Miss Malaika Ghana is a beauty pageant, and reality show which first aired in Ghana in 2003. The show is produced by Charter House Productions and airs on Ghana television station TV3 as well as DSTV channel Africa Magic. The pageant is produced as a 12- to 13-week reality show which shows the search for a Ghanaian representative for the Miss Malaika continental competition. It was the first beauty pageant show to be aired as a reality series in Ghana.
From the conception of the show 2002, it has been presented to the audience as a reality TV show which allows for the viewers to vote for their favorite contestant to be crowned Miss Malaika Ghana. Each week, the contestants are given tasks to perform which range from performances to organizing events. This is then assessed by a panel of judges who have a certain degree of power in selecting successful candidates and eliminating others
Before the pageant was produced as a reality television series, with viewers voting for their favourite contestants, Ghana’s Miss Malaika’s representative was handpicked by judges.Since the show began in 2003, it has included judges known as the godmothers. The duty of the godmothers are to instruct and teach the contestants on conduct and beauty amongst other things. These godmothers are Mrs Kay Bentsi-Enchill who’s been on the show for 3 years and Mary-Anne Sekyi, who’s has 6 years worth of experience. The 2010 finale judging panel of the event also included, Ghanaian actors John Dumelo and Jackie Appiah, as well as Paul Adom Otchere.
The basket bag wave is still ongoing and we can say this is the 3rd season this trend is popping up so it’s safe to say the trend is going nowhere. As new collections pop up without fail, new DESIGNS and creation emerges in the ‘Apere’ (basket) culture. A new brand of Apere bags have surfaced thanks to this vibrant collection.
Designed by ethical fashion brand ÉKÉTÉ, we believe we’ve gotten to the right Apere bag shopping destination. The brand uses uses locally grown natural fibres combined with a well prodced leather to create beautiful Apere (basket) bags. Extremely Skilled artisans make the bags by hand and they come in different variations and shapes.
ÉKÉTÉ which means basket in the Igbo language is must certainly so much more than its literal meaning, it is a representation of the beauty and strength of a woman and the bond thats she shares with the people in her life. The brand prides itself on its modern take on an age-old traditional craftsmanship.
According to the statement following the release:
Baskets are malleable, intricately woven into different forms, shapes, and sizes whilst possessing a lasting staying power, these same qualities apply to women of all ages and race.
Our debut Spring/Summer’18 collection was inspired by our love for fashion, culture, and travel, and the burning desire to always carry a piece of home with us wherever we go. These summer bags are fun and colourful, as they are the perfect accessories for vacations, getaways to the beach and all your favourite summer activities. They also work perfectly to compliment your everyday style all year round.
Ladies, remember this: beauty does not have an age restriction. But when you enter your 40s, your skin will go through some rather dramatic changes, most of which are related to the loss of collagen and elasticity. While these changes are inevitable and aging is completely natural – the main trick to aging gracefully is to embrace it. If you’re in your 40s, you can still maintain a youthful appearance with the right makeup choices and application techniques (besides investing in a good skin care routine, and maintaining a healthy diet and exercising regularly.)
Once you’re in your 40s, it’s crucial to choose the right skin care regime and makeup. It’s a transitioning period for your body and skin, and it’s about time you switch up your beauty routine. These are a bunch of makeup products and tools that will help you enhance your features and look the best version of yourself.
Hydrating Primer A primer does for your skin what lingerie does for your figure – it smoothens, conceals, flatters, and holds things in place, so that everything you put on top of it looks even better. Whether you want to blur out the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles or minimize the appearance of pores or even out your skin tone, all you need is a good primer. Mature skin needs extra moisture and hydration to achieve a healthy-looking complexion.
Expert Tip Make sure you prep your face before applying any makeup using either a hydrating primer or a balm – anything that soothes your skin. By doing so, you’ll have to use less makeup, and it’ll also blend far more seamlessly on well-hydrated skin. What We Recommend
Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer
Korres Anti-Aging Primer
Olay Anti-Wrinkle Firm and Lift 2-in-1 Moisturizer and Anti-Aging Primer
Africa’s ancient beauty secrets are finally coming into the fore. Even though the continent produces some of the world’s most beneficial & unrivalled organic and natural ingredients for natural skin and hair care, its own ancient tribal traditions have been largely ignored. Until now.Learn the secrets of Africa’s ancient beauty and look out for some of these ingredients and tribal stories in Africa.
