Glamsquad magazine april-may 2022

Glamsquad

april/may 2022

March:

tHE Month

of Slaps

- The Will Smith

and Bianca

Ojukuwu Slap

Skin Hair

Trend

A Fashion

Statement or

Revolution?

Deborah

Anne Dyer

OBE:

20

Ankara

Style

Inspirations

To Adopt

APRIL

NATIONAL

CHILD ABUSE

PREVENTION

MONTH

- What You Need To

Know

5 Ways

to Lose

Stomach Fat

Naturally

The Queen

Of Bald

www.glamsquadmagazine.com 1

Inside

Glamsquad

Magazine

April 2022

BEAUTY

16

24

38

DIY Make-Up Tips

for Easter

5 Healthy

Ways

to Lose

Stomach

Fat

Naturally

Skin Hair

Trend:

A Fashion Statement or

Revolution?

glamsquadtv glamsquad3 glamsquadTV glamsquadtvmag

2

www.glamsquadmagazine.com

10

20 Ankara Style Inspirations

to Adopt this Easter Season

Editor-In-chief /

Publisher

Remi Diagbare

Editor

Amenna Dayo

Managing Editor

Sebastianne Ebathemi

Deputy editor

Chioma Esui

Stand-By/Ad-Hoc

Praise David

Grace Effiong

Oyindamola

Staff Writers

Sasha Bokamoso

Glory Uyi

Contributors

Dr. Nkechi Omoson

Chef Amaka Obiefuna

Social Media

Yewande Falana

graphics / Web Manager

Layi Success

MARKETING Director

Tega Diagbare

Atinuke Bankole

Head Office:

Suite B70/71, Ikota Shopping Complex,

By VGC, Lekki , Lagos, Nigeria

Tel: +234 803 844 4955, +44 7404 990166

For advert enquiries, please contact the marketing

Director 08115933500 or email,

info@glamsquadmagazine.com,

glamsquad.magazine[email protected]

We pay for exclusive celebrity stories.

I

t is with great joy I welcome you

to another special edition of

Glamsquad

Magazine. This edition, themed

‘March: The Month of Slaps,’ is one

that is both timely and exciting.

For our lead story, we take a look

at the ‘slaps’ of the decade, which

coincidentally both happened in the

month of March – and at prominent

events.

The first incident took place at the

inauguration of the new Anambra State

governor, Professor Chukwuemeka

Soludo.

In what looked like a scene of a

poorly directed movie, the wife of the

former Biafran warlord, Mrs. Bianca

Ojukwu slapped the wife of the

immediate past governor of Anambra

State, Dr. Mrs. Ebelechukwu Obiano,

during the highly televised swearing-in

event.

While we were all still trying to come

to terms with the incident, and critics

were saying how such an incident

could not occur in a civilized world, we

got the shock of our lives.

What bigger stage than the Oscars?

During the last Oscars Awards event,

the world stood still when Hollywood

actor Will Smith walked upstage and

slapped comedian Chris Rock for a

joke about his wife’s hair.

Wow, what a twist, because that

brought us right to our sub-feature – the

Skin hair

cut trend for women. This edition

analyzed the growing trend of women

– especially Africans and African-

Americans cutting their hair.

Interestingly, we also got our

fair share of slaps! Oh yes, we

did! It was a slap from one of

Nigeria’s celebrities whom we

intended to feature on the cover

of this edition.

She not only refused to

respond to our messages at the

dying minute when we planned

the interview but also stood

us out. Well, that is a story for

another day!

Lest we forget, this is an Easter

edition – packed with all the

deliciousness of Easter.

This package has a super dose

of entertainment, fashion, and

everything that would make this

edition one of the best issues

from Glamsquad yet. So let me

leave you to it.

Do not forget to write to us

and tell us how you enjoyed this

edition and what you would like

to see in subsequent editions.

Till the next one,

A .

Ameena Dayo

Editor

5 Accessories

You Need to

Express Yourself

this Easter

4

Disclaimer:

Please note that all photos used in this special

digital edition of Glamsquad Magazine were

sourced freely online.

Glamsquad maintains no rights over the

images/photos, while we have tried to give

appropriate credit where due, we are aware

some artistes were not credited.

We remain committed to supporting

intellectual property and creativity.

© 2022 Tegali Communications


5

Artisan Minimalist

Jewelry

Minimalist jewelry is becoming super

trendy. Everything from brass to sterling

silver is incorporated for unique jewelry

designs like barred earrings, plated rings,

and thin, engraved bracelets.

There are even minimalist brands

dedicated to the total customization

of your minimalist jewelry. Into crystals

or stone? Minimalist jewelry often

incorporates these elements into designs.

You can truly get creative and find

the accessories you’ll love by wearing

minimalist jewelry. In addition, most crystal

stone jewelry pieces, such as crystal

stone earrings, necklaces and rings are

considered to be minimalistic style jewelry.

Accessories

You Need to Express

Yourself this Easter

By Chioma Esuibom

4

Sustainable Fashion Tote Bags

With sustainable fashion now becoming a hot trend due to its positive impact

on the environment and its influence on pop culture, more and more people

are using tote bags instead of traditional bags and purses to carry their items.

Tote bags are usually made from canvas material and can carry everything

from clothing to your groceries. Take your accessorizing to the next level with a

tote bag that says something unique about you. You can find tons of options

with favorite quotes, bands, movies, and general sayings that make you feel

like you.


Expressing yourself through

fashion takes practice. There

are so many different trends

and fashion statements out

there to consider incorporating

into your look.

Plus, everyone interprets the

meaning of various fashion

statements and looks differently,

making it even harder to convey

the message you want to say

about your fashion and general

style.

Although the stakes are high,

there are ways to simplify the

process and easily incorporate

trends to express yourself

through fashion. The easiest

way of them is by adding the

right accessories to support your

style.

If you’re ready to showcase

your fashion sense through

your accessories, here are five

ideas!w

Powerful Fashion Statements

With the outspokenness of Gen Z taking the fashion

world by storm, fashion and how people accessorize

have changed forever. From gender-neutral

clothing to oversized wear inspired by Billie Eilish,

the most powerful fashion statements are being

introduced and adored by the world.

In addition to these changes is the start of bondage

clothing. See if you can find yourself in the mix of

these different trends. When you start to see your

accessories as personality statements, you can craft

your style into personal art and self-expression like

never before.

Knee-High Boot

Socks

Combat boots go with

everything. From plaid dress

socks to rainbow toe socks,

your combat boots will go

perfectly with whatever prints

and fabrics you like. Style your

combat boots with knee-high

boot socks that showcase

your personality.

Aim to incorporate your kneehigh

boot socks to match your

mood for the day or to make

a general statement about

who you are. Think about how

colors enhance mood and

share yours with the world by

accessorizing accordingly.

Paris Shopping

Beret

If you’ve been looking for a

classic hat that doesn’t weigh

100 pounds, look no further

than a Paris beret. Choose

from a variety of options like

velvet, denim, or silk.

These hats have crept up in

the world of fashion over the

decades, giving you plenty of

ideas for modern takes on old

classics. Have fun choosing

the fitting beret for your look!

Conclusion

Accessorizing is a

unique and creative way to

showcase your personality through

fashion.

Express yourself with your accessories and

see what you come up with! Your style says

a lot about who you are as a person, so

you’ll want to take time to determine how to

convey the right message.

Most of all, make sure that you love how

you accessorize so that each outfit is

curated with as much self-love

in mind as possible.


