Popular actress, Moji Olaiya, talks
to Ademola Olonilua about her
fashion and style
Your father, Victor Olaiya, is a
popular musician, why did you
choose acting instead of following
in his footsteps?
My career had nothing to do with
my father because I never knew I
was going to become an actress. I
tell people that my acting career is
by the grace of God because it was
not something I planned. When I
was in Yaba College of Technology,
I had many opportunities to
become an actress but I turned
them down. But along the line, I
found myself in the industry. I sing
as well but I have more passion
for acting.
Do you still hope to pursue a
career in music?
Even if I am going to sing, I am
not going to make it a full-time
career. I am not saying I want to
become a singer but if I would try
it, I would just do it for the fun of
it.
Did the fact that you have an
entertainment background
influence your fashion sense?
If you see the way my father
dresses, you would realise that he
is a very simple man. I am a very
simple lady as well. My
background has never affected my
fashion sense in any way. I know
what I like and my watchword
when it comes to fashion is
simplicity.
Were you a fashionable while
growing up?
Yes, I was because back then, I
always wanted to wear whatever
was in vogue. I always wanted to
be up to date with the latest
fashion trend like when we were
wearing the hipster trousers and
the like. I was a fashionable girl
while growing up.
How come you use red lipsticks
mostly?
Do I? I don’t think so because I
am mostly on nude or neutral
lipsticks. I only wear red lipstick
for an event where I need to use
the colour. If not, I hardly wear red
lipstick because it is too flashy.
Do you feel incomplete without
using make-up?
No I don’t. I hardly wear make-up
except when I have an outing. I
love to look natural.
When you go shopping, what kind
of clothes do you always find
yourself buying?
I buy some lovely dresses when I
have events to attend. Aside from
that, when I go shopping, the only
thing that comes to my mind is
jeans and t-shirts because I am
more comfortable when I wear
simple tops and trousers.
For a person like you with fine legs
and a fair skin, how come you do
not wear skirts?
I hardly wear skirts because I do
not like them. You can hardly see
me wearing skirts. I wear them
once in a very long while and I
cannot remember the last time I
wore a skirt. I do not feel
comfortable wearing them. Even
though people tell me I look sexy
with my bow leg, I still don’t wear
skirts. I am more comfortable
wearing trousers.
If you had the opportunity to
change any part of your body, what
would it be?
I love everything about my body;
there is nothing I want to change.
But seriously if it is possible, the
only thing I would love to change
is my height. I would love to grow
taller than I am. When it comes to
my stature, I am very comfortable
with it because I am not too big,
neither am I too skinny. Talk about
every other part, I think I have it in
moderation.
How have you been able to take
care of your skin and stature?
I do lots of exercises. I have a
routine and I jog every morning
except when I am on set. I do not
use harsh creams or soaps on my
body and I exfoliate to take good
care of my skin.
How come you hardly use
jewellery?
It is intentional and it is because I
am a very simple person. I love to
look simple.
Has there been any time in your
life you wished you were dark in
complexion?
My mother always tells me that
however I find myself, either I am
big, short or dark, I should be
comfortable with my skin. The only
thing I need is comportment and I
should carry myself like a lady and
have poise. My composure should
speak for me. I have never even
thought of myself being a dark
skinned person.
Entertainers are fond of having
various tattoos on their bodies.
How come you do not have any?
I don’t have problem with people
that wear tattoos, it is part of
fashion but for me, I cannot stand
the pain. I have a phobia for pain,
no matter how little it is. I don’t
like having anything permanent on
my body.
Not many people know that you
have dreadlocks…
Yes I do and it is because I do not
like fixing my hair. I love to be very
simple and if I have an outing,
what I do is to wash my hair, re-
lock it, pack it and I am set.
Is the black spot on your upper lip
a birthmark or a form of fashion
statement?
I have so many birthmarks on my
body but for the one on my upper
lip, I just darkened it as a form of
fashion statement.
What is your fashion weakness?
I love shoes and bags. I love them
a lot. I also love perfumes. I have
so many bags and shoes.
What do you think of ladies that
bleach their skin?
They should be aware of skin
cancer because even fair people
watch the kind of creams they use.
You cannot compare a fair person
to a dark person when it comes to
the cream they use. When you try
to be like a fair person and you
use all sorts of cream, it damages
your skin and sometimes the
damage is irreversible. What I
advise is that they should
maintain their skin and use a very
good moisturiser; they should just
tone their skin. Dark skinned
people too tone their skin but it is
not that you should bleach.
Have you ever bleached your skin?
A fair person can get away with a
lot of things. I use toning creams
to maintain my skin but I have
never bleached my skin. There is
no way you use a toning cream
and you would not become fairer. I
am always in an air conditioned
environment and I maintain my
skin, so there is no way I would
not get fairer. I have never
attempted to be ‘white.’ I don’t
bleach. I have never bleached my
skin and I can’t bleach.
Most times you are seen wearing
African print materials…
It is my way of promoting African
culture. I love everything ankara. It
is my way of promoting our culture
because we have a very rich
culture. There is nothing you
cannot do with ankara.
What do you think of girls who
think it is ‘local’ to wear African
prints and opt for big brand
names?
It is their choice and I don’t see
anything bad in it. I have a friend
who cannot use a bag except it is
branded. I don’t really believe in
all the big label names. I wear
whatever would suit me; I can wear
something that is very cheap and
when another person wears
something very expensive mine
would be better and people would
appreciate it better on me. It is the
way you carry yourself and wear
your things that matters, not the
label name. If they prefer to wear
designer stuffs, it is a matter of
personal choice but when you are
forcing yourself to be ‘big’ at all
cost, that is where I have a
problem.
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