“I believe the limitation one puts on themselves is competition, and I have overcome many fears in life to stand my ground and also go after my dreams,” says Damilola Bolarinde, the 14th Nigerian Queen. From representing Nigeria on international stages to raising awareness about the advantages of unconventional jobs, Bolarinde’s influence extends beyond the realm of fashion and beauty. In this exclusive interview with Queen Damilola Bolarinde, we delve into her transformative journey from winning the prestigious crown to becoming a powerful advocate for unconventional careers and youth empowerment. Bolarinde shares personal stories of resilience, family support, and overcoming adversity. Discover her inspiring insights on navigating challenges, promoting African culture, and staying true to oneself while pursuing dreams.
FAB: How has your life changed since becoming the 14th Nigerian Queen?
Queen Damilola: I believe that my life has changed in a good way and is still changing for the better, I suppose. Winning THE Nigerian Queen title has not just put me in a leadership position but also exposed me to different people. I have had a positive impact on their lives, and they have had a positive impact on mine.
Most importantly, I am now an advocate for different courses that are timely and relevant to society. I was also able to represent my beautiful country, Nigeria, on an international stage at the “MISS GRAND INTERNATIONAL 2022,” which is arguably the third biggest pageant in the world. I was placed as the only African in the TOP 20 out of almost 75 contestants from different countries all over the world.
14th Nigerian Queen Advocating for Unconventional Careers
FAB: You advocate for and sensitise people about the advantages of unconventional jobs as a career. How did your family and friends react when you first told them that you wanted to pursue an unconventional job as a commercial model, fashion entrepreneur, and actor?
Queen Damilola: I mentioned earlier that growing up, I already knew what I wanted to do, and my family decided to support me. I grew up knowing my mom was an advocate for fashion. She loved everything about fashion, pageantry, and modelling. She once told us that she wanted to be a model, but her parents did not allow it.
I watched a lot of fashion TV because of my mom, and I read a lot of fashion magazines. She made us love fashion, pageantry, and modelling, and she wanted us to have a career in them. I remember that she would always include in her prayers that she wanted her daughter to be greater than Agbani Darego. I grew up loving and understanding fashion because of my mom. It was very easy for me to go into it with my family’s support.
I know that there are millions of young people who are not fortunate enough to go after their dreams because their family and society at large have influenced their decision to go into something they are not passionate about. I know education is very important, and I encourage young people to focus on their education as well as invest more in their talents and skills. That is the only way they can enhance themselves.
Right now, what is paving the way in society for people, especially in Nigeria, are their talents and skills. My advocacy is centred around raising awareness to educate society on the great advantages of unconventional jobs and how they can improve the standard of living for people, which is what is happening right now for so many people. Unemployment is affecting society right now, so I am telling people to go into what they are passionate about. I was lucky, favoured, and blessed to have reliable parents and family to support me.
I believe the limitation one puts on themselves is competition and I have overcome many fears in life to stand my ground, and also go after my dreams.
Queen Damilola Bolarinde
Queen Damilola Bolarinde: I remember when I was growing up, I was a little different from all my siblings. My dad was a very strict man, despite the fact that he was the best father in the world. He taught us the way of God and showed me how to be a good child. My parents’ love and legacy have made me the strong woman that I am today, and that is the most beautiful thing. However, I guess I was a bit different because of how passionate I was about my life.
I have always been so inquisitive, wanting to know more about life, and along the way, I have overcome many challenges life throws at me. As the second daughter in the family, I was automatically a strong-headed child with a lovely and kind soul and smart siblings. We used to be five children, but now there are four of us. Our oldest brother passed away three days after our father died, and that was the toughest and most tragic time for my family. However, that period brought us even closer because all we had was each other.
