THEWILL DOWNTOWN February 25, 2024

CRAIG ABIMBOLA

Telling Impactful Stories Through Film

EDITOR’S NOTE

Photo: Kola Oshalusi @insignamedia Makeup: Zaron

Abimbola Craig wears different hats. One of them is Tiwa, the lead character in Skinny Girl in Transit She also produces in the hit show, has produced the reality TV show Real Housewives of Lagos, and has been in other projects like Sugar Rush and Glamour Girls (the 2022 remake). Whichever way you look at it, Abimbola Craig is a hardworking woman who aims for perfection in anything with her name attached. Perhaps it’s the fact that she grew up on shows like Tales by Moonlight, but for her, her work must have a moral ending. One impactful story she has told was Fractured, a short story starring Eku Edewor and the late Karibi Fubara about a couple having difficulty conceiving. While society tends to blame the wife, in this case, the husband spoke out, saying he was the one with a low sperm count. When it comes to finding a balance between her public persona and private life, Craig firmly believes in controlling your narrative. She says that whatever you see out there about her, she allows. Read more about Abimbola Craig on pages 8 to 10.

This week, our fashion pages share some insight into how to mix prints. You’ll find that on pages 4 and 5, where we give six simple guidelines to enable you to mix print like a pro.

The face and neck have over 57 muscles, yet we don’t exercise them regularly. Face yoga is becoming popular to combat signs of ageing, but what other exercises could help with your complexion and other signs of ageing? We discuss these on the beauty page.

Don’t forget to click on the instructions below the QR codes on page 16 to access our playlist. You’ll love the music selection.

Until next week, enjoy your read.

Onah

@onahluciaa

+ 2349088352246

PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Executive Editor: Onah Nwachukwu @onahluciaa

Lifestyle Editor at Large: Eki Ogunbor

Online Editor: Ntianu Obiora

Writer: Johnson Chukwueke

Graphic Design: Olaniyan John ‘Blake’

Digital Media: Oladimeji Balogun

Guest Art Director: Sunny Hughes ‘SunZA’

www.thewilldowntown.com

Skin Gym

Workouts And Techniques For A Toned Complexion

Balancing Act

Nurturing A Healthy Work-Life Harmony

Navigating Your Future

Odun Ogunbiyi @oddbodandthecity

- Contributing Editor

Odunayo Ogunbiyi is an ex pharmacist with a passion for food and pampering. Writing about her exploits wherever in the world she may find herself is just her way of staying sane in this zany world.

Boluwatife Adesina @bolugramm

- Contributing Writer

Boluwatife Adesina is a media writer and the helmer of the Downtown Review page. He’s probably in a cinema near you.

Dorcas

6

Ways to Mix Prints And Patterns Like A Pro

Fear not if you’re eager to explore the fascinating field of print mixing but are a little intimidated by it. Combining prints and patterns may take your sense of style to a whole new level. With these six simple guidelines, you’ll be able to master print mixing like a seasoned fashion expert. Now, let’s get started!

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2. START WITH A NEUTRAL BASE

Start with a neutral basis when experimenting with print-mixing. Go for monochromatic hues or traditional designs like polka dots or stripes. This establishes a harmonious base that lets the details of your mixed prints pop without overpowering the entire ensemble.

MIX SCALES, NOT CHAOS

Understanding scale is a crucial component of effective print mixing. To keep things balanced, combine prints of different sizes. Combine larger floral patterns with smaller stripes or geometric motifs. This produces visual appeal without resulting in a disorganised pattern clash.

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Your print mixing game can benefit from the contemporary and edgy touch that geometric patterns can provide. Try mixing floral or abstract designs with houndstooth or stripes. Since geometric patterns are organised, they can produce a visually arresting contrast that takes your ensemble to a whole new level.

4. EXPERIMENT WITH MONOCHROMATIC PRINTS

When combining different prints, consider playing around with monochromatic designs. Pick prints that have a similar palette of colours, such as polka dots and black and white stripes. With this method, you can introduce yourself to the world of print mixing while still maintaining a stylish and refined look.

6. ACCESSORISE WISELY

Start with accessories to incorporate prints if you’re new to print mixing. You may add prints to your ensemble without going overboard with a printed scarf, statement shoes, or patterned handbag. As you gain confidence, progressively try out bolder print combinations.

CONCLUSION

FASHION

5. CONTRAST TEXTURES FOR DIMENSION

To give your ensemble dimension, use a variety of textures. A thick knit sweater looks great with elegant patterned pants, or try a silk blouse with a textured jacquard skirt. In addition to improving the ensemble’s aesthetic appeal, contrasting textures give it greater movement.

By following these tips, you are now equipped with the keys to becoming an expert print mixing artist. As always, the secret is to start small, learn how to coordinate colour and size, and progressively try various combinations. With confidence and flair, these six ideas can help you navigate the world of pattern mixing, whether you’re adding concepts to your everyday wardrobe or making a statement for a special occasion. So feel free to express your imagination and let your sense of style come through!

DOWNTOWN CONFIDENTIAL

AN UNEXPECTED VALENTINE (PART 2)

Pulling me to himself, he kissed me again until I couldn’t breathe. My hands combed wildly over his neck as he kissed me, my tongue stroking an erotic rhythm over his. He pulled away, casting a lingering gaze over my body, his expression conveying an undeniable desire for all of me.

Unable to resist another second, he skimmed a hand beneath my top.

The moment I felt his hands on my breast, a soft breath hissed between my teeth. I pulled off my blouse to give his fingers more space to explore.