Best Easter

Gift Ideas for

Someone Special

By Chioma Esuibom

Personalized

Wine Glass

Let’s be honest—it wouldn’t be a

holiday without a few generous

glasses of wine. That’s why this

great personalized wine glass is a

perfect Easter basket stuffer, or just

a plain old present. And make no

mistake about it: this will definitely

be emptied and refilled several

times over.

Just select the name, tail color,

as well as the font color, and then

input what name is supposed

to be included. In some ways,

having wine is getting closer to the

man himself, is it not? So indulge a

little! It certainly couldn’t hurt.

Whoever said Easter baskets

were just for kids? Whether

you grew up celebrating

the holiday with family or your

level of observance is buying

discounted candy first thing on

Monday morning, we’re pro-giving

Easter gifts to our fellow adults.

Sure, it’s not on par with the level

of hype around winter holiday or

birthday gift giving, but the spring

celebration is reason enough.

Besides, you don’t want to go to

the garden party or Easter brunch

empty-handed!

Remember the giddy feeling of

peeking behind furniture on the

hunt for a cellophane-wrapped

basket of goodies?

Everyone deserves a bit of that

nostalgic joy these days. Cue the

visions of bunny rabbits dancing

in your head. Of course, I’m

talking about gifting more than a

package of yellow bunny Peeps

(even though those are the best

Easter candy, TBH).

From spring-inspired decor like

wreaths to an intricate teapot for

your friend’s next dinner party to

elevated takes on familiar candies

for the aunt with a sweet tooth,

these are the 30 best Easter gift

ideas for adults that your loved

ones will appreciate for seasons to

come.

You can decide if the present is

served a la carte or as part of

a carefully-curated or themed

basket—that’s part of the fun.

6


Happy Easter Candle

Easter is often a good indicator of the season you’re in. And

that’s what makes this happy Easter candle such a great gift—

with scents reminiscent of summer and spring, you can’t go

wrong getting this gift for someone. Plus, who doesn’t like using

candles?

With a variety of sizes and lid colors available, just select

between a wide array of scents. Handcrafted out of soy, each

candle comes already packaged in a box that’s ready to be

gifted. Which makes your job all the easier!

Seed Kit

If you’re shopping for someone who has a green thumb, this

seed kit is one of the best gifts to get them this Easter season.

And, let’s be honest, there’s something humbling about

gardening that’s similar to witnessing a resurrection: both are

out of your control.

Simply select the egg and ribbon color combination, and then

input what personalizations you’d like included. With seeds

included in a paper egg, as well as soil and a pot, this is the

kind of Easter egg every gardener would love to crack open!

Inspirational

Keychain

Easter Wine Labels

Some of the best ways to turn what would otherwise

be a child-centric day into one adults can enjoy,

these Easter wine labels are sure to be a hit! And don’t

worry—it’s literally the blood of the man of the hour. So

that should make it permissible, right?

Quick and easy, simply buy, download and print off

the label, and then attach them to your favorite bottle

of wine. This is one of the rare gifts that everyone

can enjoy, although wine gifts are always a good

idea. And it’s particularly great as a last-minute gift to

demonstrate how much you love your “peeps.”

In some ways, Easter is a testament to

faith. And everything it symbolizes is

encapsulated in this inspirational

keychain. Which easily makes it one

of the best, affordable Amazon

Easter gifts for adults you’re likely

to find!

Elegant and encouraging,

this is the kind of gift people

sometimes need just to get a

second wind and persevere.

Besides, who couldn’t use a

little bit of that every now and

again? With “Let your faith be taller

than your fears” and a giraffe engraved, it’s perfect!


LIFESTYLE

5

Garden Outdoor

Looks Ideas to

Adopt for Garden

Month (April)

By Chioma Esuibom

Gardens mean something

different to everyone,

because no outdoor space is

the same.

For some it’s a sanctuary to spend

long balmy summer days relaxing,

while others prefer pottering,

planting and pruning at all times.

Whichever appeals to you it’s the

same principle – our gardens are

a space for fun, relaxation and

enjoyment. Our vision for gardens

of 2022 is all about getting the most

from our outdoor spaces.

So without further ado, here we

reveal the latest garden trends to

inspire our outdoor spaces…

Wild gardens

‘I’d say that the trend for this year is the

immersive, natural, wildlife garden and,

to be honest, this thrills me to the core!”

says designer, broadcaster and author

Ann-Marie Powell MSGD. She says her

studio is receiving lots more enquiries

from clients wanting natural, loose

gardens.

‘People want gardens that look like they

are ‘of nature’ rather than the more

obviously designed spaces.’

Anne-Marie predicts that ’naturescaping’

and ‘curated wildling’ will be

the buzz words of 2022.

This theory is echoed by Ana Sanchez-

Martin MSGD of The Garden Company

who says, ‘I am hoping that more and

more people will be jumping on the

‘Rewilding wagon’! One of the positive

effects of the pandemic is that people

now understand the therapeutic

effects of gardening. They want to

create a sense of sanctuary in their

garden, to be surrounded by plants

and to be enveloped by nature and

to increase biodiversity.’

8


LIFESTYLE

Grow your

own

This remains at the forefront of

the modern garden. Veganism is

one of the fastest growing lifestyle

movements with the number of Brits

choosing a plant-based diet rising

by more than 360 percent over

the past decade. Coupled with

rising food prices, shortages and a

growing appreciation of organic

produce, it’s no surprise the grow

your own movement will continue to

surge in 2022.

Dobbies’ resident garden expert

Marcus Eyles puts the growing

trend down to, ‘more and more

of us looking to include additional

vegetables in our diet and the

number of people on exclusively

plant-based diets increasing.’

Mantra for reuse,

recycle and repurpose

‘Recycling and up-cycling is

a trend that is set to continue

into 2022. Sustainability,

whilst not new, is increasingly

important not only to us, but to

our clients too,’ say Ann-Marie

Powell who is escalating the use

of repurposed materials by crushing

them, for paths, terraces or driveways.

Ann-marie is also championing more

sustainable garden ideas path in hard

landscaping by using less cement in the

garden, and selecting materials that have

the lowest carbon footprint.

A fast growing garden trend right now is

anything sustainable – including upcycling

ideas. I love upcycling existing elements

within a garden rather than adding to landfill,

says Ana Sanchez-Martin.


LIFESTYLE

Using the garden

as the fifth room

Blurring the lines between outside and in is still

a huge growing trend, as homeowners look to

expend living spaces. Whether that’s creating a

kitchen garden, a wellness space or acting as an

extension to a playroom – we’re looking to extend

our lives to our outdoor spaces.

Gardens are fast becoming a space where we

are spending more and more of our time with

family and friends. Often more than not it needs

to flex to meet several purposes – an oasis for

quiet contemplation, a play area for children and

an entertaining space for social get togethers.

Low maintenance

tapestry lawns

Even the grass is getting a new look

for the new season. The latest trend for

lawns sees the grass becoming more

low maintenance – no doubt in a bid

to encourage gardeners to stick with

real grass rather than be lured to the

appeal of no-mow artificial.

‘I would love to design and plant

a ‘tapestry lawn’, as an alternative

to the normal grass lawn’ says Ana

Sanchez-Martin, who explains that they

are created using a combination of

many different mowing-tolerant plant

species. ‘Like meadow lawns, they

are low in maintenance and of higher

ornamental and environmental value.’