Now all we do is cheer each other up in our downtime and pick ourselves up, especially being there for our mother, as she hasn’t allowed the space of our father to be empty since he passed on. She is like an olive tree. May God grant her good health and a long life as she reaps the fruit of her labour. Amen
Lessons and Triumphs: Insights from Miss Grand Nigeria 2022
Queen Damilola Bolarinde: The Nigerian Queen competition, also known as Miss Grand Nigeria, is one of the biggest platforms in Africa for young women just like me. However, competing taught me a lot that I will forever hold close to my heart, but the most vital lesson I learned was the one I taught myself. I knew from the start that my competition wasn’t with anyone but myself, and I did not go there to compete; I was there to represent and to show the world the true meaning of representation.
Also, I believe the limitation one puts on themselves is competition, and I have overcome many fears in life to stand my ground and also go after my dreams. I am that person who does not limit herself for whatever reason because I strongly believe in the power of her dreams. Every girl in the competition is beautiful, intelligent, and worthy, but showing the world my uniqueness and true self makes me stand out from any other person. This was my lesson.
FAB: As a representative of Nigeria, what do you believe are some of the biggest challenges facing the country today, and how can they be addressed?
Queen Damilola: I believe that there are numerous issues facing the country today, but unemployment is one big one. This affects 70% of the youth in Nigeria. This has led to unfavourable standards of living for people, which causes high levels of poverty. I believe the only way for meaningful development to take place is when the masses start to build a sense of independence and strength, invest more, and nurture their talents and skills so that there can be a lot of enhancement in people’s lives, which is what my advocacy is centred around—raising awareness about the great advantages of an unconventional career path.
FAB: What’s been your approach to using your title to promote African culture and creativity to a global audience?
Queen Damilola: Recently, I have been attending global conferences, interviews, and events, and I get to talk about where I come from and my African delicacies and culture. This has been my approach to promoting African culture.
Queen Damilola Bolarinde: I will tell them that our parents know better than us, to be honest. We have to give that to them. They want the best for us at the end of the day. They want us to grow and be great in life. That is why they tend to impose their choices, and at the end of the day, they are the ones paying the bills.
I wouldn’t advise anyone to go against their parents, but I would advise that they sit down and have a conversation with their parents about what they actually want. Some kids don’t have good communication relationships with their parents, and that is one of the reasons why I am so passionate about raising awareness about this. I am not just bringing in young people; I am also bringing in parents to see the bright side of things and to allow their kids to dive into legal and unconventional jobs as a career-building path.
For example, I have friends who feel they wasted their time in school because they studied something they weren’t passionate about just to please their parents, and now they have changed paths to do what they really wanted to do. I don’t know how to best advise people on how to approach their parents, but I will advise them to stick to their dreams and be themselves regardless of what society and their parents are saying. Be a good kid to your parents, but stick to what makes you happy.
This topic is quite big because, when it comes to our parents, they can be so difficult to talk to. If they find out that you’re not doing what they imposed on you, at the end of the day, they will want to listen to you and allow you to pursue your desires. The most important thing is to keep telling them and sticking to what you want to do, and I hope that they will listen. I hope that they will listen to us as we are listening to them.
I know education is very important for many and I encourage young people to focus on their education but also to invest more in their talents and skills. That is the only way they can be an enhancement to themselves.
Queen Damilola Bolarinde
FAB: You’ve pursued your career relentlessly. Have you had to sacrifice any personal relationships or goals to pursue your dreams?
Queen Damilola Bolarinde: No, I don’t think I have ever done that. I know that people say that when it comes to modelling and the fashion industry in general, you have to know people to gain an advantage for jobs. For me, I have been able to establish myself through hard work to get to where I am. When I started my career as a model, I was discriminated against a lot and not taken seriously. I was called a lot of names; I was called fat and told I couldn’t be a model, but I’ve been able to develop a habit of ignoring people’s negativity. I stick to what I want, and I don’t take no for an answer.