Leaning in, he kissed me there, on the top of that plump rise. He licked me with so much passion, and I shivered, a raw moan bubbling up from my throat while he went after the tight crest of my nipple.

Finding it, he suckled hard, drawing me so deep into his mouth that I forgot about everything but him.

Releasing me for a moment, he edged back to admire his work: The tousled hair, the plump lips, and the taut nipple. In a blink, his pants and boxers were on the floor.

I couldn’t help but smile appreciatively. He looked so good everywhere.

He moved close to me, pulled my panties down, and kissed his way down my body.

He lavished my thighs with kisses, nips, and teasing licks. He listened to my breathing grow deeper, then faster, then to frustrated gasps. My legs shifted apart as he reached the apex of my thighs. The slick sweetness of him almost sent me over the edge. The need to have him was riding me hard now, noticing that he captured my wrist and pulled me back, then with a thrust of his hips, he sought the place where I have always wanted him to be. Inside me.

I had always imagined sex with him, but my imaginings were nothing close to the reality of Johnson. I loved the fact that he knew what to do at the right time. He was uniquely different; I could feel that in the way he touched and kissed me.

Arching my hips, I took all of him. I couldn’t tell if it was graceful or smooth, but it felt so damn good. I could tell from his expression that he

liked the way it felt, too. His thrusts grew harder. Deeper. Faster. The power of it rushed me in waves, and I had no choice but to let it take me. I flew apart with a cry, my legs shaking and my body rocking with hard spasms. He came before my release stopped, so our moans mingled at one point, each at the mercy of something lush and wild.

I clung to Johnson’s shoulders to steady myself in the long, silent moment afterwards. My mind cleared slowly as rational thoughts returned. I thought about how the rash and reckless thing I had done with Johnson could come back and bite him. I could lose in the end, and Johnson might not be able to fight for our love. I wondered about how he was going to go against his family’s decision as he promised and why he was deciding to go against his family now for my sake when he could have done so before getting

to the stage of marriage. At that point, I realised that I hadn’t been thinking, and I had allowed my emotions to get the better part of me. Now, I just had to hope that everything turned out right. I thought about how Grace would feel if she found out about what happened between Johnson and me. Even though I knew there would be consequences for my actions, I wasn’t sure of what they would be. I wondered if everything would return to normal if we treated what happened between us as a reckless mistake that must not happen again. Regardless, I was glad my Valentine’s Day ended unexpectedly, leaving an indelible mark that I knew I wouldn’t forget for a long time. The sweetness of the day surpassed any expectations, and I found myself wishing every day could be as unexpectedly sweet as today. Surprisingly, despite the gravity of how much the consequences of my actions taunted me, I already wanted him again.

Abimbola Craig

Telling Impactful Stories Through Film

Abimbola Craig is very special; I’ll just say that first. We had lunch, our very first date after a long talking stage via Instagram DM and her occasional IG Live sessions, and we spoke for hours, but it felt like no time had passed. In case you didn’t know, she’s not just Tiwa from your favourite Skinny Girl in Transit show; she’s also a powerhouse of talent who has worked on other monumental projects like Real Housewives of Lagos, Glamour Girls (the 2022 remake), Sugar Rush, to name a few. What started as an interview for the position of social media handler has become a journey of growth and exploration for this talented lawyer who has become a thought-provoking filmmaker with the passion and self-awareness we all need to live a life of impact and authenticity. A straight shooter and “tell it like it is” kind of girl, we can all learn something from Abimbola, so get ready to leave with gems when you’re done reading this.

In this interview, THEWILL DOWNTOWN’s Lifestyle Editor at Large, Eki Ogunbor, talks to Abimbola Craig about life in the Nollywood industry, wearing many creative hats with acting, producing, and living a life that she will be proud of.

What sparked your interest in producing and acting, leading you to take on the lead role in Skinny Girl in Transit (SGIT) and producing projects like Real Housewives of Lagos (RHOL)? When I went to Ndani for a job, I had no clue about the position that would be given to me, but I applied for the role of social media handler. During the interview, the question was, “What are you good at?” I just found an opportunity to say what I was good at. I’m good at delegating, I’m good at being delegated to, problem-solving, and I have a knack for leadership. They figured I was overqualified for this social media handler role, and when you come back, we’ll start you off as an assistant producer. I had no clue I’d land a producer job. All I knew was I was tired of law, and I just wanted something exciting in a way different from law. Different from wearing black and white and just sitting at a desk and typing, going to court. I wanted a bit more va-va-voom, and I didn’t know what that was, but I just felt like these people might be it. So, I was willing to take a role as a social media handler to try something different. After all, you never know if you don’t try, right?

How has your journey evolved from initially being the producer to eventually becoming the lead actress in SGIT?

One hasn’t evolved without the other because even though I didn’t necessarily produce season 1, I was involved in the first-ever pilot of the show before it was finally shot. The way we worked at Ndani then, all producers and everyone on the team were always involved in everybody’s work. So, to have started from just acting in season 1 to producing seasons 2 through 6 and still being the lead actress, it’s been a very surreal and interesting journey. Definitely very humbling, but I’ve also been blessed to have been able to cast really amazing individuals as the characters that you’ve seen on screen. I’ve also been very blessed and fortunate to work with amazing crew hands who are equally as invested in wanting excellence. And most importantly, I’ve been blessed to work with scriptwriters who see the vision of the possibility of where this show has gotten to. So yes, it’s been an amazing journey.

When you’re on set as a producer, and you’re called on as Tiwa, how’s that transition for you? What do you have to do to make that change/transformation?

