwatch

    Jennifer Obayuwana pampers self with high end wristwatch

    Jennifer Obayuwana, the daughter of Polo Nigeria Limited boss, John Obayuwana, is a style a icon and she is living up to it. Apart from running her father’s business, one other thing the daddy’s girl is passionate about is luxury wristwatches. A source close to her revealed she just got herself a Piaget Squelette Altiplano full pavé diamond valued at $45,000 as a Christmas present. The timepiece has a 40 mm black alligator strap with buckle in 18 carat white gold.  Earlier before the yuletide season, she got a Cartier Pasha Skeleton which has 320 diamonds and one Tsavorite in November.

  • Ghazali Lawal starts on a fresh note

    Ghazali Lawal starts on a fresh note

    The Magaji of Kaikai in Katsina State, His Royal Highness, Ghazali Lawal Kaikai, has started the year on a fresh note as he tied the nuptial knot with his beautiful bride, Zaynab, in Katsina State on January 3rd, 2015 (yesterday). The royal wedding drew many from different walks of life. Kaikai is one of the youngest monarchs in Northern Nigeria.