UK-based Nollywood actress, Chioma Toplis, tells ‘Nonye Ben-Nwankwo why she is daring when it comes to fashion
Have you finally left the UK for Nigeria?
No. I still live in the UK. I have always been shuttling between the two countries. Remember I have a business here in Nigeria. I have boutiques in Lagos and since I am married to a Briton, I still live in the UK.
How do you manage combining acting with business and family?
I have been doing this for years and none of them is suffering. The company is growing and I have people who help out. On the other side, my husband has been very helpful. At times, I run to him to ask him to help me sort out things. We are into construction and interior decor as well.
Did you branch into fashion because you feel you are fashionable?
It is primarily because of the passion I have for fashion. I had been doing this even before I joined Nollywood. I had a shop in Port Harcourt before I relocated to Lagos. My sister was managing it up until she got married, so we had to close it down.
Do you think you should be rated as somebody who is fashionable?
Of course, I am very fashionable. I know some people wouldn’t agree with this but I also know that majority of the people would say I am. But then again, I don’t really care about what people say. I know I am fashionable. When you are good at something, you don’t need to wait for people to commend you; you will know in your heart that you are good.
You are daring when it comes to fashion as one of the first to wear a backless dress some years ago. Don’t you consider people’s reaction when you choose your dress?
I remember the event you are talking about. It was at the Africa Movies Academy Awards held in Abuja years back. I bought that dress in Australia. I didn’t buy it specifically for AMAA. I saw it in a shop and I decided to buy it because I fell in love with it. The dress came with a bra and I wore the dress as it was displayed on the mannequin. I don’t have to consider anybody before I dress. I wear what I feel comfortable in. It depends on the occasion, the time and the frame of my mind. I put everything into consideration. If anybody finds my dressing offensive, it is really up to that person, I don’t really care. One man’s meat is another man’s poison. Some people cover themselves from the head to toe and so many people criticise them. That is how life is. You cannot please the world; so I just wear what I feel comfortable to wear.
There was a time you ‘broke’ the Internet with a picture where you wore lingerie, what made you show off such photograph?
By the way, it wasn’t just ‘a picture.’ I uploaded so many pictures where I wore lingerie. I didn’t just upload those pictures on the Internet. Those pictures were meant for an advert. They came to my house for a photo shoot. My family members were there. My agent told me about the advert and a company looking for a known face from other countries to advertise their lingerie. In the UK, it is not a big deal. People upload their pictures where they put on panties and bra and some companies buy the pictures. So many people buy things from catalogue these days. So when I was given the offer, I accepted it but I had to make sure I lost some weight to be able to fit the size they were looking for. I was on diet for three months. I was just eating vegetables and fruits and I even encouraged my fans to join me. So when I had lost a bit of weight, the people came and we did the photo shoot. I was so excited with the pictures that I had to post them on Facebook. People appreciated and applauded me, especially those in the UK. But people here in Nigeria, (though not all of them) criticised me as usual. I didn’t feel bad. If I didn’t look good, they wouldn’t have talked about it. Those that criticised me didn’t even know anything about me. Some went as far as asking if I was married. I wonder why people should give themselves headache. Anyway, I still appreciate them.
What can you never be caught dead wearing?
I don’t think there is anything I cannot wear. When I clocked 40, I thought I might stop wearing some stuffs. But then, I am over 40 and I still wear whatever I choose to wear. I have realised that life really begins at 40. My life’s just begun and I just can’t stop wearing certain things. I can never say never. Even if I don’t wear this thing today, you might see me wear it tomorrow; so I don’t have to rule out anything. I have nice skin, so I can afford to wear anything as long as I don’t come out stark naked. I am cool in anything. Slim people can afford to wear anything and nobody criticises them but when somebody on the big side wears it, they will talk about her even when her skin is cool. I see it as discrimination. A skinny person can afford to show off some flesh but it is seen as bad when somebody that is fat does same.
So at your age, you can still wear miniskirt?
Of course! I wear mini skirt. But I wear midi and maxi since they are trending. I still wear bum shorts. My daughter had her party the other day and I wore bum shorts. It was a secondary school kids’ party so I had to ‘belong.’ I don’t have any problem with that at all.
Do you then feel bad that you are plus sized?
I don’t really have to feel bad about it. I have never been skinny so I have come to accept my looks; I cannot change my looks. The only time I feel bad is when I go to shop and I see something I like and I wouldn’t find it in my size. But then, I still try to create my style so people can see that plus sized people can be cool. I go out and I see people who admire and want to be like me.
Can we ever see you without make-up?
There are times I don’t wear make-up. But there are times I wear make-up that is not so loud and you may even think I am not wearing any. It is just that these days, most people would not want to be seen without make-up. If I forget to wear make-up, I don’t bother.
What of your hair, what really works for you?
I hardly wear my natural hair even though the texture is very lovely. It is another bad habit. People ask me to leave my hair but I have not been able to do that.
Have you made fashion mistake before?
I have not. Nobody ever told me that what I wore was wrong. Anytime I attend events, people always commend me. I look good effortlessly; I must always get it right. I don’t go the extra mile to look good but I go the extra mile when I shop.
How long does it take you to dress up?
If I have somewhere to go, I always bring out what I will wear the previous day and once that is done, every other thing is easy, I know what to do.
Do you love perfumes?
I have so many; I don’t wear just one perfume. I wear so many that when somebody asks me the name of the perfume; I might not be able to say.
How many tattoos do you have?
I don’t have any. I would have been tempted to have when I was much younger but dermatologists told me not to tamper with my skin because of its sensitivity. I don’t have that urge anymore.
Is your fairness all natural or do you use ‘toning’ cream?
My fairness is natural. We are all light-skinned in my family. I even use baby oil. I don’t have a particular body cream that I use. I don’t use toning cream.
Can you count the number of pairs of shoes you have?
I cannot count. I have so many pairs of shoes. People think it is because I own a boutique but it is not so. I just love shoes and clothes and everything about fashion.
Do you wear native attire?
I wear native attire more in the UK than when I am in Nigeria. I don’t even wear such in Nigeria but during summer in the UK, I make traditional attire and I wear them. The white people love such attire a lot.
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