Nollywood actress, Mercy Aigbe-Gentry, tells Ademola Olonilua about
her career and style
Have you always been fashion
conscious or did it just start when
you became an actress?
I have always been fashion conscious
because I love to look good and get
compliments from people because of
the way I look. It has been a part of
me since I was growing up and my
school mates can testify to that. I have
always loved fashion.
Why do you have a flair for fashion?
My desire to always look good
attracted me to fashion because I
believe that the way you are dressed
to a large extent, determines the way
you will be addressed by people. You
have to sell yourself through the way
you dress. My desire to always look
good made me develop a strong
passion for fashion.
Has your career enhanced your style?
Yes it has because as a celebrity, you
must always look good as that is what
people expect from us. We have a lot
of people who look up to us as role
models, so we have to be on top of our
game when it comes to fashion. My
career has influenced my fashion
sense greatly.
Fans often abuse you on your
instagram page that the clothes you
wear are from fake designer labels;
how do you react to such comments?
I don’t care about what people think
because at the end of the day, it is all
about me. If you feel what I wear is
fake, it is up to you; it is none of my
business. I don’t need anybody to
confirm the authenticity of what I
wear. Whatever picture I post on my
instagram account reflects my
personality and I post them because I
want to and not for comments’ sake.
Most times, I ask how they know that
what I am wearing is fake, how can
they tell? When I read such comments,
I just laugh because I believe they are
coming from people who just want to
hate me for no reason. The truth is that
you cannot tell if my clothes are fake
because you do not live with me and
you have not checked them out. Some
of them go as far as saying I can’t
afford certain things and I ask how
they know that. Do they know how
much I have in my bank account or
how much I earn? I don’t let such
comments get to me.
So it does not bother you when you
post a picture and people deride your
style?
It does not bother me at all. As far as I
am okay with what I am wearing, then
I care less about other people’s
opinion because I am my biggest
critic when it comes to fashion. Once
I look into the mirror, and I am happy
with what I see and convinced that I
look good, people’s opinion do not
matter.
You seem to love taking pictures,
why?
I think it is because I am in love with
myself. I am addicted to taking
pictures. I love looking good and I
love taking pictures because I love to
see what I look like. Also, pictures are
memories and when I am going
through the pictures on any of my
gadgets, they tell a story and bring
back good memories. I am sure I have
over 4,000 pictures in my phone
memory and most times, my phone
crashes because I have so many
pictures in it. It is part of who I am and
it makes me happy. I believe that
people should do whatever makes
them happy because life is too short.
Don’t you see it as being vain?
I don’t know. You can say it is being
vain but I just love it. It makes me
happy and I enjoy doing it.
What is the most expensive fashion
item you own?
That would be a Rolex wristwatch my
husband gave me as a gift during St.
Valentine’s Day in 2010.
What is your fashion weakness?
When it comes to fashion, I could be
greedy. I really do not have a
particular item that is my fashion
fetish because I love everything that
has to do with fashion; be it shoes,
bags, jewellery. I love them all.
When you open your closet, what do
you have in excess?
Everything is in excess in my
wardrobe. Whenever my friends come
to my house, they are always amazed.
Sometimes I tell myself that it is
becoming an obsession because I buy
things I really don’t need and some of
them I never get to wear. I had to
teach myself to stop buying things
because it is becoming an obsession.
Whenever my friends visit me, they
must take something from my closet
and they keep saying I have so many
things. I guess I am just being a
woman and other women can relate
with what I am saying.
How do you take care of your body?
I drink a lot of water and eat fruits; I
also use moisturiser to maintain my
skin because I would not want it to dry
up. I go to the spa once in a month to
exfoliate my skin and do my facials
because I believe it is what God has
given me. The Bible says my body is
the temple of God, so I have to take
good care of myself. I go to the gym
when I am not working and my
personal trainer also comes to my
house.
How come you do not have any
tattoo?
I am not a tattoo fan; it is a ‘no’ for
me. I think it is because I feel I cannot
stand the pain. It is not attractive to
me.
What will you never be caught
wearing?
I would never be caught wearing an
outfit that is so revealing. I love to
show a little bit of skin but when it is
too revealing, then I cannot wear it.
What do you think of ladies who wear
very revealing clothes?
I think it is what they like and if that is
what makes them happy, they should
carry on but I don’t belong to that
category of people. I believe there is
class in showing a little flesh but
when it is too much, then it becomes
tacky and unappealing.
How would you describe your style?
Most times, I go for comfort and it has
to be chic, urban and elegant.
What kinds of clothes are you
comfortable wearing?
I love wearing casual clothes. A pair
of jeans and a shirt would be good for
me.
Is make-up a must for you?
I am not a make-up person and I don’t
wear it most times. I feel I look better
without make-up and people have
actually confirmed it. They say I look
finer without make-up but when I have
to go for an official outing or I am on
set, I have to wear make-up.
What is the fashion item you cannot
leave home without?
That would be my bag because I have
to put my things inside.
You recently opened a boutique, how
do you intend to manage it with being
an actress and a mother?
Sincerely, I don’t know but I am
trusting God to help me. I have had to
reject some acting jobs because of my
boutique and it is taking so much of
my time. I have had to travel to about
five countries to buy goods. It is a lot
of hard work and I don’t know how I
am going to balance it but because I
have a strong passion for fashion, I
will make it work. I pray and hope it
will work out.
Do you plan to quit acting soon to face
your new business?
No, I can never quit acting. It is my
first love, then fashion follows. I can
never leave acting.
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