•A Blow-By-Blow Account Of The Classy Event
Class, style, fashion, beauty parade, good music, comedy, fun and maximum entertainment was the order of the Sunday evening on the 29th of November, 2020 as Naija’s number one soft-sell magazine held its third fashion and beauty awards in Lagos. Call it an evening of reuniting fashion lovers and enthusiasts across the globe and you will not be wrong because Nigerian fashion and beauty lovers, stylists and beauticians in the diaspora were also live at the event. They joined via Zoom and participated from the beginning to the end without any hitch or connection challenges. And it was quite exciting when winners in the diaspora spoke to the audience live & direct via Zoom.
At about 3:30 pm, the blast of enchanting tunes from the wheel of steel ably controlled by DJ Folding filled the auditorium and welcomed guests who came in at different times but in their numbers to grace the occasion.
Was there COVID-19 precaution? Yes, there was. At the entrance of the venue was automated hand sanitizers for all the incoming and outgoing guests while the sitting arrangement had the required spacing. Let me also tell you that many of the participants had their facemasks appropriately worn while the auditorium didn’t occupy more than the required guests.
City People’s DAMILARE SALAMI 08155134152 brings you all the hot gists and behind the scenes of the event in this article, enjoy.
RED CARPET WAS ON FIRE
If I told you that the red carpet was on fire, you wouldn’t want to doubt it. Yes, it was. Anchored by Tobiloba Ogundeji, the red carpet featured virtually all the big names at the event. There, they had the opportunity of displaying several gorgeous attires and brands. Oh! Nigeria is blessed with creative wears. From slightly exposing dinner gowns, to ball gowns, mermaid fashion, off-shoulder to the bareback, semi-transparent, sheath dress, the list is endless but in all, they all slayed to the glory of their designers.
ABOUT THE VENUE
There couldn’t have been a better venue. The Stadplus event center in Ikeja, Lagos added spectacles to the classy evening. Well decorated with a touch of black and gold, the illumination leaves no shade or shadow as every image was appropriately lit. Of course, its easy access made it very convenient for several celeb men and women to find their way to the venue. Beautifully decorated, the auditorium was a site to behold while. It set the mood right for a night of pleasure, entertainment and display of beauty and class.
The well-spaced parking lot also played a huge role in assisting both the organisers and the guests. Glittering limousines also added Class and Panache to the event, as sparkling choice cars glided into the parking lot, one after the other. Radek Clothing CEO, RadekeKupoluyi came in her glittering black Mercedes Benz Coupe. She drove herself. Lagos businessman & Publisher of repute, AkogunLanre Alfred arrived in another glittering Mercedes Benz Coupe, with a Black Jeep in tow. Many more dignitaries stormed the awards in Jeeps. It was all glitz &glamour, all the way.
POPULAR COMEDIAN/COMPERE ANCHOR EVENT
Ace Comedian, Bash D Cash & popular blogger, Florence Bodex Hungbo co-anchored the awards. Saying they did a nice job will be to have undermined their brilliance, stagecraft, art, comic deliveries and carriage. Bash, of course, stood shone like a diamond in the sky with his rib-cracking comic reliefs. Bash would even excuse the stage to get his female guests’ attention on their seats and they loved him for graciously hailing them and making them feel like the queen that they truly are. His craft was out of this world.
Bodex on her part proved to be the queen of style as she co-hosted the event in dazzling green outfits, which were designed and styled by @rikatobyme, for the first appearance, and: @sisikemi_, for the second appearance. Her stunning look has since been attracting wild reactions from fashion enthusiasts. Her charisma and presentation was exceptional, classy and professional all through the event.
GORGEOUS CHARIS OLUSOLA TAKES OPENING PRAYER
City People doesn’t do anything without starting with God and that was why gorgeously dressed woman of style and Makeup Queen, Charis Olusola took the opening prayer. Her stunning looking dinner wear wowed everyone in attendance as she walked up and down the stage.
SK WELCOMES GUESTS IN STYLE
For those who know Dr. Seye Kehinde, City People Publisher, they know that is not a man of many words. His welcome address was punchy and straight to the point. “This is the third edition of this award but many had thought that we have been doing this for 24 years. We only set this up to celebrate the players in the fashion and beauty world. Since you all know that we are a celebrity magazine, it is our duty to mirror the lifestyle of celebrities including what they wear and how they wear it. And this is what we are here to do this night.” Please enjoy yourselves, he said.