Africa Ancient Beauty Secret
Macadamia Nut Oil Some refer to macadamia as the “queen of the nuts“ due to its many health and beauty benefits. The biggest export country at this time is Kenya, even though the macadamia trees originally comes from Australia. You may be familiar with the rich flavor and the high nutrients of macadamia nuts. However, what’s even more valuable is the macadamia nut oil that can be extracted. It helps soothing the skin and promotes anti-ageing effects. Additionally, it does good to your heart, has antioxidant potential and is very good for your eyes. The oil can help to increase the shine of your hair and even decrease hair loss. To ensure fair production conditions, Dr. Hauschka is working with the organization LIMBUA to support the local farmers. After the nuts are delivered to Germany and processed to oil, it is added to the formula of different beauty products from Dr. Hauschka, making the experience even more precious.
Kalahari Melon Seeds Oil The Kalahari desert in South Africa is home of the Kalahari watermelon. Although this melon is the biological ancestor of the common watermelon you can find worldwide, the Kalahari melon tastes rather bitter and its flesh is pale yellow or green instead of the bright red we associate with watermelons. Actually what is truly precious about the melon is the oil you can produce out of the seeds. They contain linoleic, oleic and palmitic essential fatty acids that help the skin retain moisture. The melons even served desert people as a source for water. Due to its highly nurturing components, it is said that bushmen could survive for six weeks in the desert on these watermelons alone. I am not sure whether I would want to try that, but I would definitely try the oil as a beauty product. A true wonder fruit!
Launch of Darling Runway Kenya, an annual platform about the business of Fashion COUTURE Africa magazine in partnership with Ajuma Ltd will be hosting a one-of-a-kind fashion experience on the 6th and 7th of April at the Two Rivers Mall and Sankara hotel dubbed Darling Runway Kenya.
COUTURE Africa magazine founder, Olive Gachara says that Darling Runway Kenya shall be an annual event specifically focused on the Business of Fashion. It brings together key industry players; 16 showcasing fashion designers, the creative community, and talent such as bloggers, photographers, writers, journalists, and stylists as well as a troop of 75 models and a fleet of Black| make-up artists and hairstylists. Designed to be more than a visually memorable affair.
Darling Runway Kenya draws industry thinkers for a cross-section of intense workshops and conferences open to the public on Friday the 6th of April at the Two Rivers Mall Expo Hall. This will culminate in the ultimate roundtable that will include highly-acclaimed South African designer Thula Sindi, beauty, hair, and fashion professionals and will be moderated by COUTURE Africa’s Managing Editor and award-winning fashion journalist Carol Odero at Sankara Hotel prior to the official event launch at the same location.
Saturday 7th April will see 7 fashion shows take place every hour-on-the-hour at various locations around Two Rivers Mall and event title sponsor, Darling Kenya – East Africa’s Leading Hair Brand – will launch a collection of their latest trends, a compelling live look book created by their top partner hairstylists on the runway. This will be simultaneously done on the same runway models as they showcase the fashion designers. Worth an estimated KES 25 billion, the local hair market is home to 150,000 salons and growing. Darling has a salon partnership program that currently reaches over 20,000 salons across Kenya.
“The Kenyan consumer is becoming more fashion aware and hair is a fundamental part of this awareness. She demands quality hair products and accessories that keep her on the cutting edge of fashion. She has big dreams and is clear that her hair plays a huge role in helping her achieve these dreams. Darling has become the go-to partner for this stylish woman and fuels her passion and aspirations. This means leading the conversation on fashion hence the need to be part of the premier of East Africa’s Home of Fashion,” said Victoria Kieti-Chesire, Head of Marketing, Dry Hair, Godrej Kenya.
To help realize this vision is Ajuma Ltd., founded and run by Kenya’s first supermodel Ajuma Nasenyana. “What made me come on board was my good relationship with COUTURE Africa magazine. They are outstanding when it comes to pushing fashion in Kenya.
