P.H.A.T. HAS A NEW FACE
If you call am African woman, she no go gree, she go say, she go say I be lady’ Even though we are a people that prefer our women buxom, prospering in rolls and dollops of flesh all over the body especially around the waist and backside, these types of women are never well represented in popular culture. They are conspicuously absent on the pages of glossy magazines, in body conversations, in fashion look books, only used in music videos for the singular reason that they are bigger than everyone else and when they dance, everyone else, (skinnier girls included) can gawk at them in awe like elephants on a tightrope in the circus. Recently upsetting this incomplete status quo in unapologetically splashy form and colour is wonder woman radio journalist, poet, writer, producer and social activist, Wana Udobang in collaboration with leading online retail mall, Jumia Nigeria. The campaign aptly titled ‘Curvy’ stars Udobang in form-fitting wrap dresses, lace, skinny jeans, jumpsuits, and all other attire that a plus size girl is advised to usually shy away from or herself will be too self-conscious to wear. The collaboration in itself is a match made in idea heaven. Wana Udobang is a force of nature, an on-air personality (as the media lingo goes) that exists in a completely different space than her contemporaries. First, of course, her personality. Where in other climes radio personalities are mostly heard not seen, in Nigeria, the reverse is the case as they populate red carpets all over the country, carefully tousled, glamorized and primed their eagerness for much sought time in front of the camera thinly concealed. A certain popular vlogger comes to mind. Wana, on the other hand spends most weekends away from flashing lights and is either volunteering at the Mirabel Centre for rape victims, contributing to their rehabilitation or helping raise money to fight cancer for the 1K4 Cancer Initiative. Second, she hosts one of the most followed and engaging radio shows on air, on Inspiration 92.3 FM where listeners call in, sharing life issues and getting feedback from Wana herself or a brought in expert. She shows a wisdom that belies her years and can always be counted on for stimulating, intelligent discourse. The same cannot be said for other radio shows (or stations for that matter) Finally, her size. Hers has been a raw, publicly documented battle against her weight but it seems satisfaction and peace with self was the victor of this particular duel. Now she wears her weight literally with pride. A quality in too low quantity in many others in her shoes. But for a year or two now they have had her to look up for inspiration and validation in their being as they are. And now this fashion campaign, and Wana in all her glory, making plus size fashions look oh so fabulous, giving curvy girls via the Jumia retail site, a reason to rejoice.