… AND THE WINNER IS…
Without much ado, Bash and Bodex started the business of the day after preliminary musical entertainment from DJ Folding while SB Live was still warming up. You know that a DJ is entertaining by the kind of acceptance and reaction you get from the audience. And that was indeed how DJ Folding proved again that he is world-class. Guests who were waiting to receive their awards and those who came to show love and support all showed positive vibes as DJ Folding was doing what he knows how to do best. But that was just a tip of the iceberg compared to what unfolded later. Are you in a hurry to get more? Read on…
SK was on the stage while Akogun Lanre Alfred, walked up shoulder high to receive his special recognition. He thereafter addressed SK as ‘Oga’ and further said he was once a journalist with City People under the supervision of DrSeyeKehinde. Akogun as he is fondly called is a prolific top-notch society and lifestyle writer and author of five books. He is also an Executive Consultant to Governor Dapo Abiodun on Reputation Management and has been on the scene for over two decades. He is very meticulous in his unique and uncommon style of society and lifestyle journalism, with a couple of aptly concise books on highlife styles of top society players. Others who also went home with their plaques areLawiza Creations who bagged the award for the most creative fashion brand. The fabric brand of the year award went to Lajokes fashion. Queen OmobolakeOmowunmi and Bola Wearable both got special recognition awards while MrsFunmiOduwole was named the style icon award winner. Others are IyalodeTolaniSalau, the Aare Iyalode of Nigeria and the Diaspora.
LADY GLORIA SHUAIBU HAILS SK
Lady Gloria Shuaibu is an Assistant Director of news at the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) and also the CEO, Trending Costs Fashion Ltd. She was one of the recipients of the prestigious City People Fashion & Beauty awards and refuted the claims of some rumor mongers that City People awards are being bought. In her words “today is my first day of seeing SeyeKehinde and I must say that I got this award without paying a dime. City People is a credible platform with credible awards and that is why I am here. Seye and his team are doing a good job, they recognize talent, hard work and celebrate them. I want to say thank you for this.”
MAY SHUA ROCKS THE STAGE
Yes, there was a special performance by a fast-rising act, who goes by the name, May Shua. She is indeed a raw talent waiting to blow and I can tell you that it’s just a matter of time, May Shua will soon become the rave of the moment in the highly competitive Nigerian music industry. She not only entertained her audience, her stagecraft was top-notch and the music was quite danceable too.
HAJIAMONTAI, NANA YAKUBU PRESENTS SECOND SETS OF AWARD
Classy Hajia Montai and Nana Yakubu were billed to hand over the next set of awards to the winners and they graciously did. Seun Fashionedge won the leading fashion brand of the year, Eunice Adeoye, lovely twins, Hajia Hassanat Abdullahi and Hajia Husseina Kehinde, Poshglow, etc. all got their awards in this category.
CITY PEOPLE GAVE ME MY BIG BREAK – RADEKEKUPOLUYI
It was a double honour for Radeke Kupoluyi, the CEO, Radek Clothing who bagged two different awards for herself and her outfit. While appreciating the management and staff of City People, she made an open confession by declaring that she had her big break after advertising in City People Magazine. “City People help me build this brand, she said.
JADE SUZZY JOINS FROM LONDON
Jade Suzzy is the name that comes to mind when you talk of reliable ladies’ hair. She deals in hair all the way from UK and holds her customers spellbound with her quality sales online. Her Instagram is awash with women who love to slay in wigs and real human hair. She won the hair brand of the year award and many women attested to the fact that it was deserving of her. She spoke all the way from London to the audience while her name was announced as the winner. She was one of those that joined via Zoom. “I never knew there was someone in Nigeria watching me and observing what I was doing. This award means a lot to me and shows that my efforts are not in vain. I dedicate it to God, all my customers and my children. And I say a very big thank you to Dr. Seye Kehinde and the City People crew,” she said.
SB LIVE STEALS SHOW…
I know you have been waiting for this meaty part of the gist… Did you know that Popular Naija band, Seun Bankole and his crew were on the bandstand? Yes they were and let me be the first to also inform you that Favour Coroma, a former MTN Project fame contestant, the popular music reality show is one of his band members. She was the only lady with SB Live on the night. More interestingly, SB Live held all the celebrities glued to the dance floor. In fact, most of them refused to leave even after the event. They were so much enjoying his performance that they wanted him to remain there all night.
LAGOS POLITICIAN, HON FATEE WAS HERE TOO
Popular Lagos politician, Hon. Fatee Mohammed-Ogunkola came with her husband. Biodun Okeowo, aka Omo Borty, sent her daughter to pick up her award. Biodun Okeowo runs Victoria’s Beauty Cosmetics. Popular fashion designer, Seunfunmi, Fashion Edge CEO dazzled everyone in her hot number. Celebrity Makeup Queen, Adetutu Bisola Usman also stormed the event. She is the Official makeup artiste for Ondo State 1st Lady.
FATTY MAKEOVER ALSO JOINED FROM UK
Fatty Makeover is a name that is known to many London blessed celebrity women. Her contribution to the beauty industry in London is unprecedented and that was why City People recognized her effort. She was also part of the event all the way from London via Zoom and expressed her gratitude to the organisers of the award.
FUNMIODUWOLE’S GORGEOUS BALL GOWN
She was one of the talking points at the event. Mrs Funmi Oduwole slayed a dinner ball gown that looked like that of a new bride. She left jaws wide open from the red carpet down the aisle to the podium and back. She wouldn’t have walked past anyone without receiving a second look. Such was her angelic attire.
The event might have ended but it surely leaves an indelible mark on everyone at present and even those that were absent but had a glimpse of what went on… City People had scored another point here and this will pass as one of the positive highlights of 2020 in the near and far future.
DAMILARE SALAMI
08155134152