10


20

FASHION

Ankara Style

Inspirations to Adopt

this Easter Season

By Sasha Bokamoso

Ankara is a new fashion

trend that originally

came from the streets

of Lagos. After many years

as a traditional African

fashion style, Ankara has now

become a worldwide trend

being seen on catwalks

throughout the world.

As countless celebrities

have been spotted wearing

gorgeous Ankara designs

more and more people have

adopted this new style as

their own.

Now, you can see Ankara

everywhere on the streets

and in the fashion boutiques,

as these bold fabric designs

have become increasingly

more popular.

Here we have our top 10

editor’s picks of latest

Ankara styles just for you

– to adopt this Easter

season. Worry no more

as we got you covered –

check them out!


FASHION

12


FASHION


March:

The Month

of Slaps

By Ameena Daayo

What a month! Who

would have thought

that March 2022

would go down

in history as one of the most

‘media-frenzy’ months since

the announcement of Covid

regulations?

The internet has made the

world a global village, so it takes

only seconds for content to go

viral and reach the extremes of

the world.

In what social media users

across the globe have termed

‘inaugural slap’ – a hashtag that

trended for many weeks across

all social media platforms, March

17, 2022, is one day that will be

remembered for a very long time

to come.

If this was an execution of a

movie script, then it would well

have won an Oscar because it

was performed to perfection.

There was light, camera, and

action. The actors knew their

roles, and the execution was

perfect.

The stage was none other

than the inauguration ceremony

of Professor Charles Chukwuma

Soludo as executive Governor

of Anambra state. After the

governor had taken his oaths and

proceeded to sign the official

documents, there was a break of

decorum that would trend across

social media for weeks.

There were different versions

to the story, especially on the

part of who slapped who, and

what truly transpired between

the pair. But what could be more

accurate than the account of

the person who has involved

herself?

The widow of the late

Chukwuemeka Odumegwu

Ojukwu, Bianca, narrated

what transpired between the

outgoing first lady of Anambra

state, Ebelechukwu Obiano and

herself.

She claimed that the

outgoing first lady had

insulted her for attending the

inauguration ceremony, and

she reacted with a slap. Within

seconds, video of the slap and

memes of the incident has

filled the internet, getting

millions of views and

shares.

Interestingly, one

opinion that seemed

to gain public

agreement was how

the event showed

the ‘low mentality’

14


Will Smith & Chris Rock

of Nigerian public figures. Many

observers claimed that such

a scene would not happen

abroad.

Fast forward to March 27,

2022. What many had thought

would not happen, finally

happened – in grand style!

During the live television

broadcast of the 94th Academy

Awards, actor Will Smith walked

on stage and slapped comedian

Chris Rock across the face

as he was about to present

the Academy Award for Best

Documentary Feature.

Will Smith was a reaction to

a joke which Chris Rock shared

about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith,

about her shaved head.

Pinkett Smith had begun

shaving her head in 2021 after

she was diagnosed with alopecia

areata.

The incident shocked the

live audience and television

viewers across the globe, with

many wondering whether it was

scripted. From the day of that

incident to date, updates on the

matter continue to trend daily.

The moment shocked

audience members — both at

home and in attendance at Los

Angeles’s Dolby Theatre — and

went on to dominate online

discourse after the ceremony’s

end. Reactions were split among

those supporting Smith’s extreme

defense of his wife (to varying

extents), those condemning

his behavior, and the rest not

knowing how to respond to it at

all.

While we all agree that there

is no room for violence in our

world today, we know that these

incidents will remain among us

for many generations to come.

You know what they say, the

internet never forgets – right?

For many, the month of March

2022 will go down in history as

the month of slaps.

Bianca Ojukwu & Ebele Obiano


FEATURE

Skin Hair

Trend:

A Fashion Statement

or Revolution?

By Sasha Bokamoso

A

lady’s hair is her crown

– her pride, so we were

told. But these days,

ladies – especially

African ladies are changing the

narrative to say that ‘a lady’s

head is more important than her

hair’!

Some thirty years ago, the

idea of a lady brandishing a

skin-cut or bald look will attract a

lot of criticism and comments.

In fact, in the African tradition,

cutting a lady’s hair is the height

of punishment and humiliation

that can be melted on a

woman.

Interestingly, the case is

totally different today, and more

women are embracing the bald

look. More women are shaving

their hair daily, and it is not a

sign of punishment or health

concerns.

But what really is behind this

trend? Is it a fashion statement or

a statement or revolution?

For fashion, it is a yes! The

skin-cut trend is a fun hairstyle

that works for almost anyone.

You can make it look serious

and professional or fun and

approachable with minimal

effort.

If the only thing that is holding

you back from trying this hairstyle

is the fear of not looking feminine

16


FEATURE

enough, do not worry.

Daring women have proven time and time

again that women with short hair can look just as

feminine as their long-haired sisters with the right

makeup and styling.

Both in Africa and outside the continent, there

are many female celebrities who rock the bald (or

low-cut) look. In truth, the look has become one of

the greatest fashion trends within the last decade,

and it doesn’t look like it is going to die down any

time soon.

Famous celebrities such as Angélique Kidjo,

Onyeka Onwenu, Nandi Madida, Cynthia Erivo,

Lashana Lynch, Danai Gurira, Viola Davis, Lupita

Nyong’o, and many more rock bald or very low

cuts.

On the other hand, the skin looks further show

how confident women have become and their

determination to fight the stereotypes and status

quo.

So, is the skin cut some sort of statement of

revolution? The answer is yes! A revolution against

the stereotypes that many women across the

globe have been subjected to for many years –

and are still suffering to date.

You will recall that in December 2012, a group

of female activists made a bold statement that

drew the attention of their leaders and shocked

the world. More than a dozen women gathered

near Tahrir Square one afternoon and cut off their

hair in protest against the new constitution.

So, if your question is whether the skin cut

for women is simply a fashion statement or a

statement of confidence and revolution? The

answer is ‘YES, IT IS BOTH!’ But, come to think of it,

isn’t that wonderful?


FEATURE

Thirteen Ways of

Looking at a Bald

Woman

- Why do bald women make us

uncomfortable?

18


FEATURE

Let’s unpack the cultural

baggage — the misogynoir,

the anxious masculinity, the

Fear of the Weird— behind

Chris Rock’s joke and Will Smith’s

slap (with a little help from Isaac

Hayes, Pat Evans — the badass

with the bullwhip on those Ohio

Players covers — and the warrior

women from Black Panther).

If Will Smith bitch-slapping

Chris Rock at the Oscars taught

us anything, it’s that defending

“your” woman’s “honor” went out of

fashion around the time Rhett Butler

got dentures. Also, pathological

masculinity is in need of a shorter,

stouter choke chain.

The proximate cause of

the smack heard ‘round the

world was smack-talking: Rock’s

unfunny wisecrack about Jada

Pinkett Smith’s alopecia areatainduced

baldness. Even so, the

homophobic subtext of the bitch

slap reminds us that this was as

much about male fragility as it

was some Medieval Times idea of

gallantry.

Race is the supermassive

black hole of American discourse;

its moral gravity and historical

enormity warp the fabric of any

attempt to understand what

America means. Because it’s the

taproot of a million little inequities

in American life and, obviously, of

monstrous historical evils, we tend

(with apologies to Joan Didion) to

look for the sermon on race in one

Black man slapping another to

defend his wife’s “honor.”