We all know models outside of fashion capitals pretty much struggle when it comes to making modeling a lucrative career. Ajuma Ltd. is constantly scouting and doing our absolute best to push potential high fashion models through to international platforms.” Ajuma’s scouting led her to the Kakuma Refugee Camp where she discovered two gems who will come to Nairobi and strut on the Darling Runway Kenya catwalks.
Darling Runway Kenya shall bring the already vibrant Two Rivers Mall to an all-new high, with a Darling Mobile Salon, Black|Up Make-up Booth, COUTURE Africa Magazine custom covers, Pop-Up Stores by the 16 Designers, Mini Casting Sessions by Ajuma Ltd, select backstage access all wrapped up with a Fashion Party. This is an Open Access event with VIP priority parking within the mall and exclusive VIP seating at the runway shows.
Content Courtesy Of Darling Kenya, Couture Africa Magazine, Ajuma Limited & Nairobi Fashion Hub
Sunglasses are one fashion accessory that can lift your entire outfit and put it on the pedestal. While some people are suckers for style, others are brand freaks, and most are hoarders (like me). In all this frenzy, sometimes we end up buying glasses for their sheer style, and do not bother to check if they protect our eyes from the sun (which is what they are supposed to do). I learned the hard way that sunglasses are worth the investment, and one robust pair is better than ten fancy ones. And when I say robust, I mean that they should at least be polarized, provide sun protection, or both (ideally). What does this mean? To know more, and about the top sunglasses brands for eyewear, you need to scroll down.
Types Of Sunglasses UV Protection Sunglasses UV Protection Sunglasses protect your eyes from the powerful ‘Ultraviolet’ rays that are known for causing damage to the skin, eyes, etc. Look for glasses that give 100% coverage, and are both UVA & UVB protected. UVA rays can cause cataracts and damage to the retina in some cases because they penetrate your eyes easily. UVB rays can be absorbed by your cornea, and are more harmful and powerful than UVA rays. The best and easiest way to protect yourself is by buying sunglasses that give your complete protection.
Polarized Sunglasses Polarized Sunglasses are sunglasses that nullify the glare, reflection, and the intensity of light. ‘Glare’ is one of the biggest issues while driving, walking or even being out in the sun. Without getting into the science of it, here’s what they do – polarized glasses come with an invisible chemical coating that diminishes the intensity of light, and mellows down the sharpness. Polarized glasses are not always necessarily UV protectants, while the opposite is true. If you have to choose between UV protection sunglasses or polarized, go for the former, they are great value for that extra money you are going to spend. Also, whichever one you choose to buy, make sure that your glasses cover your eye area completely to avoid skin discoloration, sunburns, tanning, etc.
Are you someone who loves fluttery, voluminous lashes and swears by waterproof mascara? If yes, you know it’s all fun and games till you actually have to remove it at the end of the day because waterproof mascara is notoriously stubborn. It’s a challenge as removing it the wrong way will have a negative impact not just on your lashes but also on the skin around your eyes. Also, what do you do when you run out of makeup remover in the middle of the night? Sleep with traces of it? That’s an enormous NO! We’ve got a few clever hacks for you to remove waterproof mascara with ease and without causing strain to your precious lashes. Read on to find out how you can incorporate some of these methods to remove your mascara perfectly.
Here is how to Remove Waterproof Mascara Without Damaging Your Lashes And Blinding Yourself his one’s a no-brainer. If you’re methodical and have your life together – you may never run out of your eye makeup remover because you’ll always remember to buy some beforehand. This tip is for the mascara-newbies. So listen up, using an eye makeup remover to get rid of that product at the end of the day is perhaps the most ideal thing to do.
What We Need
An eye makeup remover (We recommend trying the Clarins Instant Eye Makeup Remover or the Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover)
Cotton pads
Step By Step Process
Take a cotton pad and pour some of your eye makeup remover onto it.
Close your eyelids and rest the cotton pad on the top of your lashes for a few seconds.
Gently wipe the cotton pad downwards, towards your lash tips.
Repeat this process until all traces of the mascara has been removed.
odAOMO Seductress at Sunset Fall 2018 Runway Show went down at the tribe hotel village market the show started exactly at 5:00 pm east African time, event was graced by who is who in Kenyan fashion sector , great performance from America Pop idol and Odaomo creative director Quentin Alexander who left guest wanting more and more, fashion show was held at the poolside spectacular view with African set up.