Honestly, transitioning from wearing your producer hat to having to drop it to wear your actor’s hat is never easy. In the past few seasons, I’ve been blessed to work with a really special person and director that I admire, Bunmi Ajakaiye, who is also great at her craft and a good friend of mine. So every once in a while, when I’m overwhelmed with the work of being a producer and have to switch roles, she comes to my ears and whispers, “Bimbo, remember that you want this season to be great. Remember that you’ve tried, and we’ve all scripted this character to be so and so. I need you to take a second, leave this place, go run your lines, come back and give it to me.” So those little reminders and seeing the audience’s reactions to each season, “Oh my gosh, Tiwa has grown so much,” it gives me joy. I won’t lie; it’s not been easy because the perfectionist in me always has my producer hat on where I’m looking at the smallest details. When you’ve been blessed to have an amazing audience like the SGIT fans who don’t miss out on anything, you have no choice but to make sure that you’re not caught slipping. It’s not been easy, but we’ve found a balance to it.

Can you share a memorable experience from your time working on RHOL, and how is working on a reality TV series different from a TV series/movie set? Do you have a preference?

I don’t have preferences. I remember when I was first approached to work on The Real Housewives of Lagos project, I said I was definitely excited about it because it’s very different from what I’m used to. First of all, the format is different. It’s reality TV. I see it, I watch it, but I’ve never thought about what it would take to produce a show, and I was very fortunate to work with amazing co-producers, crew, and a great cast. God is just wonderful. RHOL was surreal to me. A memorable experience has to be when we were shooting in Dubai. Some of the crew had come a few days earlier to start prepping locations and other things, and in Dubai, you can plan something and then they tell you you cannot shoot there; you don’t have access, you can’t use drones. So it was a situation where we had made all these plans from Lagos, only for us to get into the terrain and be told this and that can’t happen, so most of what you see on TV, we just had to wing it. Having an amazing crew that was dedicated to getting the job done, even in cases when we could

sneak in a camera into a little space and shoot it, was amazing. Having a cast that was also willing to bring their A-game because, you know RHOL is not a scripted show, so there are times when there’s tension, and these people are not actors in real life, so they’re also tired as well. The minute you hear, “No, you can’t do this”, you’re just willing to shut off, but these ladies were willing to wear their big girl pants at every point in time to push through. It was very interesting because you go on set, and you just never know what’s going to happen even though you’ve made plans. And with the storyline, even though you’ve planned the location and set up for a pyjama night, you’re ready, and one person just says something while filming, and it just changes the course of the whole night. It was definitely one for the books, and I’m hoping I get to do another reality TV series soon.

What lessons have you learned from being part of the entertainment industry, and how have they influenced your personal growth?

I’ve learned a lot of lessons. I don’t think there’s anyone in any industry (Hollywood included) that doesn’t have both their personal and professional lives intertwined. I can’t speak for anybody, but I think the only reason I’ve been able to navigate it is just self-awareness. Whatever industry you’re in, it’s a very important, pivotal thing to have at the forefront: knowing who you are at the core of it all. I think as Nigerians, when we hear the word creative, creative space, and entertainment, people just think it’s a playground; you just come there and you just laugh. For me, it’s not. Maybe coming from a place as structured as law, when I’m talking or working, everything just has to be structured. So in terms of how I handle work as well, when it’s time to play, I play; when it’s time to work, I work. If you ask people I’ve worked with, they’ll tell you that I’m stern when it comes to work; I don’t play around. People have given me things and I’ve promised that I can deliver, and once my name is on the line, if it’s not at a 100 percent, I’m not putting it out.

Are you a perfectionist?

I don’t think I’m a perfectionist. I think I do try to aim for perfection, and that’s not my fault; blame it on Jesus (we both laugh). He’s perfect, and as a child of His, the goal is to be like my father. However, in the industry we are in, there are so many things that play into why certain things are not perfected. I’m not the executive producer of half of the work, if not all of the work, that I do. And so there’s a say in that aspect that influences the outcome of things. Even though I cast certain people, I’m not the only one involved; there are so many things that play into it that lead to lapses sometimes in terms of attaining perfection. But the goal is always to try and make things as clean and above standard as possible. Excellence is always the goal.

to leave you, the audience, with something. I’m very thankful that I’ve been fortunate with most of the work I’ve done to get people thinking and get their minds racing a bit and make them question a few things. The other day, someone sent me a message talking about SGIT and said, “I watch it with my husband every Tuesday. We learn something, we see something from all the characters,” and those things are very important to me. I remember when my dad was passing, one of the last things he said before he stopped talking was, “When you die, what will the world remember you as?” And when people ask what is one of my biggest fears, I tell them it is to leave the world impactless. I feel like you’d have done yourself a disservice if you didn’t try to impact lives, and I’m thankful that I’ve been blessed to tell impactful stories and work with people who are also interested in telling stories that have been impactful to people. And that’s the legacy.

What’s one of the most impactful stories you’ve told through film?

I think the most pivotal story for me that comes to mind right now is Fractured, the short story with Eku Edewor and the late Karibi Fubara (may his soul rest in peace). It was a situation where the couple was suffering from infertility, and typically, what society would expect is to put the blame on the wife. It’s always the woman, but the husband was able to take the reins and challenge his mother to say, “Listen, I’m the one who has low sperm count.” Stories like that are very important, and there are so many things a lot of us are going through. If we just had conversations about it, you’d realise that you’re not alone. So for me, those are the things I try to push the envelope with a bit more. To have these painful yet very necessary conversations because, as Nigerians, we run away from depth in conversations, and I don’t blame us. The world is hard; the country is hard, and people are going through it. They’d rather just laugh than cry, but sometimes you have to be able to sit in it. You need to be able to sit in it and be uncomfortable in it; then when you’re uncomfortable enough, you now want change.

