Celebrity women and big babes trooped out en masse on Sunday, June 9th to celebrate with the undisputed Queen of makeup, Banke Meshida the lady behind the Makeup line BMPRO. She has opened a new BMpro outlet in Ikoyi.
It was a nice gathering, as her friends, family and most especially her clients paid back her good deeds to wine and dine with her as she adds another feather to her cap. Banke has done well for herself in the beauty industry in Nigeria and no wonder, she remains unarguably the No 1 make up artiste in Nigeria. Her new outlet is situated on one of Ikoyi’s highbrow streets, Glover road which is a very suitable location for her big clients. Her outlet was beautifully decorated and she also had another extra space where she treated her clients and friends to sumptuous meals and exotic wines. The day also served as an avenue where clients had different makeups to try on and also bought from her classic products. She was seen dressed in a beautiful black dress and surely, looked good with her signature makeup. At the event were her top clients, like Lagos society woman, Hajia Bola Shagaya who is one of the top-rated business moguls in Nigeria. She has practically become like a big mother to Banke. Banke does her makeup week in week out. At the party was also pretty Mrs Yemisi Wada who looked cool in a camouflage dress. Sighted was also Oyin Adenuga Olufeko, the pretty daughter of Globacom Boss, Otunba Mike Adenuga.
She was spotted rocking a net African fabric and a lovely pair of shoes. Wave making event planner extraordinaire, Funke Bucknor was her happy self, she also shares a close friendship with Banke Meshida. What of the boss of Culinary works catering? She came at the middle of the event spotted wearing a shimmery tan dress. Newlywed, Funke Fowler Imoukhuede, the pretty daughter of FIRS boss, Tunde Fowler was also there. Temi of Kwamuhle fabrics, Tope Adebutu, Kontessa shoe boss, Mrs Ifeoma Ubosi, beautycook makeup boss, Omo Akhatuamen amongst many others. Banke Meshida Lawal is the boss at BMPRO, which is clearly one of the biggest names and brands in her line of business. She is the make-up artist on the speed dial of celebrities and stars worth their salts as she doesn’t come cheap at all.
In 2002, Banke Meshida opened the first BMPro Make-Up Studio in Dolphin Estate, Ikoyi a suburb of Lagos, where she began doing makeup for a number of notable Nigerians, including celebrities, first ladies, socialites and models. In 2006, she ventured into cosmetics, with the launch of the BMPro Make-up line, which debuted with 14 products. It has been credited as the first ever Nigerian makeup line of colour and enjoyed relative success in the Nigerian market because it catered to the peculiarities of Nigerian skin. The BMPro brand has grown over the years with various Makeup studios set up across Lagos and Abuja. The brand has also catered to a wide range of clientele, handling the cover and editorial pages for This Day Newspaper, Elan Magazine, Genevieve Magazine, The Sun Newspaper, City People Magazine, Vanguard Newspaper, Punch Newspaper, Wow Magazine, as well as notable Nigerian events and celebrity photo-shoots. In 2015, she launched the BMPro Cover-girl Magazine which showcases and celebrates beautiful African women and the achievements of some of the notable personalities who have graced the cover of the magazine.
Banke’s journey into being the influencer she is in the Nigerian beauty industry started over a decade ago in her university days at the University of Lagos. She has also won a plethora of awards, from Makeup artist of the year (City People Awards- 2005), Best Makeup Artist (The Nigerian Event Awards-2012) to Makeup Artist of The Year (FAB AWARDS-2010), Makeup Brand of The Year (ELOY AWARDS-2009) and many more.
–TAYO FAJORIN OYEDIJI
