disappear from the social scene after their reigns,
Mariam Elisha has remained in the limelight. As
former Miss Valentine, she has continued to
expand her pet project in addition to other
engagements. To her credit, her clothing line,
Rikaoto and Urban Style magazine are fast
becoming household names in Nigeria and
beyond. She also has a foundation where she
caters for the less-privileged children. In this
interview, she talks about her modelling career,
love life and plans for the future.
What has been happening to you?
Nothing much, I go to work everyday and do what
I'm supposed to do. I'm managing my clothing
line called, Rikaoto, and my magazine called
Urban Style.
What informed your decision to go into fashion
and magazine publication?
I naturally love to see people dress well and wear
good clothes. I realise that in Nigeria, we do not
have companies that make quality clothes that
people can buy at their convenience. I wanted to
be that kind of person that could make such
clothes people need when they have occasions or
other social events to attend.
Are your services meant only for the high and
mighty?
Not really. Average Nigerians can afford it. My
clothes are affordable, depending on the kind of
fabrics and style required. We have the ones that
are meant for the high ends, and also, we have
the ones for the average salary earners. It
depends really on what the clients want. In other
words, we have the very expensive ones and we
also have the affordable ones.
Where do you source your materials from?
I buy my fabrics anywhere I find myself or
sometimes, I order specifically from where I know
they have the kind of fabric I need at that
particular time. I don't have to disclose where I
procure my fabrics from. That's my secret but we
have good fabrics.
Do you make clothes yourself?
I know how to make clothes myself. I also have
people who do them and I supervise them.
Tell us about your Urban Style magazine?
It is about fashion and style. And as a fashion
crazy person, I decided to do something that
would celebrate the works of the fashion
designers, showcasing fashion and style in a
different way. How people can combine clothes
and other accessories. I have a partner and things
are actually going on since I started the
publication.
How has the experience been?
It has been challenging but so far, I am coping
with the stress. No work is easy as my mum would
always tell me.
How challenging is running a clothing line as well
as publishing outfit?
The challenge of becoming a fashion designer is
enormous. Most of the time, there is no power
supply, and we have to depend on our generating
set. The tailors are not consistent. They are not
ready to give you the standard for which you
employed them most of the time. You always
cross-check whatever they have done to ensure
they have the meet the standard. When I came
into fashion designing, I was thinking it was
something I would cross my legs and fold my
arms and probably pick up my pen and give
someone instructions on what to do, and he gets
it right but it isn't so.
In fashion designing, you have to focus your
mind, brain and come down to the level of the
tailors for them to understand what designs you
have and how to interpret the designs that you
have conceptualised in your mind. Also, it's really
challenging dealing with different clients; the
super rich and the middle class.On the Urban
Style magazine, it's equally challenging,
publishing a special interest magazine;getting
celebrities to adorn the cover of the magazine;
putting the whole thing together including the
adverts for that particular edition. Then the
challenges of distributing your magazines.It is an
easy task.
What else do you do aside your fashion outfit and
your magazine?
I also have a foundation called, Save Tomorrow
Today. I love charity and as an ex- beauty queen, I
started a foundation during my reign and it's still
functioning till date. I love lending help to
humanity whether I am a beauty queen or not. I
have been able to cater for the welfare of these
children under my care, and I'd visit different
organisation soliciting support so I can help give
them hope in life. It's been working out so far and
we usually hold different events about three times
in a year. Most of the time, we don't make such
events loud because we believe in not blowing
our own trumpet.
With all of these activities, what time do you have
for yourself?
I just try to create time for myself. It is all about
timing. When its time to be at Rikaoto, I will be
there, and when it's time to give attention to the
Urban Style magazine, I do certainly that. I have
people who work with me. I have already taught
them what to do when I am not there. I can
always come back for feed back. Though, it is not
easy coping with the stress.
You recently contested the Miss Nigeria pageant,
what informed that decision?
I have always loved the name-Miss Nigeria and I
feel that being Miss Nigeria will provide me the
needful platform to affect more lives positively. As
you know, I'm into charity and I do a lot of things
to assist the poor. At the moment, I have not less
than 40 children under my care. It is really pretty
difficult coping with these children. I feel I need
more helping hands and being Miss Nigeria will
probably give me more support to smiles to the
lives of these children.
Are you going to contest again?
No, I think I'm done with pageant for now
Do you have any plan to organise your own
pageant?
I don't have any plan to organise any pageant but
maybe, in the future
Tell us about your style?
I really do not have a specific routine but what I
do is when I wake up in the morning, I ensure
that I wash my face before applying anything I
want to apply. If I want to apply make up, it's
probably when I'm back from work. I make sure I
clean my face, using the facial removal but I don't
use any specific cream, its just normal baby oil. I
use mild soap. I don't use anything hard because
my skin is very sensitive.
Your dress sense?
It depends on the occasion. Sometimes, I like to
look simple, but very dramatic. I am always very
simple. When I'm not in the red-carpet mood, I
love casual wears.
What kind of books do you read?
I read all kinds of books, especially, motivational
books and poetic works. My favourite author is
Wole Soyinka. I love his poems a lot.
Who's the man in your life?
I think my relationship is personal to me. I will
marry at the right time. I pray it happens soon.
What kind of man would you love to marry?
I want to marry a God fearing man because I
always dream of making heaven. I don't care
whether he's tall , handsome or rich. As long as
he has the fear of God in him, and has respect for
womanhood, I will marry the person. He must
take me for who I am. I'm okay with him.
How many times have you been heartbroken?
Once. I don't want to talk about it please.
What do you hate about men?
I hate disappointments and lies. Disappointment,
not in the context of when one promises to marry
a lady and later on, he didn't keep to that
promise. I mean, when I trust you as a friend and
I expect you to keep to that trust and never hurt
my feelings.
How has it been as a young entrepreneur?
I don't believe that because I'm young, I should
fold my hands and wait for my parents to do
everything for me. I believe that as an individual,
you have the right to to give back to society
whatever you have gotten from it. You can make a
difference in your life if you believe in yourself
and what you want to achieve in life. I have always
been a hardworking person even when I was in
school. I was combining my studies with
modelling. It wasn't easy but I tried as much as
possible to strike a balance. Whatever you want to
be in life, you can achieve it by remaining focus
and committed to your cause.
Who supported when you started this cause?
My father supported me. Initially, he didn't give
me anything, but when he saw the zeal in me, he
started supporting me. I started with the little
money I saved. You don't have to have billions of
Naira before you can set out to achieve your
dream. There are intelligent students from poor
homes who are supported by well-meaning
Nigerians. Just begin with something and help will
come even from unexpected quarters.
How do you describe yourself?
I am simply amazing!