Can you share some insights into your creative process, both in front of the camera and behind the scenes as a producer? Are there any prep rituals you have?

“I’ve learned a lot of lessons. I don’t think there’s anyone in any industry (Hollywood included) that doesn’t have both their personal and professional lives intertwined. I can’t speak for anybody, but I think the only reason I’ve been able to navigate it is just self-awareness.”

Are there any specific characters or stories that have left a lasting impact on you, either as an actress or a producer? Two years ago, a colleague of mine was joking and said he was in a conversation with some Nollywood people, fans, audiences, and colleagues, and they said, “If the story doesn’t have a moral ending, ah, Bimbo will not touch it.” And I guess for me, growing up, I remember shows like Tales by Moonlight and others alike, and how you always leave with something. For me, when I touch things, I try

Prep comes when it comes to production because it’s due diligence. Once you’ve come up with the synopsis, I sit down with the scriptwriter and tell them my ideas for this season. Then together, we start to break down each character, and we start scripting. When that happens, we go back and forth until we have what we call the final script. Once we do that, we go straight into pre-production: location scouting, costuming, hair, everything involved in the entire process of preproduction. Eventually, you move into principal photography, and you’re shooting for x amount of weeks. When that’s over, you go into editing mode. It’s a lot. But in terms of acting, I barely have enough time. I think this season 7 is the first time I’m on board just as an actress and I’m not involved in the production aspect of things. I’ve been able to sit down, read what is expected of my character, and spend time with my director, telling her how I intend to portray this character this season. And I’m sure people will notice that Tiwa is a bit more relaxed; she seems to smile a bit more. I could do this before, but the way Tiwa was scripted in the beginning was a lover girl but also a hard girl. But there’s something about childbirth that softens a woman, and so Tiwa has stepped into this feminine era where she’s given birth to this child; she loves the child. She sees the softness in her husband; he feels her softness, too, because when you bring a child into this world, it changes everything. So I’m thankful to be able to come back as Tiwa and show that side of her. I’m very excited about this season. How do you find a balance between your public persona as an

COVER

entertainer and your private life?

I firmly believe in controlling your narrative. I’m very in charge of making sure I’m aware of what’s being put out there. I don’t necessarily give interviews, take photos, or attend functions anyhow. I understand that’s some people’s MO, but for someone like me who is very big on character building and staying true to who I am because I know the life I want to live in the future, I’m intentional about making sure that I control my narrative. So, everything you see out there, best believe it is because I allowed it to be out there. I think there’s a way in which you can. But some people don’t always take the time to figure out how. If you do, you’ll find that there’s a balance, and sometimes it might not be favourable to your fans or whoever. But if at the end of the day you remember that in the end you’re just work to these people and you want to have a life that is full, then you would find a balance.

Can you discuss the impact “Skinny Girl in Transit” has had on your career and personal development?

For me, at the end of the day, work is work, and I don’t feel like I’ve scratched the surface. So it’s hard for me to sit and appreciate the things. Call it imposter syndrome. It’s not that I don’t think that I’ve done things; it’s just I don’t think I’ve scratched the surface enough, and there’s still room for so much more because I want to do so much more. So it’s hard for me to feel like I’ve arrived. When people ask me questions like this, I never know how to answer. But in terms of just impact in itself, I think, thankfully, because I’ve worked with great people and my attention to detail, it’s been able to put me out there to a certain level where I’ve been able to get work like Sugar Rush, Glamour Girls, RHOL and now people see that this person has great work ethics and a great network. I’m thankful because there’s no work you’ve ever done that’s ever too small; the right people will find out, and when they see it, they’ll want to know who is behind it. So, just working at Ndani, generally speaking, has been very impactful in bringing me how far I’ve gotten in my career because I was very blessed to work for a company like GTB that has given me a lot of legroom to be able to stretch, grow, learn, and unlearn, and that was just a blessing to be able to work on that kind of platform. So now, it has shaped me into the kind of person, producer, and filmmaker that I want to be because I’ve had room to experiment, grow, see, and explore. So now the real reason I left is that I want to do more, and sometimes you outgrow certain places, and you think, let me see how far I can stretch this to, and that’s the journey I’m on right now. Still being a great filmmaker but also expanding myself as a brand, and that word “brand” makes me flinch a lot, but in hindsight, it’s exactly that. Being a well-rounded person who can offer

quite a range of things: I act, produce, direct, compere, host. It’s not easy to have the ability to unlock all of that. So when you’ve harnessed all that, it’s time to express it. What advice would you give to aspiring actors and producers based on your own experiences in the industry?

Don’t wait for anybody. Nollywood is big, and it’s getting bigger, but we’re not there yet. Because of that, I think people believe there’s a template for entering this industry, but there isn’t. I came into this industry very fortunate but very green, very unaware, and now there’s still no template; nobody has a rulebook on how to navigate the system. But one thing I know is there are two choices. There are paths that people have taken that if you

However, just know your results are going to be very different, or you make your own path, and I tell a lot of people that. Don’t wait for people. If you feel that there is something burning within you and you feel like you want to do it, go for it. And going for it doesn’t mean you have to go down the same path people took. People are different. Some wait until everything is in place; don’t. Just start. You want to be an actress? If you’re able to go for auditions, then go for auditions. If you’re not able to go for auditions, then start doing auditions by yourself and posting them online. Eventually, the right person will see it. If you want to be a filmmaker and no one is willing to take a risk on you, take a loan, use your camera; people are shooting entire films now with their phones. Just do it. There’s no rulebook to how; all that matters is that you start, and that’s my advice to anyone.

