+Why She Is Not On Social Media
Olori Sekinat Elegushi is the beautiful and elegant wife of Oba Saheed Elegushi. She is very modest in her dressing, though she wears expensive things, but she is simple in her style.
Despite her love for Fashion & Style, she does not operate any personal social media pages but whenever her pictures crop up on the internet, they go viral like wildfire.
She is known to have a very unique way of showing off her luxury outfits whenever she steps out. Her mode of dressing is not always loud, in fact, for some, they believe her simplicity is just too simple, but when she steps out, many women scamper to look at what she is wearing, to catch a glimpse of her exquisite jewellery, which are mostly diamonds and corals. Her selection of shoes and her overall outfit designs mesmerise her admirers. Her take is, you don’t have to be loud to look elegant, but you can be modest and also elegantly dressed. Whether it’s a big occasion, simple event appearances, Olori Sekinat Elegushi always appears in elegant fashion.
There’s lesson to be learnt in the style secret of this special woman many call “Queen Gushi”. She knows how to pair her casual wears, evening wears and most especially her native wears. Hardly will you find her wearing a corporate wear, but she is more of an African Queen though sophisticated, who prefers her styles in either dresses, skirt and blouse or iro and buba.
Her make up is always topnotch and she patronises the services of the Queen of make-up in Nigeria, Banke Meshida of BMPro. When you have the beauty in place and you enhance it with a make-over, you can not but stand out in any gathering.
Her uniqueness in the fashion and style department makes many big babes drool over her posture and apperance. Be it laces, Ankara or Aso-Oke, Queen Gushi knows how to pull the style off and kudos to her amazing designers, the formidable style and design outfits have become a reference point for many celebrities. Year in, year out, Olori Sekinat Elegushi has made major style statements with her unique outfits. She has made major headlines on all social media pages
Call her Queen of all queens on social media, you are not wrong. Pretty and gorgeous Olori Sekinat Elegushi is a stunner anytime. She is always on the list of best dressed Olori anytime she steps out. She is a graduate of Accountancy and has a rare talent with home design and decoration. She runs the Queens Park and Lounge, a family leisure beach, Elegushi Beach and also has huge investment in the fashion industry. The mother of three, who turned 44 last Tuesday, dresses with elegance, while remaining conservative at the same time. Consistency and vibrancy define her style. She loves to play with bright colours and this habit is evident in her style of dressing. Did we tell you about her love for jewellery? It will wow you if you see her at any party, her jewellery are always luxury redefined and carefully picked to suit her neck and outfits. She surely has them in numbers. Surprisingly, she is about the only queen who does not have social media account, but she has been such a darling to all that whenever her beautiful pictures surface on social media, they go viral for weeks. This has never happened in the history of any queen and many social media users had to dedicate a hashtag handle to her. She is also a lover of exclusive coral range of jewellery, all these fashion accessories do not come cheap, but she has distinguished herself as one queen who gives others a good run for their money.She is from the popular Ipaye family of Lagos and also runs one of the biggest foundation in Lagos, QSE foundation.
That Queen Gushi is one of the glamorous Queens in Nigeria is simply stating the obvious. The Queen of Ikate Kingdom is one queen that does make noise but her personality gets the biggest ovation. She opened her first business venture, a fashion boutique, selling unique items. With increase in demand from her clientele, she opened a second outlet, that time round on the popular Lekki axis.
Her second business line came by chance after a family friend saw what she had done with her home then in Carlton Estate. She commissioned her for her first interior decoration project based on her attention to detail, eye for colour and ability to select unique pieces that complement one another. Since then, she has worked on several projects. Her speciality is home design and decoration. Identifying a gap in the hospitality sector, she opened Queens Park and Lounge, a family leisure centre. The park is one of the most popular family leisure locations in Lagos with its beach and constantly upgraded family-themed fun activities. The park also serves as an event centre for parties and concerts. She is the brain behind the Queen Sekinat Elegushi foundation, which has been catering a lot for women across all geopolitical zones. She recently opened a 2000-capacity massive architectural masterpiece, which is an event centre in Lekki a few months back and this has further placed her on a high pedestal. This beautiful queen, who decided not to have a party on her birthday on Tuesday 10th November but gave a free health screening to people of her community, played host to City People’s Society Editor, TAYO OYEDIJI, in her Elegushi palace where she granted an exclusive interview on all you need to know about her unique style and lifestyle.
How do you feel today as you turn 44?
I feel so good. I am excited and thank Almighty Allah for making me see another year in good health. I feel so great about today for God has kept me this far.
If you reflect back, in the last year, what can you say about this your new year?
I just want to thank God for everything. Since when I was born, all through the stages of my life till where I am today, it can only be Him, so I owe everything to Him. I am grateful for this special year.
Let’s talk about your style, how has it evolved?
I didn’t take my fashion and style after anybody. It is inborn. I have always loved to look good since when I was growing up. I just discovered that I like to wear good things, look nice at all times. I really don’t look up to anybody. I wear what I like and what suits me. My style is unique to me. I try to create my unique style. Like for instance, I don’t look at Instagram and say oh, I want to dress the way this person is dressing, no, I create my own style.
You must have some fashion icons you admire
Yea, sometimes when I look at Instagram and see some things I admire, yes, I admire them, but will make it in my own way. I really don’t want to follow anyone’s style like some people do, wanting to look or dress like someone else, that does not apply to me. I create my own style and it still does not make me loveless or admire someone else’s. So, my style is strictly unique for me.
What is that fashion accessory you can’t do without, owing to the fact that you appear in luxury wears and accessories almost all the time?
