Name: Douye’
Profession: Jazz, Soul R&B Singer/songwriter
Location: Los Angeles, CA, U.S.A/Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Ladybrille Woman of the Month, February 2009
Ladybrillemag.com: Share with us some of your accomplishments since your feature on Ladybrille as Woman of the Month?
Douye’: Hello Ladybrille Magazine, it feels good to be back again. I was featured woman of the month in February, 2009 and it was an exceptional experience for me because it broadened the awareness of my art. I am certainly grateful and humbled for the recognition. In the last year and a half, I continued to promote my music by performing in various venues and jazz festivals. I’ve also done several radio appearances, interviews and received quite a number of great reviews of my debut album titled “Journey.” Because of the attention my debut album is receiving world wide, a worldwide distribution deal was established to re-release my debut album in November, 2010. Whilst my debut album is taking a course of its own, I established a record label called Groove Note Records and I am also working on my sophomore music project and I am excited about it. For my sophomore music project, I continued working with producers Terry Shaddick and Jeff Piscetto and I am also working with a Nigerian born producer Dapo Torimiro. I look forward to the end result of this project and I believe that it’s going to be great!
Ladybrillemag.com: How do you define a brilliant woman?
Douye’: The accolade of a brilliant woman is priceless. A brilliant woman bears a character that is rich in worth, confidence and versatility. She is irrefutably determined, focused, disciplined and goal oriented. She is quick to learn and unafraid to thread on shaky grounds. As a student of life, she welcomes challenges with an open mind, eager to discover new horizons. She is not afraid to be tested because she knows that, for every experience there’s much wisdom to gain and, wisdom is an asset every brilliant woman relies on. A brilliant woman is uniquely beautiful, she knows herself and so, she appreciates the imperfection in her because, with that frame of acuity, the confidence in her is unbroken. In her eyes, everyday is a blessing, an opportunity to stand tall and strong in her destiny, feisty driven to make a difference in the world.
Ladybrillemag.com: Going into 2011, how do you intend to challenge yourself, personally, to continue to be brilliant?
Douye’: I look forward to 2011 and I envision success in all I do. Personally and professionally, I will continue to challenge myself in bringing out the best in me and not settle for less. Overall, I am open to expand my scope and grow in knowledge and understanding, courage and poise, the power of the gift(s) in me and the woman I am
Ladybrille thank you so much for providing such an excellent platform for people’s voices to be heard.
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Name: Tinu
Profession: Musician/Publisher/Fashion Entrepreneur
Location: New York, USA
Ladybrille Woman of the Month, September 2009
Ladybrillemag.com: Share with us some of your accomplishments since your feature on Ladybrille as Woman of the Month?
Tinu: A lot has happened since my last appearance on Ladybrille as Woman of the Month. I wouldn’t even know where to begin! I am just about shy of 5 chapters to finish my Shoeholics book, a spin off from the hit music video bearing the same name. The facebook.com/shoeholics page in preparation for the book has now well over 42,000 fans eagerly waiting for it. The release will be announced there the moment it’s on sale. I guess it is no secret now that I am an avid pole dancer since discovering the fitness program when I worked on my Wild Things music video off my 2nd album. It’s the best discovery of my life! I am now the founder and president of the American Pole Fitness Association.
[Many] say I am probably the first Black African to be involved in the sport on this massive scale. I am working hard to get my fellow African brothers and sisters into the sport. It is no longer a thing for the strip clubs. Strippers can’t even do more than 90% of the moves we do in the pole fitness sport. I have seen this 1st hand. The association had the first ever city approved public showcase of the sport on Union Square in October. It was the first in the sport’s history worldwide. It was a smashing success with worldwide news coverage that far exceeded my expectation and also the 1st American Pole Fitness Championships for men and women in American history. We had a great turn out that included celebrities such as actor Damon Wayans, American Idol contestant Anwar Robinson, Olympic Gold Medalist Maurice Greene as co-host, Guinness World Record holder in “human flag” Dominic Lacasse as a performer and one of the judges, and so many others to name a few. We had a great turn out of high profile press and media representatives as well: Daily News, Associated Press, and a few others
I am working on getting the official photo gallery on our website www.americanpolefitness.com as well as on the website of the 1st high gloss publication for the sport, Pole Spin. I am also the Editor-in-Chief of Pole Spin. Too much on one plate right? Nah, one can rest when dead. There is no time like the present. I am very comfortable in my life right now, I thank God everyday.
Ladybrillemag.com: How do you define a brilliant woman?
Tinu: A woman who maintains her stance in any thing she says or sets as a goal. No wavering, or deception, just straight shooter with no fear of the heart; a woman who takes risk, at least once in her life.
Ladybrillemag.com: Going into 2011, how do you intend to challenge yourself, personally, to continue to be brilliant?
Tinu: The challenge would be to finish my shoe book and stop keeping my fans waiting. I did the photoshoot last week and can’t wait to show the world some of my shoe collections. Shsssh, wait for the book, it’s a sexy tell-all.
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Name: Anne Obidi
Profession: Jeweller
Location: UK, Nigeria
Ladybrille Woman of the Month, February 2009
Ladybrillemag.com: Share with us some of your accomplishments since your feature on Ladybrille as Woman of the Month?
Anne: Since then, I’ve gotten married, to my best friend, I have also become mother to a 20 month old boy named Kamsi, who is now one of the finalist for the NEXT baby model competition. I’ve taken some time out from doing events and shows and focused more on working on bespoke jewellery for private clients, weddings and conducting jewellery making workshops here in the UK, North America and in Nigeria.
A huge chunk of my time has been directed to working extensively and intensively on the Down syndrome Foundation of Nigeria charity. We have gained charity status here in the UK and are officially launching it on the 19th of April 2011, have managed to send 4 kids to India for corrective heart surgery and are in the process of sending 3 more, and have just completed another successful awareness week in Nigeria.
Ladybrillemag.com: How do you define a brilliant woman?
Anne: A brilliant woman is one who is multifunctional. One who is gifted and skilled . A woman with the balance to be mother, a wife, a lover, an employee, an employer, a business woman and an inspiration to others.
Ladybrillemag.com:Going into 2011, how do you intend to challenge yourself, personally, to continue to be brilliant?
Anne: For 2011, my major plan is to relaunch Jewellery By Anne and dedicate more time to my charity work. Having spent 2010 working on private bespoke jewellery, I want to carry that bespoke feel into the brand further so that my clients can actually customize jewellery that fits their personality and style. Jewellery by Anne will be relaunched with different designs for the different seasons, a new website while also bringing out a collection that is in time with 2011 and matches my personality.
Courtesy photos
A running feature for 12 years on Ladybrille.com, The ‘Ladybrille Woman of the Month’ celebrates women in business and leadership, who empower themselves and others through their contributions and actions in their local and international communities. In 2014, the feature expanded to include a podcast show. If you would like to nominate a woman to be celebrated, please email [email protected].