In what ways do you see the entertainment industry evolving, and how do you envision your role within it in the future?

I guess just doing what I’m doing right now.

I’m a firm believer in collaboration, and I advise everybody to understand what it is. However, I think collaborations can be what you let them; it can be how you define them. If you know that you’re an asset to something and you know there’s something that you bring to the table, offer it, and make sure whoever you’re offering it to can equally bring something just as great. Never offer anything for free. I think if you know your value, you should definitely always state your worth. But I’m definitely excited for the industry. I think that we’re just scratching the surface; I don’t think we’ve peaked yet. I think there’s so much that we can do. When I think about entertainment in Hollywood and how it constantly keeps transitioning, it’s filmmaking, it’s short films, it’s podcasting, it’s documentaries; there’s so much, and we haven’t scratched the surface yet. As much as everybody is with a microphone right now, podcasting is still so untapped. I’m not talking about on a small level; I’m talking about a grand level of impactful podcasting, entertaining podcasting. Sometimes, I sit and watch some shows, and as small as they are, there are so many things that they do in the entertainment space, even in the UK. So there’s still so much that we can do in terms of entertaining people even beyond just film. If this young generation sits down and thinks about it a bit more, they will see that there’s so much room for everybody to grow and more.

EKI OGUNBOR

@ekiogunbor

#SWEETGIRLDOINGS

MY EVENTFUL WEEK New Job, Hosting Debuts, and Polo Glam:

Let’s try something different this week and start our conversation with my SGD Spotlight, shall we?

SGD Spotlight

Video of the week

Your Favourite Sweet Girl Spotted at Polo

Check my page @ekiogunbor on Instagram for the full video

My week was quite exhausting. I started a new job this month (which I’m so excited to tell you all about very soon), and because it’s a full-time job, it has been taking up a lot of my time on weekdays. Luckily for me, it’s hybrid so I get to work from home two days a week and still have time to engage my creative side with content creation. I’m not going to lie, 2024 started with a bang for me. It’s given me a lot of opportunities to explore different things I never imagined I’d be doing. One of them is being a host on a YouTube series for one of the brands I work with as an influencer and content creator.

I’m nervous just typing that, so you can imagine how nervous I was while shooting. It was challenging, but I did my best regardless. It would have helped if I was given a script to prepare ahead, but apparently the production team likes to be spontaneous on set, so like water, I had to adapt.

It premiered on the 14th so if you haven’t seen it yet, please check my Instagram page @ekiogunbor and let me know what you think. Go easy on me, I’m not an expert but I’d love your feedback as a way to improve. The first episode is about first-date questions. My cohost, Elozonam, and I went on a date together while asking each other questions. I told a brief traumatic story about why I don’t like dogs (dog lovers, please don’t come for me).

sunglasses for the heat, and a cute red rose in my hair. It’s the look I wore for the Valentine’s episode of the show I was hosting, so two birds, one stone! I love a versatile look.

I was excited to see my fashion friends and other guests dressed to the nines, looking bright and colourful. If we’re being honest, that is the main thing I enjoy at these events. The fashion! This week, I’m looking forward to closing out February in high spirits. There are a few lastminute goals I want to achieve and I’m going to do my best to make sure they’re all done and when they are, I’ll definitely share them here. But if I’m not able to tick them all off my list, you know what I’m going to do? I’m going to rest, dust my shoulders off, and try again in March!

My favourite part of the show is actually meeting the guests I get to interview and learning how to make cocktails with my friend Oyin, who is a superb mixologist. I can’t wait for you to watch it!

I also attended the premiere of Fashion Roulette, your new favourite fashion reality series by Nonye Udeogu of ThisThingCalledFashion! I was a judge on the first episode, with Hilda Baci and Ama Reginald as contestants so make sure you check that out too on the ThisThingCalledFashionTV YouTube channel, new episodes drop bi-weekly.

After shooting the first episode of the show, I attended an event at the Lagos Polo Club and I had a really good time watching the game, networking, connecting with friends, and of course, taking photos, and videos and sipping on the finest Veuve Cliquot champagne. I was able to try a mix of pineapple and cucumber in my champagne when I went to the bar and it was so yummy! The pineapple fruit added a nice tangy sweetness while the cucumber added a herby freshness to it. The best of both worlds really. The dress code on the invite said “Be Solaire,” but to be on the safe side, I asked my friends at Redrick PR and they told me it means “bright colour.” So it was perfect for me because I love colours. I ended up wearing a long, red, off-shoulder dress from a collection I did some years ago. I styled it with gold kitten heel sandals,

NTIANU OBIORA

THE STRETCHING

Just a couple of weeks ago, something happened that stopped me dead in my tracks. A small incident on its own, perhaps, but it crystallised something I had long suspected but desperately pushed away. The realisation hit me squarely in the chest: “These are not my friends.”

No grand betrayal, no dramatic fight. Just an accumulation of those moments where I felt... invisible. Unimportant. The realisation they wouldn’t have my back when it mattered most, not really. They weren’t invested in my life, and I certainly didn’t feel safe sharing the vulnerable parts of myself anymore.

Losing friends who ultimately don’t protect or honour you that’s the hardest pill to swallow. Especially when there’s still a lingering affection, a fondness for what once was. Mourning the loss of a friendship that wasn’t even toxic, just empty, makes the “What now?” ring even louder. It’s a loneliness you didn’t expect, even as you consciously made the choice to walk away.