But, as always, there are other

stories to tell ourselves. The story I

told myself, trying to make sense

of the grotesque spectacle I’d

just witnessed, was a story about

hysterical masculinity — the Fear

of the Inner Queer (which is really

a virulent misogyny, a fear of the

feminine within) that defends to

the death what it ain’t (anybody’s

punk) but has no clue what it is.

Manhood, American style, is an Iron

Man exoskeleton with nobody in it.

Its heavy metal hardshell conceals

a terrible lack, the awful emptiness

of a thing that knows only what it’s

not: “no homo.”

You don’t have to be Jacques


FEATURE

Derrida to know that the binary

oppositions that structure the way

we see the world — hierarchical

dualisms like white/Black, masculine/

feminine, straight/gay, butch/punk

— are philosophical machines for

reproducing ideology, justifying

inequality, perpetuating oppression.

Anyone or anything that unsettles

their hardline either/or distinctions

by straddling them, as biracial,

bisexual, and intersex individuals do,

or refusing to remain in the category

society assigned them to, as

transgender and gender nonbinary

people do, is a threat to the social

order.

As it happens, one such threat

was in the room that night:

Pinkett Smith, the object of

Rock’s lame one-liner.

”

it “symbolizes hundreds of years of ‘hair politics,’ from the

forcible shaving of [African] women’s hair in early European

slavery as a form of identity erasure to modern-day beauty

norms whereby Black women feel they must [straighten] or

bleach their hair to achieve a more European, often known

as ‘work-ready’ or ‘professional,’ look.” For that reason,

“many Black women,” not just those who’ve lost their hair,

“cover their natural hair with wigs,”

Why, exactly, do

bald women make us so

uncomfortable? Is it because we

associate the chrome dome with

virility? Yul Brynner, Telly Savalas, and

Isaac Hayes are synonymous with

sex-panther manliness. Is the shorn

pate Freudian shorthand for every

man’s insatiable, upthrusting little

friend? If so, does the masculine

femininity of bald women usurp

male sexual power, turning them

into that Medusan terror, the phallic

woman? (The patriarchy likes naked

ladies, just not naked up there.)

Or is a bald woman, by baring

skin seldom seen, hyperfeminized? Is

her shocking baldness nudity’s final

frontier, a terra erotica of fetishistic

possibilities hitherto unknown? Isn’t

that what accounts for the erotic

frisson of bald women like Pat Evans,

the bullwhip-wielding dominatrix on

the Ohio Players’ BDSM-lite record

covers? (Fascinatingly, Evans shaved

her head as a one-woman protest

against the white-dominated

fashion industry’s hostility to

Blackness, specifically Black hair).

Open to disparate readings,

complementary and contradictory,

the image of a bald woman

is irreducible to a single, fixed

meaning. That’s what makes it so

radically disruptive to cornerstone

binaries like male/female,

masculine/feminine, sexual/sexless.

In his 1996 book A Year With

Swollen Appendices, Brian Eno

muses on what he calls “axis thinking,”

which considers cultural phenomena

as points on “a continuum of

possibilities between two extreme

positions: so, the axis between black

and white is a scale of greys.”

The example he chooses,

interestingly, is the haircut, maybe

because Eno is bald, which gives

him a usefully alienated perspective

on the subject. Haircuts are virtually

never unequivocally masculine or

feminine, he points out; more often

than not, they fall “somewhere on the

wide range of hybrids” between the two

sides of the binary. “In fact,” he argues,

“we would feel constrained if we couldn’t

make descriptions in these fuzzy, hybrid,

terms.”

Axis thinking is a monkeywrench in

the machinery of hierarchical dualisms.

It reminds us that neither end of the

continuum is a fixed point; whatever the

axis, definitions of both poles change

over time and across cultures, local

contexts, racial and ethnic groups, and

so forth. Thinking in “a scale of greys”

rather than black-or-white absolutes “is a

transition from polar thinking … to axial

thinking,” says Eno.

I am interested in these transitions —

these moments when a stable duality

dissolves into a proliferating and unstable

sea of hybrids. … The period of transition is

marked by excitement, experimentation

— and resistance. Whenever a duality

starts to dissolve, those who felt trapped

at one end of it suddenly feel enormous

freedom — they can now redescribe

themselves. But, by the same token,

those who defined their identity by their

allegiance to one pole of the duality (and

rejection of the other) feel exposed. …

This can create wide-scale social panic:

vigorous affirmations of the essential

20


FEATURE

rightness of the “old ways,” moral

condemnation of the experimentalists,

“back to basics” campaigns, all the

familiar signs of fundamentalism.

He’s writing in 1996, but he might as

well have tweeted this from an Oscars

after-party. Stable dualities dissolving?

“A proliferating and unstable sea of

hybrids”? That’s where we live.

By choosing to respond with violence

— the first refuge of the witless — Smith

missed a rare opportunity. The Academy

Awards isn’t Plato’s symposium, but

Rock’s winceworthy groaner could’ve

inspired a truly edgy exchange, not

on par with the Socratic dialogues,

probably, but one almost certain to

make the assembled celebs and the

rest of us out in TV Land reconsider,

between fistfuls of Jiffy Pop, our

definitions of femininity and masculinity.

In my dreams, it’s Pinkett Smith,

not her husband, who rises to the

challenge. Leaping onstage and seizing

the mic, she uses Rock’s mockery of

her condition to make us confront the

question of why, exactly, bald women

are such a menace to society. She calls

out a repressive femininity long past its

sell-by date, flags the obsolescence of

“ain’t no punk” masculinity and Monty

Pythonian notions of chivalry that

compel a man to make a pluperfect

ass of himself defending “his” woman’s

“honor.”

She reflects on the role anxious

white masculinity played in electing

Trump and in populating the ranks of

the tiki-torch Nazis at Charlottesville,

the Proud Boys, and other aspiring

Alpha bro’s well-represented at the

insurrection. She offers a masterclass

in the art of the dunk, riffing on

Trump’s comb-over as a cockscomb

with erectile dysfunction, the hood

ornament of a white-supremacist

patriarchy running on the fumes of

malignant narcissism and boundless

self-delusion. She compares

and contrasts it with the radical

exuberance of African-American

hairstyles, especially Black women’s

embrace of the African tradition of

coiffure as sculpture, which they’ve

taken to dizzy heights of tonsorial

virtuosity.

Referencing Eno’s mention of the

ancient-to-futuristic axis as one of

many ways to think about haircuts,

she spins an oppositional myth that

jettisons the reactionary trope of bald

women as epicene, droidlike drones

(as in George Lucas’s THX 1138),

invoking the fierce, regal Dora Milaje,

Black Panther’s warrior women, as

Afrofuturist heralds of things to come.

She cites the moment in the movie

when General Okoye (Danai Gurira),

head of the Dora Milaje, yanks off her

wig (“this ridiculous thing”) and flings it

to the ground, an act of “resistance”

born of the “enormous freedom” to

“redescribe” herself that liberated

bald Black women all over America

to toss their wigs in the dustbin of

history.

Okoye’s act is powerfully

liberatory, writes Zara van Twest in

“‘Screw this’: Hair Politics and Female

Empowerment in Black Panther,”

because it “symbolizes hundreds

of years of ‘hair politics,’ from the

forcible shaving of [African] women’s

hair in early European slavery as a

form of identity erasure to modernday

beauty norms whereby Black

women feel they must [straighten] or

bleach their hair to achieve a more

European, often known as ‘workready’

or ‘professional,’ look.” For that

reason, “many Black women,” not

just those who’ve lost their hair, “cover

their natural hair with wigs,” notes

van Twest. (Irony of ironies, Chris Rock

knows this better than most: his 2009

documentary Good Hair teases out

the painful truths of African-American

women’s obsession with perfect —

read: white — hair.)

