Obianujuallen

Obianujuallen is a stylist, model and curator bringing fashion to a new level through digital means. Her bold and future-forward ideas hope to make fashion accessible to those who may find it difficult to put on an outfit. In this article, we explore her story and discuss her plans for her project.

Background

Obianujuallen grew up moving from place to place across Nigeria. She is from Rivers state, grew up in Port Harcourt, and then moved to Lagos and Abuja, where she had the opportunity to learn from different cultures, engage with different people, and taste new foods, all of which contributed to her openness.

Her creative journey started from a young age, marked by curiosity and a passion for self-expression. Obianujuallen explored a wide range of hobbies that shaped her creative sensibilities, where she got involved in ballet, playing with instruments, writing poems and taking taekwondo classes. Each activity offered an edge in her path, helping her to connect with the world, laying the foundation for a dynamic and multifaceted creative identity.

Her inspirations come naturally, she explains that they could be from nature, friends and conversations, believing God places her where inspiration lives.

Can you Define your Work?

Obianujuallen’s work accumulates from a variety of media, such as fashion, lifestyle, creative direction for shoots, nostalgia and many more. Though she isn’t tied down to a certain niche, her work mostly focuses on virtual and digital styling, which she believes is the new wave of creative expression. In addition, her modeling taps into the 70s-90s eras, blending nostalgia with the now.

During her journey, she always had the time and patience towards her projects, where she might not have had the final result but enjoyed the process of ideas that might not fall into place initially.

She currently works for VYNT, a Nigerian thrift store marketplace, helping people find their style, promoting decluttering and using sustainable means.

When asked about her best work, she answered with her shoot called Behind Her Eyes. To her, it was an experience that allowed her to explore and embody different versions of herself through the lens. The process pushed her beyond her comfort zone, challenging her and identifying her true potential.

Popular figures have helped influence her journey, one of whom was Ashley Okoli, who stands out from the norm and has a different aesthetic and Obianujuallen hopes to follow that.

Opinion on the Creative Space?

Obianujullen believes that everybody has creativity in them; it doesn’t have to be art, but a way God has given them. Though creativity is being more recognized in Nigeria, she believes that funding from the government should be more encouraged, making it bigger and better.

She is a promising young talent with a great vision, taking creativity into technology which is although she juggles her time with pursuing her career in neuroscience, which helps her in understanding others and daily life. Her advice to others is to be consistent, manifest and understand it’s a process.

She hopes to design an inclusive swimwear where all girls from different backgrounds can feel safe and secure.