Luxury Design for Global Citizen Luxury line for modern women’s wear with a timeless and cross-cultural aesthetic ,Odaomo company is based on the principle of “giving back” and supports improved social and economic conditions here in Kenya Creates exclusive and collectible statement pieces for global citizens, utilizes sustainably sourced materials to handcraft leather goods, Ready-to-Wear and jewelry in limited seasonal collectionsat the same time preserves the art of quality craftsmanship and community development through the fair-wage employment of local Kenyan artisans Odaomo produces regular fashion shows and events to foster a transcultural, stylish and philanthropic community, offers private shopping and personal styling services to clients Knowledgeable team of passionate professionals committed to providing the highest standard of products and services
History ( Odaomo Background ) Established in 2014. As you may know, in Africa, given names have significant meaning. Children are named after a great ancestor, a significant birth trait, a time, season, or an event. The designer’s name, Aomo, not only talks of ” a time of harvest” , but is also after the great matriarch Aomo. Her grandmother was tall, strong, entrepreneurial, and left a legacy carried by many female grandchildren. The house of Aomo (od AOMO in Luo, her tribal language) was indeed the beginning of it all. We welcome you to odAOMO, “House of Aomo”.
Yeah, the eternal question – how often should you wash your hair? It is pretty simple actually. When you feel that your hair is greasy and unclean, wash it! As simple as that. Other aspects of hair washing include what you need to wash it with, how often is too often, and how long you can go without washing your hair. It all depends on your hair texture, scalp, and styling method.
Shampooing Your Hair When you think of washing your hair, you mean shampooing it, right? Yes, using shampoo to clean your hair has become synonymous with washing hair. It is also the most popular method of cleaning hair – it eliminates dirt, product build-up, sweat, dandruff, and excess oil from the hair. It’s shampoo time when your scalp feels itchy, hair becomes excessively oily, and you notice dirt flakes in your hair.
Shampoos contain various ingredients that help remove debris and oil from the hair. While this process makes your hair cleaner, it can also damage it if used excessively because shampoos may contain harmful chemicals and sulfates. Also, they may strip the hair of the natural oils and make it dry and itchy. You need to have some oil in your hair to protect it from damage. So, if you feel that you are shampooing your way to dry and damaged hair, reduce the number of times you wash your hair.
Just like the eyes, our lips also enhance the attractiveness of our face. Due to pollution and due to rampant use of harsh cosmetics, lips tend to turn dark and lose their natural beauty over time. And we are forced to depend on cosmetics even more. Its what you can call a chicken and egg story! It goes on forever and the end is never close. But what if you could find a few ways to break that cycle? Doesn’t that sound good? To regain their natural color and beauty, here are some tips for beautiful lips which will help you regain the soft, luscious and kissable lips look.
Natural beauty tips for lips
Use Lipsticks Sparingly Lipsticks are basically a mixture of wax, pigments, fragrance, oils and alcohol. And different kinds of wax, oils and pigments are used in combination to get the desired product. Chemicals as much individually are not the best option when it comes to prolonged contact with the body but when being we need to take additional care for the result may not suit us! Use lipsticks only when you need them the most. They contain chemicals, which are not good for your lips. Make sure you use Lipsticks with Shea butter, Vitamin E, jojoba oil etc that moisturize your lips. Go for a tinted lip balm instead of a lipstick for regular use, and brands like Nivea and Maybelline have some real good ones.
Keep Lips Hydrated
Water constitutes about 50% to 60% of our body approximately. It is but obvious then that maintaining the required percentage is but essential or the effects will show on your skin too. Your lips being the least naturally equipped for self preservation, they are the first to show the effects. To retaining the natural color of lips, it is essential to maintain hydration levels by drinking plenty of water throughout the day to retain the natural moisture of your lips, especially during winters when we often tend to drink less water, and dehydration is noticed. Also, add high water-content to your diet like fruits such as cucumber, watermelon, orange, grapefruit and lemon.