Van Twest includes a photo

posted by Black Panther co-star

Lupita Nyong’o (who played a Dora

Milaje named Nakia) with Gurira,

captioned, “Danai is my comrade,

my co-star, my collaborator, my dear

friend, my soul sister and patriarch

resistor. Let us throw off our proverbial

wigs and bask in her glow!”

Defying chronology, Pinkett Smith

doesn’t miss the chance to preemptively

drag the odious anti-woke

troll Bill Maher for admonishing her,

in a Real Time monologue, to “just

put on a fucking wig like everybody

else at the Oscars if it bothers you so

much.”

Spoken without hesitation,

equivocation, or apology, Pinkett

Smith’s guerrilla monologue would

be a slap in the face of a dying

fundamentalism. But it wouldn’t be

any more than bald truth.

Credit: Mark Dery, via GEN


FEATURE

As the ‘Skin’

Hair Trend

Hits Home,

British-African

Singer, Skin

Takes Center

Stage

By Chioma Esui

When you hear the

word ‘skin,’ what

comes to mind?

The largest organ

in the human body, right? Well,

yes, you are right!

Over time, the term skin has

also been used to refer to a

bald haircut. Even the English

dictionary now acknowledges

it. Skin cut, as it is popularly

referred to, has become a big

fashion statement, and gone

are the days when it was a

man’s thing to go bald.

Today, women are now

stepping up to be counted

and brandishing skin cuts.

One woman who has been a

leading pioneer of the look is

Deborah Anne Dyer, who even

goes by the stage name ‘Skin.’

22


FEATURE

Deborah Anne Dyer OBE,

known by the stage name Skin,

is a British singer, songwriter, and

electronic music DJ.

She was born on August 3,

1967, in Brixton, London, United

Kingdom. The 54 years old, who

has signed under big music

labels such as One Little Indian;

Virgin; EMI, and V2, is known for

hit songs such as Stoosh (1996),

Post Orgasmic Chill (1999), and

Paranoid & Sunburnt (1995).

Her music genres have

been classified as Indie Rock,

Alternative Rock, and Alternative

Metal.

She was the lead vocalist of

British rock band Skunk Anansie,

a band often grouped as part

of the Britrock movement in the

UK, and gained attention for her

powerful, wide-ranging soprano

voice and trademark bald look.

In 2015, she joined the judging

panel of the Italian version of the

talent show The X Factor for one

season, and in 2016 was on the

cover of the UK lesbian magazine

Diva.

After releasing new music

and touring with Skunk Anansie in

2018, Skin was featured as one

of the cover stars of Classic Rock

magazine’s special “She Rocks”

issue and was honoured with

the Inspirational Artist Award at

the Music Week Awards ahead

of celebrating 25 years of Skunk

Anansie.

She also appeared on the

cover of Kerrang! Magazine in

November 2018.

Mavis Bayton, the author of

Frock Rock, stated that “women

like Skin, Natacha Atlas, Yolanda

Charles, Mary Genis, and Debbie

Smith are now acting as crucial

role models for future generations

of black women.”

Skin graduated with a

BA (Hons) degree in Interior

Architecture & Design

from Teesside

Polytechnic in

1989 and

received

an

honorary

Master

of Arts

degree

from

Teesside

University in

2000.

In January

2021, Skin assumed

the role of Chancellor at Leeds

Arts University in Leeds, England.

Since the United Kingdom

European Union membership

referendum in 2016, Skin has

talked against Brexit and its

effect in terms of the rise in

racism, labour shortage, and

impoverishment of British culture

in numerous interviews.

She was appointed Officer

of the Order of the British Empire

(OBE) in the 2021 Birthday

Honours for services to music.

Skin deserves a seat in the

front row of the Hall of Fame in

music, activism, and bald look

fashion.


BEAUTY

10

Make-Up Tips

for the Perfect

DIY Easter

Make-Over

By Sasha Bokamoso

DIY

Gel

Eyeliner

If you’re

ever in

desperate

need of

some gel

eyeliner

and don’t

have time to

run to the shops, you can

create your own. All you need

is a regular kohl eye pencil and

a lighter or match. Then, hold

the pencil under the flame for

one second before allowing it

to cool for 15.

The consistency of the

pencil will change before your

eyes as it becomes softer

and easier to apply. Your new

smudgier, gel eyeliner should

now simply and smoothly glide

onto your eyes.

Match

Lip

Colour with

Cheeks

Matching your

lip color with

your cheeks

creates

a lovely,

coordinated,

and natural

appearance. To

achieve the look without a dualpurpose

product, you can easily

turn your favorite lip crayon into

a cream blush. Just apply some

to the back of your hand before

using your finger to blend it across

your cheeks.

With Easter Sunday

coming up, do

you already

have your goto

Easter makeup? We

want you to look elegantly

beautiful on this special day

so we’ve rounded up 5 looks

you can try!

We are sure you are more

than aware of the fact that

Easter isn’t the best time to

do something way out of

the ordinary, because you

are going to be around

people who are in their

everyday outfits. Instead of

taking the risk, play it safe

with some looks that range

from neutral to pink to

pastel.

Below, we have highlighted

a few DIY tips that you can

consider this Easter, to give

yourself that edge above

everyone present - we are

sure that is what you really

want, isn’t it?

24


BEAUTY

Using

Tape or

Spoon for

Cat Eye

Look

Creating the

perfect cat-eye

look with eyeliner

can be tricky. Not

only is it hard to

get the ideal flick

and shape, but you

also need each side to

match. For an easy way to nail

the perfect feline flick, try using

a spoon or some tape.

Start by creating a straight

line from the outer corner of

your eye following the edge of

the spoon. Then, trace around

the curved edge from the end

of your flick back down to your

lashes and fill in the wing.

Quick

Smokey

Eye

While a lot

of smokey

eye looks

require several

different shades

of eyeshadow

and a whole lot of

blending, there is a fast

and easy alternative.

Simply use an eye pencil

to draw a slanted hashtag

above the outer corners

of your eyes and blend

with a smudger. Doing so

will instantly create a killer

smokey eye that’s dark

and light in all the right

places.

Using

a Spoon

to Easily

Apply

Mascara

Every lady has

been through

the pain of

finishing her

eye makeup

only to realize

she’s somehow ended up with

mascara on her lids. Well, thanks

to this hack, you can banish that

pesky problem for good.

All you need is a spoon from

your kitchen, and you’ll soon

have perfect mascara every

time. Just place the end of the

spoon underneath your lashes

before applying your mascara

as normal. Now, any residue or

excess product will end up on

the back of the spoon instead of

on your face.


LIFESTYLE

Although you

may be

temwpted

to apply

concealer or

foundation to

your eyelids as a

base, you should

always refrain. While

Never

Put

Concealer

on Your

Eyelids

using concealer under your eyes

is a great way to mask dark circles

and under-eye bags, applying it

to your eyelids can ruin your eye

makeup by causing it to become

creased.

Heating

Up Eyelash

Curler

If you find that

curling your lashes

the regular way only

keeps them lifted

for a short amount

of time, try heating

up your curler before using it. Just as

your curling wand helps your hair hold

its shape with heat, so too can your

eyelash curler.

