Stella Damasus, a Nigerian actress based in the US, and Egypt Ufele, a Nigerian-American designer, are set to take part in the Kaleidoscope show organized by Spirit of David (SOD), the team behind 'Celebrity Takes Two'. The event, scheduled for November 4, 2017, in the United States, where Damasus currently resides, is known for its vibrant its dynamic expressions of worship through stage dance and is anticipated to feature outstanding performances from various artists.
The actress, who hosts a radio show overseas and recently introduced a new blog called Excuse My African (E.M.A), which is a weekly podcast that offers a perspective on life from the viewpoint of a misrepresented and misunderstood African girl living abroad, enthusiastically announced the Kaleidoscope show. 12-year-old Egypt Ufele, who is also a UN Jr Ambassador of Peace, established a charity called Bully Chasers and her own fashion line called ChubiiLine in response to being bullied at school because of her size. Her charity, Bully Chasers, provides a platform for young people who have been bullied to speak out against bullying. As of now, Egypt is reportedly the only child designer to dress curvy models at the New York Fashion Week.
Egypt Ifunaya "Ify" Ufele responded to the bullying she regularly faced in elementary school by launching Chubiiline in January 2015, with the assistance of her mother. The collection includes caps, backpacks, and T-shirts adorned with anti-bullying messages such as "No hate just love" and "No kid should ever feel bad about how they look." These items are currently being sold on Ify's website and have already generated over $30,000 in revenue. Additionally, she has expanded her creativity and message to the fashion industry by introducing a second line of clothing designed for curvy girls and women, featuring vibrant colors and African-inspired patterns. Drawing inspiration from her Nigerian heritage, Ify expressed her love for the fabrics she discovered during her visit to Nigeria. Her designs have been showcased in New York, Philadelphia, and on the West Coast, with hopes of making the collection available in stores in the near future.
The former victim of bullying in sixth grade has now become a prominent activist. Her journey has been featured on various platforms such as the Today show, NY1, People.com, and Teen Vogue. In the upcoming month, she will be dedicating her holiday break to Nigeria, where she will be involved in fundraising for school construction and uniform design. Additionally, she is scheduled to introduce new Chubiiline collections at New York Fashion Week in February. Ify mentions that the bullies from her school days have largely quieted down, and now her peers are more likely to approach her with comments like, "Hey! I saw you on TV!".