My jewellery. Oh I love jewellery so much. My love for jewellery started since when I was very young. I can’t do without even wearing a piece of it. I grew up to love it. In fact, when I was at the University of Lagos, I used to sell jewellery, so this tells you how much I love it. I love to wear jewellery.
Do you actually have any preference when it comes to jewellery because you stun in almost all types when you dress up for events?
Yes, I have my preference. I was initially doing gold, but all of a sudden I fell in love with diamonds, as you know diamonds are girls best friends as the saying goes, so I love my diamonds. They are treasures. It has its own class. You won’t know what it’s worth until you become a collector. So now, diamond is it for me. They are priceless and timeless.
Let’s talk about your clothing? Do you also have a preference?
No, I don’t. I wear every good clothe, be it native, casual or any type as far as I can create it in my own style, I am good to go. I do casuals, natives and all sorts. It depends on the occasion, I dress according to the event I have.
Making up every time to go out as an Olori that you are must have come with some time constraints, is it really stressful and how do you cope enhancing your face almost every week?
It is a big job, I must tell you. Thanks to my friend and make-up pro, Banke Meshida of Bmpro. She is always excellent with her services and very timely too. Sometimes, I get tired of making up because really, if I am not going to go out for an event for a month, I will not touch my face with any make-up. But what can I do? If occasions call for it, I have to do it. Sometimes, I really don’t want to make up. Like today which is my birthday, I felt so reluctant to do make-up, but I had to because of the programme.
In the course of you doing make-up and Banke handling it, do you come up with your own idea of what you want to look like or it’s majorly Banke’s decision?
Sometimes I tell her what I want, like a bright make-up, a nude lips, or red lips, bright shadows and all and she will comply. Then again she comes up with her own good ideas too. Like today, my birthday, I told her I want my inner eyeliner to be blue and it is, so we meet minds in choosing colours sometimes, if she thinks it is okay by her, she will affirm it, but if she says ‘No’, then it’s no. She convinces me on some make-up styles so I am so used to her decisions.
Whenever you want to step out for an event, what comes to your mind?
The first thing is how do I want to look at that party? What do I want to wear? Is it an Aso-Ebi party, casual or others? If Aso-Ebi is involved, I begin to think of what I will love to sew and wear that will suit me, that is why I have many designers, who are very good at their style of fashion. I will decide if I want to wear Deola Sagoe or wear CLAN or B. Martins, or Lanre Da Silva, Majek Studio and so on. So, for me, each occasion calls for what I am wearing or who makes the cloth.
Do you have your favourite designer?
All my designers are my favourites. They make good designs, so I love to wear them anytime anywhere, but I don’t joke with Deola Sagoe and LDA. Then internationally, I am engrossed with the Gucci brand. It is my favourite till date. But when I see other international designs like D&G that I like, I order them, most of them depending on what they have for that season, so I go alongside with their season so as to be updated fashion-wise.
I realise that you also love pearls, why?
Well, maybe coral. I do more of coral than pearl because of the royal demand and institution I stand for. As an Olori and tradition wise, you are expected to dress up sometimes in coral accessory, so I love it more. And in Yorubaland, they do more of coral, that is why you see me representing my tribe in those beautiful sets of coral.
What is the beauty routine that’s helped you achieve this good skin and good looks?
Do I actually have a beauty routine? I really don’t have ooo. I use a good skin moisturizer, take a lot of water, rest well and observe my sleep time. I can be indoor for weeks and months if I don’t have parties. I am generally an indoor person. My normal routine is just to visit the spa 2 times a week.
How do you manage to carry yourself when stepping out as an Olori? What do you want people to see as you step out?
At the initial stage, it was tough because I am a very shy person, in fact, very very shy. I don’t like cameras, I don’t like interviews, I don’t like to be out there, I just want to be on my own maybe because I am shy. I just want to be there. But as time goes on, with the help of my close-knit friends, I became bolder. They keep telling me, you are a golden fish, you can’t hide, so gradually I started steeping out. When I go to events, as far as I am dressing well, I feel on top of the world. Especially when I am out with my husband, I am always happy being with him.
You have only a close-knit set of friends, is that deliberate?
I have a caucus, just a few of them. I am not a friend-friend person. So, I know my circle. I don’t have plenty of them, but I cherish the few ones I have and I am okay with them.
As an influential Olori in the society, what do you have to say to those looking up to you?
Hmmm! First thing first, they should be themselves, they should know who to choose as their mentors. They should not copy anybody. Thy should have the fear of God, work hard, be focused. If you are married, stay married, no matter what, whatever happens in that marriage stick to it, so far it is not violent. It is a matter of time and patience you will get there. Don’t look at social media life. It is all fake. Behind the scene is not what you see, behind the scene is very rough. it is all fake life because when you look at that you will go astray. Look up to God and don’t put your hope on people. Tend to look good always and take care of yourself.
Why are you not on social media despite that you are a big fish in the society?
I am a shy person. I don’t like publicity. I am on the quiet side. I always love to be alone. So because of that, I am not on social media. Social media give you pressure, you have to post, you have to dress up every time, I don’t have that time, because I don’t always want to make-up, the one I do is just because I want to go party. If I have my way, I will not be out. My friends know this. I might be home for months without stepping out, it is that bad. And you know if you are on social media, they need something to interest them, so I don’t know what to post, when I don’t even love to go out. I am not a selfie type, I don’t like personal pictures I take every time, except my pictures with Banke, the one photographers take at parties, or the ones my siblings or children take of me, but doing it personally and be posting, I am not up to it. All my posting, Banke is already doing it for me, so I can’t be reposting on my page. I like my life like this and I don’t want to be on social media.