Just use your blow-dryer to hit your

eyelash curler with a blast of hot air.

Once heated, allow it to cool slightly,

so you don’t burn your eyelids. Then,

clamp your lashes as per usual.

Shape

Your

Eyebrows

Shaping your brows needn’t be difficult, just follow

these steps. Start by brushing your eyebrows with a

spoolie, so the hairs sit naturally. Then, use a soft, waxy

brow pencil to shape the outside of your brow with the

thinner side of the tip.

Using the flatter angle of the pencil, fill in your brows using short, hair-like

strokes. Finally, blend some highlighter just below your brow bone for lift.

26


LIFESTYLE

Make

Your

Lipstick Last

Longer

Whether it’s a wineglass or your

husband’s cheek, lipstick

has a knack for ending up

everywhere but on your lips.

If you find that yours keeps

disappearing before the end

of the day, try employing this

handy trick to give it a longer life.

After swiping on your lippy, place a

tissue over your lips and dust on some

translucent powder. Doing so will help set

your color and make it instantly longerlasting.

Fake

the

Cheekbones

Although not everyone is born

with killer cheekbones, we can all

fake it. All it takes is some simple

sculpting. Start by puckering to find

the hollows of your cheeks and apply

deep nude blush or contour powder

a

in the sunken area under your cheekbones.

Next, apply a peachy blush starting from the apples of

your cheeks and moving outwards while lightly blending

with the nude blush beneath. Finish with a sweep of

shimmer along the top of your cheekbones and under

your temples.


– All You Missed

Certified sold out. Not

surprising though.

No doubt his March

5, 2022 concert at

the 02 Arena was

definitely going to be, going by

his largely acclaimed status and

his large fan base.

This was a second-time

achievement for the singer

Davido, who also sold out the O2

Arena during his January 2019

concert. The show saw the likes

of Nigerian celebrities and fans

travelling all the way to London.

Hours before the show, the

official Twitter page of the O2 Arena

confirmed that the venue was sold

out.

They said, “@davido has

officially sold out at #TheO2

#DavidoatTheO2”. Davido

performed most of his hit songs

with fellow African artistes like

Patoranking, Popcaan, Skiibii, Ckay,

Adekunle Gold, Reekado Banks,

Teni, Pheelz, DJ Ecool, Victony,

Stonebwoy, Focalistic, Mayorkun,

and a couple of artistes from

around the world. The O2 Arena, an

indoor venue in Southeast London

has long been yoked with the

destiny of Nigerian pop music.

The O2, since opening in

2007, has provided the stage for

Nigeria talent. D’Banj, 2face, Tiwa

Savage, and Wizkid, are some of

the nation’s loftiest names to have

performed at the venue, the latter

28


of which became the first Nigerian

to enjoy a sell-out at The O2 in

2018, for his Afrorepublik concert.

In like fashion, Wizkid’s

achievement was replicated

by Davido the following year, in

January 2019, when he too had

The O2 Arena filled to the brim.

Though his just concluded ‘We

Rise By Lifting Others’ concert is

Davido’s third run at the venue

and he has since grown used to

performing there for the singer and

his large fan base.

In continuation of his decadeold

music career, which kick started

with Dami Duro in October 2011,

the afro-pop giant had boasted

before mounting the stage to thrill

the large audience that turned up

for his much anticipated show that

he was going to shutdown London,

but also, he would make “history

tonight”.

And true to his claims, he

made history at the popular O2

Arena in London, was renamed

after the Nigerian pop singer for

that spectacular one night. “To

celebrate the return of Davido

back in London with his Champion

Sound for one night only.

The O2 will become The Davido

2,” the Arena notice read on all the

board. Prior to his sold-out show,

the singer procured the services

of legendary American actor and

narrator, Morgan Freeman.

Freeman noted for his

distinctive deep voice, gave the

DMW boss’ O2 Arena promotional

video a great boost.

The popular iconic American

media personality with his voiceover

drove home the singer’s “We

rise by lifting others” mantra.

The 29-year-old singer had

also made plans for fans who

could not attend by partnering

with uduX, a digital streaming

platform for the global Live stream

of the concert. According to the

‘Champion Sound’s singer, “I want

my fans worldwide to be a part of

this moment as we take Africa to

the world.”

Credit: Ferdinand Ekechukwu


SPAIN:

In Verges, Spain, the Easter

celebration begins on Thursday

when a ‘death dance’ to reenact

the passion of Christ is carried

out. The people dress in skeleton

costumes and parade through

the streets. The dance starts before

midnight and ends about three

hours into the morning.

Easter

Celebration

Traditions You

Never Knew

Existed

By Glory Uyi

FINLAND:

To celebrate Easter in Finland, Children are dressed

up as witches and go from door to door for

chocolate eggs.

During this period, the people make great bonfire

because they believe flames scare witches and

prevent them from flying on their brooms between

the special periods of Good Friday to Easter Sunday -

can you beat that?

It is hard to believe Easter is here again – but it is!

Didn’t we just say ‘Happy New Year?’ Well, this special

season is here and who would complain?

Apart from being one of the most significant events

on the Christian calendar, Easter is always fun! With

loads of special traditions and significance, this is

undoubtedly one of the best celebrations every year.

Do you know there are some age long Easter

traditions practiced in different parts of the world?

Here is our Top 5 and we am sure there are some

you never knew existed; enjoy!

30


GREECE

How about throwing out

your pots and pans? On the

morning of Holy Saturday,

the traditional “pot throwing”

takes place on the Greek

island of Corfu.

People throw pots, pans,

and other earthenware out

of their windows, smashing

them on the street. Some

say the custom derives from

the Venetians, who on New

Year’s Day used to throw out

all of their old items.

CZECH REPUBLIC

& SLOVAKIA

Have you ever had your butt

spanked by a stranger before?

Well, there is a chance of that

happening if you are traveling to

these Eastern European countries

over Easter.

There’s an Easter Monday tradition

in which men playfully spank

women with handmade whips

made of willow and decorated

with ribbons.

According to legend, the willow

is the first tree to bloom in the

spring, so the branches are

supposed to transfer the tree’s

vitality and fertility to the women.

POLAND:

In Poland, there is an

Easter tradition called

‘Smigus-dyngus’ which

involve boys drenching

themselves in water. They

go about pouring buckets

of water on people –

especially girls (yeah, you

guessed right).

However, Legends have

it that matured girls

who are unknowingly

drenched by water during

this celebration will find

husbands in the coming

year.


ESCAPE

All You Need

to Know About

Dubai Expo

2020

By

Sebastiane Ebatamehi

Expo 2020 was a World

Expo hosted by Dubai,

in the United Arab

Emirates, from 1 October

2021 to 31 March 2022.

Originally scheduled for 20

October 2020 to 10 April

2021, it was postponed due

to the COVID-19 pandemic.

It’s 2013 and just when

you think that Dubai is all

out of tricks, our favorite city

wins the honors of hosting

World Expo 2020 (World

Exhibition 2020 Dubai). This

is no small achievement;

the wheels were in motion

to prepare for what is set to

be the biggest event any of

us has ever seen.

So what will happen in

Expo 2020 exactly? Now

that 2020 is here, we

thought we’d help you put

things into perspective.

Here’s a breakdown of all

the information about Expo

2020 you need to know.

32


ESCAPE

What Is a World Expo?