Avoid Licking or Biting your Lips + Moisturize Saliva tends to further dry out the moisture on your rather than add to them.Dermatologists hence advise us not to lick the lips to keep them wet because in the process you are further drying them out and this can lead to darkening of the lips. Even the habit of biting lips should be avoided as there is the risk of damaging them, instead keep a moisturizing lip balm handy for application as it protects and conditions your lips. Licking your lips and lip balm is an idiosyncrasy that a lot of people suffer from. This is a reaction to nervousness or stress. This might calm your nerves at that moment but the long term damage it does to your lips is quite harsh. It leaves them dry, chapped and even bleeding at time. The best way to avoid this is to first stop using flavored lip balms and secondly to make a conscious effort to adopt other means of relieving stress.
A natural product is a chemical compound or substance produced by a living organism—that is, found in nature. In the broadest sense, natural products include any substance produced by life. Natural products can also be prepared by chemical synthesis (both semisynthesis and total synthesis) and have played a central role in the development of the field of organic chemistry by providing challenging synthetic targets. The term natural product has also been extended for commercial purposes to refer to cosmetics, dietary supplements, and foods produced from natural sources without added artificial ingredients. Below are top 10 Natural Hair and Beauty Products brands in Kenya:
Marini Naturals
Luguah Naturals
Shea by Asal Rebranded to ( Bu.Ke)
Harvest of Sunshine
Mugzie’s Naturals
Akusi Organics
Mosara
Ajani Handmade
Cinnabar Green
Keyara Organics
Marine Naturals Marini Naturals is first Kenyan natural hair care Line Marini Naturals 100% organic products include a sulfate-free shampoo, moisturizing spritz, and a potent hair growth oil.One of Marini Naturals’ most popular products however, is a curling butter containing oils from avocado, strawberry and coconut as well as various butters like Shea butter and mango butter.
Luguah Naturals Luguah Naturals are a natural hair, skin and lip care line, hand-crafted from some of the best oils and butters sourced from Africa. Luguah Naturals was founded by Lulu Kimbio and Mbugua Macharia in October 2016. However, development of the products has been going on from June 2016, to find the right compositions of the natural oils and butters to create the products.What has now grown into a brand that has hair, body and lip care products was born out of neccessity. Lulu was looking for a solution for stretch marks following her pregnancy and the solutions in the market did not work. Someone recommended Shea Butter. Raw Shea butter has a strong smell and is not easy to apply. Lulu sought to improve this.After many trials and formulas, we developed a body butter. The solution worked for Lulu and she wanted to share it with the world.
Marini Naturals is Kenya’s first haircare product line designed for african women of natural and afro-textured hair. Marini was made by a Kenyan woman, for the African woman. Our product range includes a Sulfate-free Shampoo (Kenya & East Africa’s first), Detangling Leave-In Conditioner, Curling Butter, Curling Gel, Moisturizing Spritz, and a Potent Hair Growth Oil. Marini Naturals has grown to be one of the most African preferred brands for natural hair across Kenya and East Africa.
from lift to right : Michelle Ntalami , Fena Gitau , Esther Kazungu , Sherie Gakii , Noora Zein , Sandrine Simonne Umuhoza
Who Is Michelle Ntalami Michelle Ntalami, is a strategic brand and marketing expert, is the founder of Marini Naturals, Kenya’s first 100% organic, natural hair care line. With her wealth of branding and design knowledge, she has conceptualised and designed the Marini Naturals brand, from its name to its logo, colours, scents, packaging, label design, brand plan and marketing strategy.
I wanted @Marini_Naturals to feel like it belongs to the people, not only the founders. I wanted everyone with natural hair in Africa & globally to relate to the brand by seeing skin tones and hair types that look just like theirs
Who Is Fena Gitau Fena Gitu, is one of the most sought-after Kenyan femcees down to earth,the acclaimed singer and rapper studied International Relations and Psychology from the United States International University in 2008 10 year later she is the new face of Marini Naturals Brand Ambassador Having grown up in a musical household, Fena developed her passion for music at a tender age. In 2008, she won the “Fete de la Musique” singing competition at Alliance Francaise Nairobi, marking the beginning of a bright music career.
Hey Hey! It’s the Fenamenal Woman, Fena Gitu ( @Fena_menal ), 8 years dreadlocked and a proud Marini Naturals Brand Ambassador! I love to see my fellow country people shine!
