It’s truly a difficult time for us here in Nigeria. Recession keeps blowing financial travails here and there. Common Gala that always had a way of holding us together before we look for food to eat is now 70 Naira. What can man do now that everything looks like hardship in a new era?

As Nigerians, we know that one of our biggest strengths is that we always find a way to rise above anything, find humour in every situation and find a way to make it all work.

To cope with the recession and the high prices of commodities and services, I drew up some less expensive and alternative way of life everyone can abide by.

Use Public Transportation

PIC. 7. SOME OF THE LAGOS BUS RAPID TRANSPORT BUSES OPERATED BY PRIMERO TRANSPORT SERVICES LIMITED, ALLEGEDLY VANDALISED BY HOODLUMS, IN LAGOS ON WEDNESDAY (29/6/16). 4702/29/06/2016/IYI/BJO/NAN

In Nigeria, I don’t know why people believe that public transportation are for people going through hardship. It really doesn’t matter who you are or how big you are, public transport is key in this community, especially if you are trying to save cost. If you do not have a car then it’s advisable to stop with the Uber, cabs and more. Only if you earn like 800k – 1 million a month, then you can enjoy the beautiful services Ubers and Taxis render.

Shop From Trift Stores

trift-market

I believe one or two hundred of us reading this post have probably bought the most amazing items from thrift stores around. Fancy blouses, trendy jeans, gorgeous shoes and bags are some of the few things I’ve cupped from them, and maybe because we started receiving higher pays at our work places, we decided to change levels and start shopping from Deborah’s Grace and the likes of them. But trust me, there are some amazing things that one can find at a thrift store that cannot be found at a high end boutique. So now that recession has kicked in, it’s only wise that we go back to our first love and leave high end boutiques for special occasions.

Mama Put Saves Lives

mama-put

Before the likes of Mr Biggs, Crunches and Tantalizers there was Mama Put. A place were you see the rich and middles class people struggling for food like their lives depended on it or maybe because Mama Ija must have probably washed ynash inside ( I’ve heard so many stories of this happening.) Fast foods suck up all our money, bills sum up to 1500 Naira just because you bought jollof rice, chicken and coke. Meanwhile Ola Iya will give you that same food, even more delicious for as low as N500. So my sister which one will you go for as we all have found ourselves in this predicament? Ola Iya of cause!

DIY Dey Go

how-to-weave-hair

DIY simply means DO IT YOURSELF. If your car breaks down DIY, If you always go to the salon to relax and blow-dry your hair, Nne DIY. I will advice everyone to do it yourself because as it is, even your most trusted mechanic, cab man, hair stylist and more will definitely add recession money to your bill at the end of the day. Everybody is looking for means to make money in this hardship.

Gofundme Please

gofundme

At the end of the day if nothing is working for you, just kuku open a gofundme page where friends and family will help your live through this madness. If that doesn’t work, then I advice you to switch nationality.

That comes to the end of my recession starter pack. If you indulge in these things I have just listed, then you will live through anything life throws at you. In conclusion, if you have more fun things to add to this article, please state as we all cannot be mute about it.

Love Nikki.


http://www.stylevitae.com/survive-mind-blowing-recession/

Hello Diary, I am sorry I have been MIA for a while. My reason is that I have been hustling, trying to make money and also working on so many projects, but today I am back with something good.

I am sharing my experience at the Heineken Lagos Fashion & Design Week 2016 casting which took place today, Friday the 23rd of September at the Social Place, Lagos, Nigeria.

Model castings are always were very interesting for me. It’s usually a time where you get to see some beautiful faces you haven’t seen all year, get to catch up and possibly hang out after the tedious strain of casting.

This time wasn’t any different and with all the excitement rushing through my veins, I caught up with my friends at exactly 10 am at the venue, where I was amazed at the sight of hundreds of models waiting to be casted.

I knew it was going to take the whole day, so I hurried to put down my name on the attendance list and wait to be called. While waiting for my name to be called, I took a few pictures of the growing crowd.

They are a lot right? Oh well that’s what happens when it is a casting for one of the biggest fashion shows in West Africa. Several models from all parts of Nigeria usually show up, with the hope of becoming one of the faces to rock the runway.

At the end of the day, I was selected alongside other amazing models, and I certainly cannot wait to see what this year’s fashion week holds. It will most likely be fun and I am already looking forward to ripping the runway with the selected few.

For now, take a look at some amazing faces I captured at the casting.

Can you spot any familiar faces?

http://www.stylevitae.com/nikkis-model-diary-heineken-lagos-fashion-design-week-2016-casting/

Fashion model and humanitarian Millen Magese has the body of a goddess and she knows how to show it off. Rocking stylish clothes but most especially lovely one piece and two piece swimsuits.