A World Expo or World Exposition is a global exhibition that

takes place in different countries around the world with the

purpose of showcasing the latest breakthroughs in various

fields.

What Is the History of Expo Events?

The very first Expo event took place in 1851 and was called

“The Great Exhibition.”

What Is Expo 2020?

Expo 2020 is the next World Expo event which will be

hosted by Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

This marks the very first time the exhibition is taking place in

the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia region (MENASA).

When Will Expo 2020 Take Place?

Expo 2020 opening date: October 1, 2021.

This is the new starting date for Expo 2020 Dubai after

being delayed due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

When Will Expo 2020 End?

Expo 2020 end date: March 31, 2022. The duration of

Expo 2020 is 6 months.

What Are the Timings of Expo 2020?

• Weekdays: 10 am to 12 am.

• Weekends: 10 am to 2 am.

What Is the Total Area of the Expo 2020 Site?

The wonders of Expo 2020 are spread over a total area of

4.38 square kilometers (438 hectares).

How Many People Are Expected to Visit Expo 2020?

A whopping 25 million people will potentially attend Expo

2020, with just 30% from the UAE itself. This number will be a


ESCAPE

record which has never happened

in any previous World Expo event.

How Many Countries Are

Participating in Expo 2020?

Another record for the UAE! Expo

2020 will see the participation of

192 countries. There will be more

than 200 participants from these

countries.

What Is the Theme of Expo

2020?

Expo 2020 has quite a fitting

theme that represents what Dubai

is and always will be: “Connecting

Minds, Creating the Future.”

There are 3 sub-themes to Expo

2020: Opportunity, Mobility, and

Sustainability.

The countries participating in the

event are divided over the main

sub-themes, showcasing their very

best innovations to impress the

world.

What Is the Purpose of Expo

2020?

Expo 2020 aims at celebrating

culture, collaboration, and

innovation in the heart of the UAE.

Dubai hopes to leave an everlasting

legacy through the Expo.

Expo 2020 will take visitors on a

unique journey to catch a glimpse

of what the future holds.

What Is the Benefit of Expo 2020

to Dubai?

If you’re wondering what all the

fuss is all about or why Expo 2020 is

important, here’s why:

1. Jobs

In preparation for the most

highly-anticipated event of the

decade, Expo 2020 construction

projects have provided many jobs

in the market (905, 200 full-time

equivalent job-years between 2013

and 2031 as per World Exposition

2020 website).

There’s also a chance to be a

vital part of history by applying for

the various Expo 2020 Jobs in Dubai.

2. Economy

You might be wondering what

Expo 2020 will contribute to the

economy of the UAE. You’ll be glad

to know that the economy is thriving.

It is expected to continue to do

so during the event and beyond

(AED 122.6 billion economic boost

between 2013 and 2031 as per

Expo 2020 website).

There is a 1.5% Expo contribution

to UAE GDP for the entire World Expo

2020 dates (from October 2020 to

April 2021) as per the Expo 2020

website.

The Small and Medium Enterprise

(SME) sector has seen AED 4.7 billion

spending since November 2013 as

per the official Expo 2020 website.

3. Tourism

Dubai is already a magnet for

tourists, and the World Expo is a

major draw that will increase the

number tremendously.

There are many hotels opening

up in Dubai this year in honor of the

iconic event.

You can check the list of our

favorite hotels opening in Dubai for

Expo 2020 on propertyfinder.

4. Real Estate

Most importantly, the real estate

market is already in full force since

the event was announced in

preparation for both short-term and

long-term visitors.

34


ESCAPE

More affordable housing projects

are completed, with many more

planned, to welcome the expected

visitors for the event.

A study by Colliers International

showed that about 50% of Dubai’s

households have an income

between the range of AED 9,000

and AED 15,000. Affordable housing

projects continue to take that into

consideration.

Why Are Companies

Participating in Expo 2020?

An event as big as a World Expo

represents unlimited partnership

opportunities for businesses of every

field.

Investors and business leaders will

come from around the world looking

for the next big thing.

How Can You Become an Expo

2020 Volunteer?

Here’s your chance to give

something back to the UAE and

boast about it for your entire life. For

a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,

check out these 5 Easy Steps to

Become a Volunteer at Expo 2020.

What Are the Health Safety

Measures to Be Taken During Expo

2020?

At Expo 2020, your safety is a

number one priority so all the proper

preparations are made with the help

and cooperation of the Emirates

Health authorities to ensure your

safety.

Here’s everything you need

to know about what to expect

from Dubai After Expo 2020 on

propertyfinder. Will Expo 2020 be

successful?

It’s looking good! So, there you

have it! Now you’re the expert. Are

you as excited as we are?


FOOD

How to Make

Special Chinese

Fried Rice to

Thrill Your Family

This Easter

his Chinese-inspired fried rice recipe is my absolute fave. It’s

T

quick and easy to make, customizable with any of your favorite

mix-ins, and so irresistibly delicious.

There is no better time to try out this great recipe than Easter!

Growing up, our family had a tradition of eating fried rice every

Easter Sunday – how we loved it!

Give your family something to be extra thankful for this Easter season, with

this delicious delicacy.

Let’s make some homemade fried rice!

By Chef Obiefuna

Tips for Making the Best Chinese

Fried Rice

Okay, let’s get right to it. Here are

the important things I have learned

over the years about how to make

the best fried rice.

• Use Cold Rice: You’ve gotta

plan ahead and use thoroughlychilled

cooked rice. A fresh batch of

warm (or even lukewarm) rice will not

fry well when it hits the hot pan, and

will result in soggy and sticky clumps —

no good. So leftover refrigerated rice is

ideal!

• Use Butter: Yes, butter. I

have made many a batch of fried

rice using various oils, and I’m now

convinced there’s a reason why

Japanese steak houses use that big

slab of butter when they’re making

fried rice. It just tastes better, and also

makes everything brown up perfectly.

• Use Veggies: This is one of

my big pet peeves with lame takeout

fried rice — not enough veggies!

In addition to adding some nice

spots of color, veggies go a long way

in adding some flavor and freshness

to fried rice.

• Use High Heat: This will help

fry and brown the rice and veggies

well, and will also help prevent the

rice from steaming in the pan instead

of frying.

• Let the rice brown a bit on

the bottom: If you’re like me and

love your rice to be a bit crispy, let it

rest for a bit in between stirs so that

it can brown a bit on the bottom. It

also helps greatly to use a non-stick

36


FOOD

skillet so that the rice doesn’t stick to

the bottom of the pan.

• Don’t be afraid to add in

some extra soy sauce at the end:

I know that everyone has different

sensitivities to salt, and different brands

of soy sauce also contain pretty

dramatically different levels of sodium.

So I went a little light on soy sauce in

the recipe below.

Homemade Fried

Rice Ingredients:

Alright, so let’s talk ingredients. To

make this fried rice recipe, you will

need:

• Cooked, chilled rice

• Eggs

• Carrots

• Onions

• Green Onions

• Peas

• Garlic

• Soy Sauce

• Oyster Sauce

• Toasted Sesame Oil

• Butter

How to Make

Fried Rice:

To make this homemade fried rice

recipe, simply:

1) Scramble your eggs: Using a

small pat of butter, scramble some eggs

in a large sauté pan, breaking them into

small pieces as you go. Then transfer the

eggs to a separate plate, and set aside.

2) Sauté your veggies and garlic:

Return your sauté pan to the heat, and

sauté the onions, carrots, peas and

garlic until soft and cooked through.