CURATED CHAOS

A quiet resolve settled in after the initial sting of heartbreak wore off, replaced with a dull ache and far too much self-blame. Tears continued, but they were fueled by determination rather than despair. I made a decision that might seem dramatic to some, perhaps even an overreaction. But for me, it was the line in the sand, the declaration of self-worth, that marked a true turning point in my journey towards becoming the best, most wholehearted version of myself.

Your early 30s trigger an internal shift, a transition into a different kind of adulthood. The carefree exploration of my 20s still holds a warm glow, but now I crave something more grounded. As I grow, it becomes clear that some friendships don’t share the same trajectory. The mismatch isn’t intentional or unkind; it simply reflects diverging paths and changing goals. Witnessing this can be equal parts poignant and exciting, mirroring the inherent contradictions of personal growth.

As I stretch and adjust in this new decade, cultivating connections rooted in a shared purpose feels essential. This doesn’t require identical job titles or cookie-cutter life plans. It’s

more nuanced: finding people whose energy aligns with mine, who push me to become better and hold space for my vulnerabilities without judgment. Perhaps there’s a mutual dedication to creative pursuits, a shared commitment to social justice, or an unspoken understanding about the challenges of balancing ambition with mental well-being.

This search involves rethinking what friendship means to me now. In my 20s, companionship was partly about convenience, friends by proximity, by shared schedules. Now, it’s about identifying those sparks of recognition, those moments where I think, “This person gets it.” Finding these connections can involve braving new territories, meetups based on shared interests, reaching out to someone on social

media whose work resonates, even joining online communities focused on a specific passion.

Often, clarifying the direction you want to move in means saying goodbye or at least gently downgrading friendships that no longer nourish you. This involves difficult conversations, moments of honest self-reflection, and perhaps occasional pangs of guilt. But making this space is vital; the ‘stretching’ of this decade is about embracing growth and making room for those whose presence genuinely propels you forward.

The beauty lies in the intentionality, a shift from friendships by default to connections by choice. Of course, there’s still room for lighthearted humour and shared silliness. But beneath that, a deeper bond forms when two people understand where the other is headed, even if their paths aren’t exactly parallel. This is the type of friendship that anchors and uplifts during the transformative ride of your 30s.

Skin Gym

Workouts And Techniques For A Toned Complexion

Ahealthy

lifestyle primarily consists of engaging in a well-rounded physical exercise regimen. Yet the muscles on our faces are the ones we usually forget to exercise. For the more than 57 muscles in your face and neck to remain toned and in shape, you must exercise them just like the rest of your body. Your face can get slimmer, your muscles stronger, and you can even fight the effects of ageing with these easy exercises for your face.

Facial Yoga helps with firming your face and neck muscles. The exercise also helps improve your blood circulation and tone your facial muscles. All it takes to do facial yoga is a simple breathing exercise. While maintaining a straight posture, take a deep breath through your mouth. Hold the breath in your cheeks by puffing them out. Exhale and repeat this exercise 8-10 times.

The brow raiser exercise helps you get over droopy eyebrows, and most importantly, it helps keep your eyebrows where they belong. Factors like ageing and constant wincing can make your brows droop, but with a few simple steps, you can get your brows to stay raised.

(A) Put your index and middle fingers together.

(B) Just above the brows, place your fingers and press the skin downward.

(C) Lift and lower your brows while applying pressure with your fingertips to create tension.

(D) Repeat it for six sets with ten eyebrow raises and drops per set.

We regain the young appeal of our adolescent years with plump and supportive skin! You can make your skin appear plumper by lifting the folds around your nose.

(A) Let your smile be as big as possible to start. Apply pressure with your fingertips to the folds that separate your lips and nose.

(B) Press down and lift your cheek muscles to provide resistance. To prevent overstressing your hand, make sure your fingertips are firm.

(C) Do this for two to three minutes while taking well-spaced-out breaks. This will help strengthen your cheek muscles!

Are you scowling at your screen because you’re worrying more than is necessary? One exercise can effectively address wrinkles on the forehead, which is among the first areas to show signs of ageing.You can reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles on your forehead by acting shocked. Just keep your forehead frozen, open your eyes as wide as possible, and repeat 8–10 times daily!

5. DOUBLE-CHIN WORKOUTS

Your platysma muscle is to be blamed for your unattractive double chin in photos. This muscle, which attaches your jaw to your shoulders, becomes slack with age and causes sagging skin on the neck. These quick face exercises will guarantee that they are taut again.

(A) Determine your most comfortable position and adopt it. You can stand or sit straight. Tilt your head to the back while gazing at the ceiling.

(B) Touch your tongue to the roof of the mouth while holding your head still. You would feel a slight prickly pain in your neck due to the contraction of muscles.

(C) Gently release your grip and return your chin to its natural posture. Perform five sets of this exercise, holding your tongue for 25 to 30 seconds for each set.

Do you feel self-conscious about your drooping eyelids but don’t want to get Botox? That’s when this series of exercises comes in handy. Additionally, it is effective for puffiness, eye bags, and crow’s feet.

(A) Arrange your middle and index fingers over your eyes in a ‘V’ shape. Firmly press and keep both middle fingers together at the inner corner of the eyebrows. Place pressure on the outer corners of your eyebrows using your index fingers.

(B) Relax and lift your lower eyelids to create a dramatic squint while gazing at the ceiling.

(C) Do this at least six more times and end the set by squeezing your eyes shut tight for ten seconds.