There are a lot of people who have asked me to ‘be’ with them to get certain jobs and privileges, but it doesn’t work that way in the fashion industry. In Nigeria, nobody is going to force you to do what you do not want to do. If they come to you and ask you to be with them to get a job, they are liars. I don’t think anyone in the fashion industry would want to jeopardise their career by demanding sex for jobs. There are lots of wrong people in the industry, but I don’t think anybody is going to force you.
I also don’t think it’s going to guarantee you getting jobs or being notable in society when you’re sleeping around to get a position. That applies to pageantry as well, but there are also other fake pageants. If you want to be a model and a beauty queen, you have to do your research on the right competitions to enter. Stay up to date on the newest in the world of Fashion, Arts, Beauty and Lifestyle; Follow FAB on socials.
Faith and Fortitude: The Role of Spirituality in Queen Damilola Bolarinde’s Journey
FAB: Walk us through a typical day in the life of Damilola Bolarinde, the Nigerian Queen.
Queen Damilola Bolarinde: My typical day will be waking up in the morning to join my morning prayer programme every day. After that, I meditate with my morning affirmations while I also go through my emails, then proceed to the gym, and every other thing comes after, like meetings, work (modelling), and if not work, then you will probably find me spending time with family and friends dining, attending events, and if not that, you will find me at home strategising on upcoming projects, or you will find me on the beach relaxing, which is my happy place.
Queen Damilola Bolarinde: I mentioned earlier that I came from a very religious and spiritual family, and my parents have been able to teach us to put our trust in God. Without God, there is no way we can get anything out of life. I pray every single day of my life, which is getting me closer to God. I believe God really loves me, and he has been directing my path through every decision I have made in my life. Growing up, I faced a lot of challenges, and it was God who saw me through. I also feel like I am not as close to God as I want to be yet.
The Path to Success: Queen Damilola Bolarinde’s Sacrifices and Determination
FAB: Could you elaborate more on some of the challenges you have had to face on your journey?
Queen Damilola Bolarinde: I was born in Lagos, and growing up, I remember there was a tribal riot that happened when I was about 3 or 4 years old. There were killings and burnings. I remember being at home with my siblings, aunt, and other people when the riot started and seeing a lot of killings and blood. This got bad to the point where I went missing for three days. Meanwhile, before the missing, I was in a burning building, and someone saved me out of there. On our way out, the person who saved me at the time was also killed, and I saw it happen; however, before they got to me, someone else saved me. God kept sending his angels to me because the killing didn’t leave out children as well.
At that time in my life, I didn’t understand what was happening, but I remembered being traumatised by that terrible event because it affected my life negatively. Bless God, I grew out of it, and now I am the strongest woman that I know. Those challenges shaped me into the woman I am today.
FAB: There are misconceptions that pageantry is for wayward ladies. How do you address these things now?
Queen Damilola Bolarinde: People are of the opinion that pageantry is to showcase beautiful girls, and there’s nothing more to it. That is a lie, to be honest. I have seen women across the world realise that pageantry has given them the platform to be a voice, to advocate for causes that are relevant to society, and to foray into the fields they choose through pageantry. I have seen women in notable spaces because of pageantry, and I believe that I am a great example of that. Pageantry has shaped and built me to be a voice and advocate for different causes that are relevant in my society. It has not only put me in a leadership position, but it has also made me impact people’s lives and my own positively. It has made me walk in the direction of meeting my highest potential.
Pageantry has helped me improve my self-confidence. Pageantry helped me gain my confidence back after childhood trauma. I have really learned a lot from pageantry. I know there are a lot of bad organisations out there that portray pageant girls wrongly to society just because of their selfish reasons while using pageantry as a cover. For one thing, I am very intentional about my career, so I do my research about the organisations I want to go to. People don’t see that pageantry has shaped women to be a better version of themselves and to be advocates for change.
FAB: Who are some of the women that have inspired you throughout your life, especially when you were facing some of the challenges you’ve mentioned? What qualities did you see in them that jumped out at you?