3) Stir fry rice: Then turn the

burner to high heat. Scooch the

veggies over to one side of the pan,

melt the remaining butter in the other

half, and add the chilled rice, soy

sauce, and oyster sauce (if using).

Then stir to combine with the veggies

and continue sautéing the rice,

stirring every 15-20 seconds or so for

3 minutes, or until you notice the rice

and veggies starting to brown slightly.

4) Remove pan from heat. And

stir in your green onions, sesame oil,

and scrambled eggs.

5) Taste and season. Give the

rice a taste, and season with salt and

pepper, plus any extra soy sauce or

sesame oil if needed.

6) Serve! Then dish it up and

serve nice and warm!


HEALTH

5

Healthy

Ways to Lose

Stomach Fat

Naturally

By Dr. Nkechi

Water, water

all day!

Water is the elixir of life. It is a

very effective tool to get rid

of excess fat. Have at least

eight glasses of water a day

or follow the following formula

to calculate your ideal intake

as it can differ for people of

different weights.

So, to calculate, check your

weight in kilograms and

divide the number by 30.

Your answer will be your ideal

intake in litres. For example,

you weigh 60 kilos. Then your

ideal water intake is 60/30,

that is 2 litres.

We are leading a life that is full of junk food loaded with

unhealthy calories. Because we are always on the run,

being able to manage healthy eating is not possible

for most of us.

So, what is it that we end up doing? Eating packaged food

or junk that is conveniently available. As a result of this, we

earn excessive fat and uncounted calories which go unburnt!

Belly fat is not only an aesthetic issue; it is also about one’s

health. Fat, overweight and obesity are harmful in the long

run and depending on the criticality of the condition, it can

substantially increase one’s risk of various health ailments.

We take a look at how you can reduce fat in your belly

area by the help of Ayurveda. Here are 5 effective home

remedies that are very effective in reducing your bay window.

Chew raw

garlic

in the

morning

Take one or two

cloves, or more if you

can, in the morning.

Chew them raw. They

are pungent and you

may find it difficult

initially but with time,

you will develop a

habit.

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HEALTH

Warm water with lemon in

the morning

This is one of the best, simplest and very effective

remedies to get rid of belly fat. All you need is warm

water, a few drops of lemon and if you would like, a

dash of salt or a teaspoon of honey. It is very effective if

you have it empty stomach, first thing in the morning.

Say yes to raw foods

Load up on as many fruits and vegetables that you can

have in their raw form. Raw foods are rich in fiber and

antioxidants and hence, very effective in losing weight.

Go for whole grains

Whole grains mean better fiber, more nutrition and

more proteins and calcium. Taking more fiber is very

helpful in maintaining the health of your gut. Also, you

must replace refined flour with whole grains as it is

very unhealthy and can hamper your digestion.

Bonus Tip:

Sip Hot Organic Teas

This can include green tea, jasmine tea, cinnamon

tea or any tea that is flavoured with natural spices.

Sipping on hot organic teas is very helpful in losing

weight as they are rich in antioxidants and trace

amounts of many other vitamins and minerals.


FEATURE

- What You Need to Know

National Child Abuse Prevention

Month recognizes the importance

of families and communities

working together to strengthen

families to prevent child abuse and neglect.

Through this collaboration, prevention

services and supports help protect children

and produce thriving families.

April is National Child Abuse Prevention

Month (CAP Month), a national campaign

with a focus on local-level advocacy

through statewide initiatives.

What is Child Abuse Prevention Month?

Many innovative strategies are employed

to promote National Child Abuse Prevention

Month. Events and activities have included

everything from kid’s art contests to

coordinated visits to state legislators and days

of prayer.

Many of our PCA America state

chapters have created guides

with suggestions to help with social

media campaigns, creating

community programs, and much

more.

This year’s national campaign

theme is “Every day, we help

positive childhood experience take

root!” We encourage our chapters,

affiliates, and stakeholders to use a

garden metaphor to reinforce this

message. Here are some talking

points to use as examples:

• Children are locally grown.

We work together to cultivate

relationships, connections, and

environments that help every child

thrive.

• We harvest what we

sow. We plant seeds of support

for all children to yield healthier

adults with abundant futures.

• Work is rooted in

science. We know positive

childhood experiences in

nurturing environments provide

fertile ground for physical and

mental health, learning, and

social skills to flourish. We

unearth the possibilities.

• We focus on innovation

every day to give every child

what they need and to build

bountiful, safe communities.

• Planning and purpose

40


FEATURE

By Glory Uyi

What Are Some Effects of Child

Abuse and Neglect?

Child Abuse Prevention Month

was created because child abuse

and neglect was both widespread

and too often invisible.

“Our children are our future” may

be a cliche, but it’s still true that the

more adults can have a positive

impact on a child’s experiences,

the stronger society will be. A safe,

stable, and nurturing environment

can have a proven positive effect

on brain development.

Research shows that children who

suffer from the prolonged stress of

abuse and neglect tend to struggle

in their behavioral, physical, and

cognitive abilities.

The effects of early trauma tend

to continue through generations.

In contrast, experiencing support in

early childhood can prevent or even

reverse the damaging effects of

early life stress, with lifelong benefits

for a young person’s learning,

behavior, and health.

Whatever seeds have been

planted, or not planted, will affect a

person’s health, ability to learn, and

ultimately, earning power.

Child abuse and neglect doesn’t

stem from just one cause, which is

why stopping its destructive cycle is

so difficult.

Living in a community with a

high rate of violence, limited access

to social services, poverty, and

unemployment are all major factors.

Addressing community needs

by giving families support has much

more impact, and costs much less,

than attempting to address the

consequences of adversity after a

child has grown up.

What Can Be Done?

Increased awareness and

collective action is a key factor

in conquering child abuse and

neglect. These strategies are the

mission of Child Abuse Prevention

Month every year.

• Business leaders can

recognize that supporting families

and children will lead to economic

growth.

• Policymakers can reduce the

hurdles faced by families who need

support and resources.

• Faith communities can open

up their spaces for parent and youth

activities.

• Organizations that host

families and young people can train

staff on how to recognize, respond

to, and prevent child abuse and

neglect.

• Educators can be more

attuned to noticing if something

seems wrong with a student and

follow-up

• Friends and neighbors can

pay closer attention and help with

the social isolation some parents

may experience.

create common ground. We

share resources equitably,

expand access to services,

and balance conditions for

positive childhood experiences

to enrich every community.

• We tend and replenish

the soil. We offer homegrown

solutions and hardy support

to protect what we grow in all

elements.

• Hope and

commitment are powerful

fertilizers. We combine the

promise of a better tomorrow

with our resolve to nourish all

children and their families in

every season.


for more exclusive content please visit


Glamsquad Magazine 2.0 is a Women’s Fashion, Culture and Lifestyle Magazine.

Targeted at an upwardly mobile segment of the Nigerian and African market,

Glamsquad seeks to provide inspirational yet attainable fashion, entertainment, and

lifestyle culturing to Women.

Contributing to conversations on contemporary fashion, dining, beauty, wellness, music,

and movies; our goal is to positively shape the conversation on these topics in a way that

Informs, inspires, empowers and ultimately entertains Nigerian and African women.

Glamsquad is for the sophisticated, tasteful, yet fun loving woman.

Let’s hold you by hands into the world of fashion. Like and follow us on any of our social

media platforms.

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Glamsquad magazine april-may 2022

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