BALANCING ACT

NURTURING A HEALTHY WORK-LIFE HARMONY

Prioritise Tasks

Setting Boundaries

Getting your act together is the first step. Set boundaries between work and personal time. If you work on-site, then you are aware of your work hours. If you work remotely, setting out hours to carry out work-related tasks is important. You must discipline yourself and eliminate procrastination to do all required tasks within your set hours. After that, you honour your personal time by disconnecting from work tasks for the day and taking out time to do you.

At this point, you know your duties at work and what you must complete for the day or week. The best thing to do is prioritise your workload, preferably according to deadline dates. When you prioritise your duties, you have a clear plan on what you want to do; it puts your mind at ease, you stick to it, little by little, and you find yourself getting done with it. The same thing applies to your personal life: Write down the things you need to do, errands that need to be run, and activities to engage in, and you find yourself functioning smoothly like a well-oiled machine.

Practice Time Management

Efficiently using your time is an important skill to get done with your workload and personal to-do list. Using a journal or checklist is a tool that helps you manage time better by outlining your tasks and sticking to them.

Every day is a challenge. We are faced with giving it our all in our professional lives. We all have our work cut out from on-site workers to remote workers. Achieving a harmonious balance between work and personal life is more crucial than ever. Finding a balance between your professional and personal life isn’t something you should see as a luxury but as a necessity to maintain overall well-being and productivity. We know achieving this balance is easier said than done, so this article will explore important strategies to achieve this symphony.

Setting Realistic Goals

When making that to-do list, you have to be realistic about it. When you set your hours for work, make sure the workload you must complete within those hours is feasible. It’s okay to push yourself, but it can be an issue when you don’t know your limit. Know your hours, set your goals, and make them achievable. If you have more time to spare during your work hours, you can add one more task to your list.

Invest in Self Care

Engage yourself in activities that promote physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing. Having hobbies such as painting or swimming is an excellent start for selfcare.

Achieving work-life balance isn’t about perfection, but it’s about combining your work and personal life to boost your general well-being and not getting you physically and mentally drained. Remember, you need a stable mind to put in your best work.

NAVIGATING YOUR FUTURE

KEY CONSIDERATIONS IN CHOOSING A CAREER PATH

Choosing a career path is one of the most significant decisions we make in life. It is one of those decisions we make that shapes our lives for a very long time. You see, the choices we make career-wise also affect our overall satisfaction and emotional fulfilment. Choosing a career that puts you at ease and that you love is definitely going to add positively to your well-being, and vice versa. There are countless options available and many elements to consider, all of which can make the career journey quite frightening. A few key points will be highlighted to help you make informed decisions as you embark on a fulfilling career path.

Self Reflection

When it comes to career options, there are a myriad of options to choose from. Once you select the industry you want to, you must also choose the roles you would go into. So, before you dive into the various roles available, you need to take some time to self-reflect. Outline your interests, values, strengths, skills, and aspirations, and decide what makes you most fulfilled and energised. Take into consideration the things you are passionate about. The first step to a successful career is picking something you are happy about. You have to understand yourself to make the right choice in your career.

Evaluate Your Lifestyle

Lifestyle is also a determinant when it comes to the career one chooses. Factors such as work-life balance, location, travel requirements, and income potential should be pondered on. Some factors must be evaluated, and one needs to understand which ones will be prioritised when deciding.

Some factors aren’t as important as others; the more important ones should come first.

Seek Mentorship and Guidance

Such decisions are overwhelming; they could drain you mentally and cause physical stress, but no one said you must make such decisions yourself. Seek out guidance from established professionals in each field you have considered. This will help you pick a field.

Assess Market Demands

Personal interests and passion are vital, but that shouldn’t stop you from surveying the market to find out what jobs are mostly in demand.

Education, Skills, and Training

Once options are narrowed down, then the next step would be to consider educational experiences and skills. Depending on the career path that has been chosen, specific skills are required to be considered for such roles. Training courses and furthering one’s education are the best options to attain the necessary qualifications.

Every aspect of life is intertwined, and choosing a career path will always be a significant decision affecting every other element of your life. Take your time, do not rush such important decisions, make your observations, reflect on yourself, weigh every option, go for what suits you, and make the most of it.

MOVIE REVIEW:

Madame Web

Sony’s Spider-Man Universe movies have always felt less like movies and more like studio mandates — a sweaty, desperate attempt to milk as much cash off its precious webslinger as possible while he was on loan to Marvel Studios. It was only by a miracle of casting that the Venom movies managed to take off, thanks to Tom Hardy’s gonzo dual performances as Eddie Brock and his codependent symbiote, as well as his keen understanding of camp. Sony has been trying to replicate that bizarre chemistry ever since, but it turns out that you can’t synthesise camp in a lab. Not even a meme could save Morbius from being an utterly dull drag. And not even Dakota Johnson’s truly uninspired line delivery could turn Madame Web into anything more than a feature film version of a studio directive.

Madame Web isn’t so much a movie as it is the pretence of one — a collection of Easter eggs and prequel nonsense strung together by half-assed ADR (Automated Dialogue Replacement) and dialogue that feels like it was drummed up in Screenwriting 101. But the most alarming thing about Madame Web is that it is a movie that never really gets started. Instead, it’s just one long prelude to the actual story, like being trapped in one of Cassie Webb’s timelooping visions with no escape.

Madame Web doesn’t begin with Cassie Webb but her mother, Constance (Kerry Bishé), as she’s, yes, researching spiders in the Amazon right before she dies at the hands of Ezekiel Sims (a sadly underutilised Tahar Rahim, the movie’s greatest ADR victim). Sims steals the rare spider that Constance discovered in hopes that it will grant him the superhuman abilities the mythic SpiderPeople of Peru are rumoured to have — the same Spider-People who recover the heavily pregnant Constance and help

her give birth to Cassie.