Queen Damilola Bolarinde: When it comes to the industry, I have so many people I learn from, and they are not necessarily at the top. I learn from young people who are very passionate about their craft. One person that comes to mind every time I am asked this question is my mom. My mom is very inspiring. She has motivated me a lot when it comes to standing up for myself and becoming the woman I want in my life. I have a lot in common with her because she has told us stories about how she overcame a lot of challenges in her life.
Whenever I am facing challenges in life, I think about my mom because she is so strong. When we lost our dad and brother in the space of three days, my mom was able to hold us together. It wasn’t easy; she fell sick and wouldn’t eat, but she stood strong through it all. She’s still holding us together now. Her legacy, the way she handles things, the way she sees the bright side of things, and the way she lives her life have greatly inspired who I am today and are keeping me going in life.
FAB: Do you have favourite African or Nigerian fashion designers that you wear, are aspiring to wear, or model for on the runway?
Queen Damilola Bolarinde: We have a lot of amazing and creative designers in Nigeria and Africa at large, but there is one person I think is not appreciated enough in the fashion industry in Nigeria. His work is one of the biggest in Nigeria. His name is Wisdom Franklin. He is so different and creative. Globally, I really want to work for a lot of designers. I want to be at Paris Fashion Week and Milan Fashion Week, stretching my legs on the runway.
Queen Damilola: I love to use natural products. I don’t do much, and I feel like I am that one model who does not do too much. Maybe not doing too much is actually too much’. My go-to products are natural. I work out, and I take water, which helps everybody, mind what I eat, and I like to eat clean. I use shea butter, coconut oil, body scrub, and black soap. Right now, I am a brand ambassador for a product, and their products have been good; they don’t bleach. I can’t take myself away from natural products.
FAB: What’s your personal philosophy when it comes to fashion, beauty, and lifestyle choices, and how do you incorporate it into your daily life?
Queen Damilola Bolarinde: My philosophy when it comes to fashion and beauty is as simple as it sounds: “Be yourself, wear, and do what makes you comfortable.” I know for sure that when it comes to my fashion, I can be diverse and unique. I don’t like to be predictable, and I think that has also influenced my daily life.
FAB: Are you considering plastic surgery anytime soon?
Queen Damilola Bolarinde: I am not doing anything. Whaaaat? I think I am perfect the way I look. I am curvy; I am a very good example of African beauty, so why should I change that? On the whole, I love exercising, and I feel like when I exercise even more, my body becomes more firm, curvy, and beautiful. Have you seen my pictures? (Lol) I look perfect. I don’t think I need any plastic surgery.
FAB: What’s the craziest thing you’ve done for love?
Queen Damilola Bolarinde: I don’t think I’ve ever done anything crazy for love. But for my family, I am always there for them, anytime. It makes me happy that I can be there for them and that I can help out anytime they need me.
FAB: What do you hope to be remembered for in the next 50 years?
Queen Damilola: I have thought about this before, and what came to mind is that I want to be remembered as someone who has impacted positively on society. Someone who motivated a lot of youth during her time and made an impact on society. I want to be remembered as a notable person who helped society.
FAB: What are your future goals and plans after your reign as Miss Grand Nigeria is over?
Queen Damilola: After my reign as the 14th Nigerian Queen and Miss Grand Nigeria, I plan to further my education, which has made me currently work towards getting admission to a fashion school abroad and also working as a fashion and commercial international model abroad as well. These are my primary goals for now.
Fun Zone: #FabFast5
- What’s your favourite fashion and beauty trend at the moment?
It’s chic, simple, and classy
- What beauty and skincare products are your go-to favourite?
My go-to favourite products with me: My moisturiser, sunscreen, lipgloss, lip liner, and my under-eye filler.
- Your biggest fashion or beauty mistake?
It was me wearing long leather boots on a very sunny day to a fashion week in Lagos. It was hilarious
- Tiktok or Instagram?
Instagram
- Your always on repeat Naija Artiste?
Yes “ know you by Ladipoe “ that song is always on repeat and by the way I was the actor in the video.
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