She is truly a fan of swim wears and she takes to Instagram to share some of her enviable pieces. From floral sets, bold primary colors, Millen gives us major swimwear inspiration.

Today, we’ve compiled some of our favorite Millen swimwear looks as seen on the Model’s Instagram page.



http://www.stylevitae.com/tanzania-model-millen-magese-give-us-major-body-goals/

Do you want to be a model and you don’t know how to go about it? Then this article is for you. The first step for any aspiring model is to get signed into a reputable modelling agency whose main aim will be to aim sure that your modelling career soars.

What a modeling agency does, is that it helps mold you into a brand, trains you, gets test shots, layout portfolio and puts together comp cards (composition photo cards) and other printed material models need to help get your career as a model going, but getting you campaigns, commercials and more.

Currently I am signed to GI Model Management and for the past 2 years since I have been with them, they have promoted me as a fashion/commercial model and I’ve had the privilege of working for top brands and designers. I’ve gained exposure and gotten more job opportunities.

There are a thousand and one reasons to join an agency and I want to use this medium to shed more light on a few of them.

Your Safety
A professional modelling agency is more concerned about your safety than the client who hired you for the job. They will know who your clients are, where your job will take place, and most important, they will know that your safety is being addressed at all times. Essentially your agent will screen and verify your clients before you go on the job.

More Job Opportunities
The best clients such as Mai Atafo, Tiffany Amber or Lanre Da Silva Ajayi always use modeling agencies to find their models so this means that you will be exposed to the best job opportunities. For example, if a particular model that a top client wants to hire is unavailable, they can present you to the client as an alternative and you could get the booking. At the end of the day, if you were extremely professional and amazing, it can very well increase your chances of being recommended by other big brands.

On the other hand a freelance model working with online clients will most likely be doing non-paying modeling jobs and you will get no exposure at all to other clients.

Get Paid What You Deserve
When you work with a professional modeling agency you are definitely getting big bucks for the work you are doing. For instance, in the case of a commercial print job where your images will be used on billboards, magazines and flyers, a freelance model might have no idea what a fair price will be for the job and will most likely sell themselves short, but an agent will make sure that you get the best out of any deal whatsover.

International Exposure
With the right agency you can be signed to any agency in country such as South Africa, New York or even Paris. Model scout from international agencies usually visit agencies in other countries to scout for new and fresh faces . If this happens and you get picked, it means that you have the backing of both a local agency and an international one.

These points above are select few of the reasons every model needs an agency.

I have also summed up a list of some of the best modeling agencies in Nigeria who are ready to sign up young girls who have what it takes to become the next big thing in the modelling agency.

Beth Model Management
GI Model Management
Isis Model Management
Few Model Management
EL Model Management
Hues and Shades
Zahara Model Management
RJW Modeling academy

http://www.stylevitae.com/reasons-why-models-need-an-agency/

Hello again my loving diary that keeps me and my faithful readers happy! So I am back again to share my experience at the Heineken Lagos Fashion & Design Week casting which took place on Wednesday 30th of September 2015 at the Social Place, Lagos, Nigeria.

Castings are always exciting for me, because I get to see my model friends I haven’t laid eyes on in a while and this time I was even more excited to get to the venue, chit chat with them and eventually gossip catch up.

I started my day with arriving late to the office due to the unending Lagos traffic, worked on a few articles and decided to chill a little and receive office air-conditioner before I get hammered by the Lagos sun that has no respect for mankind. Eventually I was pulled out of the office by my very own Baby cakes, Tomi (I actually call her Willow Smith because there’s such a strong resemblance that I think Will Smith did small something something in Nigeria before he had a baby girl with Jada!).

Oh Nikki, get back to the reason you started writing this in the first place. Sometimes I think I have a real problem with getting distracted a lot but God dey. So as I was saying, I got to The Social Place to behold “a flock of eager birds all itching to clinch a spot on the most anticipated fashion week in Nigeria”. I located my friends and quickly walked up to them to start gisting but I knew I had to get to the front of the line one way or the other to get the casting over and done with.

I kid you not, there were actually a lot of models who flew in from all over the country for this casting and I happened to know a few, so I had a little pep talk with them and wished them luck.

At the end of the pretty long day, I was selected with a few other models and I can not wait to see what the show has to offer this year.

We will definitely have fun not doubt but its not going to be an easy one, so I say a big congratulations to everyone who was picked and I cannot wait to rock the runway with you all in style.


Have a look at my day in pictures –


http://www.stylevitae.com/nikkis-model-diary-my-day-at-the-heineken-lagos-fashion-design-week-casting/