Thirty years later, it’s 2003, and Cassie is a socially awkward EMT whose only friend is Ben Parker (Adam Scott), the latter of whom is the source of some of the movie’s most excruciatingly dumb Spider-Man callbacks and references. When a rescue goes wrong, Cassie dies for a few minutes before being resuscitated by Ben. That’s when she starts to receive visions of the future that put her on a collision course with Ezekiel, who has been receiving visions of his death at the hands of three Spider-Women and is dead set on killing them before they can kill him.

Morbius co-writers Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless inflict the same brand of atrocious dialogue and baffling plotting on Madame Web, but with director S.J. Clarkson contributing to the script, the film is nigh on incomprehensible. Characters spout exposition with all the conviction of someone being held at gunpoint — though who can blame them when each line of dialogue feels like a cliché dreamed up by AI? This is a movie that requires its cast to say with straight faces “Us strays need to stick together” or “Your thread didn’t start when you were born” — the kind of cheesy dialogue that you’d find in a direct-to-video movie from, well, 2003. The viral line from the trailer, “He was in the Amazon with my mom when she was researching spiders right before she died,” doesn’t actually appear in the film, but every other line of dialogue has the same level of frantic exposition and clunky awkwardness.

Clarkson, who makes her feature directorial debut with Madame Web after a successful TV career, takes the least responsibility for this film’s sins, though she’s not entirely blameless. While there are some genuinely interesting choices in how Cassie experiences her visions of the future — taking the film into full dream logic at some points — Madame Web quickly devolves into CGI goop. The chaotic editing cuts any semblance of a watchable movie to shreds as if imitating the rhythms of a Michael Bay movie will hide the movie’s greatest weaknesses. (At least Bay has some kind of vision behind his choices. Here, the fast cuts and many, many canted angles only serve to muddy up each scene.)

It’s such a baffling mess that even a talented cast can’t save Madame Web from itself. Johnson has proved her acting acumen with other filmmakers, but she’s appallingly miscast in this role (though I struggle to think of someone who could salvage it), while Rahim, excellent in A Prophet, is cartoonishly bad here. The three teens/future Spider-Woman, Sydney Sweeney, Celeste O’Connor, and Isabela Merced, are given little to do other than act bratty. Any sense of familial connection, or even chemistry, between them and Cassie is non-existent.

You’ve got to hand it to Sony. The studio is so determined to revive the specific kind of superhero B-movie you’d find buried in the depths of Netflix that it simply sets its latest film in 2003 (complete with laughably on-thenose 2003 needle drops and shoehorned pop culture references about how Cassie really wants to go home to “watch Idol”). But Madame Web doesn’t have the same go-for-broke charm as Venom does, nor does it have the self-awareness to even lampshade its particular brand of corniness. Madame Web is just about the worst movie you’d find at the bottom of your Netflix viewing search — doomed to be forgotten as soon as it’s seen.

I WATCHED IT, SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO.

WATCH OF THE WEEK

THE IRON CLAW

The spectacle of American wrestling, with all its poignant pantomime machismo and showbiz fury, is the subject of Sean Durkin’s deeply sad, truelife drama based on the case of the Von Erich family.

The Von Erichs were a professional wrestling dynasty from Texas in the 1980s; giant boys in wrestling boots and trunks and their taskmaster father as manager. The old man was embittered and fanatically energised on his sons’ behalf in time-honoured fashion by his own failure to win glory as a young contender. As a result of his brutally dysfunctional parenting and toxic masculinity, the Von Erichs were plagued by a succession of heartbreaking calamities.

At its centre is Zac Efron, playing Kevin

Von Erich, the dynasty’s oldest wrestler-son. Efron’s physical appearance in this film is quite extraordinary.

The boyish looks we knew from High School Musical are gone; that was evidently his Bruce Banner phase. Now, he has bulked up to a staggering degree, and his whole face and head have changed into a more thick-jawed look. (Efron has explained it is the result of surgery following a freak accident.) Jeremy Allen White (from The Bear!) is his brother Kerry, a frustrated Olympic athlete in the discus event; Harris Dickinson is David, and Stanley Simons is Mike, who really wants to be a musician. Maura Tierney plays their tense mother, Doris, who doesn’t want to talk to her sons about any emotional difficulty, and Holt McCallany plays

their glowering, crewcut dad Fritz, who, while a wrestler, invented a hold called the Iron Claw, the hand clamping on the opponent’s skull in a fearsome grip. He does it on the boys to toughen them up.

The boy who wants to please his dad the most is Kevin, who is never quite good enough. Kevin, in fact, only finds happiness with his future wife Pam (Lily James), who asks him on their first date about the elephant in the living room.” Isn’t wrestling fake?”. Kevin replies there’s nothing fake about it. Wrestlers are rewarded by the NWA, or National Wrestling Alliance, for their skill and technique and also their box office charisma. But it’s clear that their moves in the ring are a question of improvising within a broadly pre-arranged narrative.

Durkin shows us that the unreality is offset by the very real agony of the Von Erichs’ experience: the punishing training, the accidents, the wrenching need to please a father who will never quite love you, the injuries and the fatalities. The family is Christian, and there is a repeated close-up of a crucifix in the family home. In this film, it perhaps isn’t clear what the sacrifices have been for, and Durkin is sufficiently loyal to wrestling and its fanbase not to question it.