BIG SISTER MAGAZINE...(Health & Lifestyle Magazine for the curvy women)

How time flies, that this month marks our 4th anniversary. It has been a long way coming and we bless the Almighty for being there for us these past four years. Personally as the founder/editor of BIG SISTER, West Africa’s premiere health and life style magazine, I must say I have been blessed. This is one brand that I would say has given me a voice in my immediate society and international community. BSM has earned me respect from my family, the elderly, young and even among my peers. Indeed, the gift of a man makes him outstanding.

This brand may still be on its way for to fetching me billions in my accounts, and we may still be struggling with a couple of challenges as the case may be, but Rome which was not built in one day, we are on our way to building this great media empire. This won’t come by magic, but with time. Four years and still counting, I want to thank our grand patron for the financial sacrifice and support. We want to thank everyone who believes in this vision. We cannot forget our nineteen cover models so far, thank you for identifying with us. To all our partners in the industry and numerous fans worldwide, what would we have done without you?
We won’t go back on words; that is being a voice that represents the clan of the curvy and plus sized women. We won’t stop celebrating their worth, beauty, talent and brain. We won’t stop putting them on the spotlight.

Happy Anniversary Big Sister Magazine!

Elsie-Coco
Photo Credit: Photizo
Makeup: Cheeries Makeover & G Signature

Photo Credit: Photizo | Makeup Artists: Cheeries Makeover & GSignature | Press: Big Sister Magazine

Anytime we are about to package a new edition of Big Sister, one thing we look out for is a cover model with great confidence and personality. We look forward to showcasing a curvy woman with beauty, talent and brains. A woman who is hardworking, ambitious and with inspiring stories.
This month, our cover models, Gloria and Irene are no exception. They are both young entrepreneurs, talented in their field. These women are well empowered and are in a class of their own; they own their looks, personality and loaded with vibrancy.
Let us meet them;

About you: My name is Gloria Silva CEO/founder of G-Signatures group & shopping festival Nigeria. I am a woman entrepreneur & am still working really hard on achieving more.

My company is into interior decoration, event management & image consulting and I am also a freelance make-up artist based in Nigeria.

Family background: I am from an average home, my mother was a contract staff in Mobil & my late father(May his soul rest in peace) died as a director while still in service & they both tried their best for me & since I knew my fees never came on time. I had to work. Even when I wasn't really the school type! I was more of work, business, money. So I couldn't wait to finish school. I’ve always prided myself on being different.

How did I do it? I didn’t take the usual route, and I never did anything the easy way.

qualification:Early start At age 20! I had already graduated with a B.SC in Environmental protection & resources management from the University of Calabar and started my first full-time job, as a CEO of my business company. Then went ahead to obtain different certificate as I trained at the Ghana school of cosmetology specializing in bridal, photography and video Make-up. I was also trained on special effect & cosmetics teeth whitening at Derma contour beauty academy Germany. I was trained on runway and bridal make-up at London school of beauty & make-up Dubai, Also i trained on image consulting in fashion designing school Tanzania. I have also studied at local colleges learning various beauty therapies such as Gel/basic manicure, luxury pedicure, eyebrow threading/tinting, waxing, facials and massage.Other jobs: Before then I was doing some path time jobs while still schooling. it's sure wasn't easy for me! Mixing school with work But I pulled through it all.

Work : My work encompasses many fields & My expertise incorporates the latest beauty trends and my make-up kit contains only the highest quality and luxurious branded products. Having always been moved by the latest fashion trends, I combine this with my creative imagination to give me inspiration of creating unique looks. This is what makes my work original. I am extremely talented and creative my passion and dedication have allowed me to update my knowledge and skill to craft the best perfection, I have equipped myself to thinking on the spot and work within a time frame. One of the most important things I have learnt is the make-up isn't a mask to hide behind but should be used to bring out your best features to reveal your natural beauty. My determination for perfection and dedicated approach enable me to create flawless finish for all my clients. About Shopping festival Nigeria: The sfn is one of NIGERIA’s signature event and It holds once a year. This fair presents groundbreaking work in shopping, sales and exhibition. The Fair is here to help expand the horizons of business owners, shoppers and audiences with product and services that are visionary, genre-bending, multi discipline, Startling and original and also showcases international and local business owners / shoppers then offers a mix that brings achievement around the globe. The Festival will broker international partnerships, will also be a meeting place for creative minds, showcase Nigeria’s best and serve as an incubator of brilliant new work. This Festival is here to help put Nigerian business owners on the world stage and in return bring the world to the business owners. SFN also puts the willing business owners at a profitable end, Building their clientele outside their stores, offices or even mobile trunk. The shopping festival Nigeria helps Nigerians shop for quality at a discounted price.
VISION SFN aims to be Nigerians’ best and one of the 2nd most significant in the world—and a greatly anticipated and highly valued asset. Shopping festival Nigeria will become a Festival of national importance as a catalyst for art, cultural and community development of the region.
MISSION The shopping Festival Nigeria engages and enriches business with adventurous contemporary works PURPOSE The purpose of the Shopping Festival Nigeria is to:
• Present the very best in contemporary performance,
• Develop new, groundbreaking and extraordinary works through innovative partnerships and collaborations,
• Tap into new and existing business owners
• Stimulate shoppers, sales and exhibition engagement through interactive forums, outreach and ancillary activities that generate dialogue and exchange,
• Showcase the innovations of leading Nigerians business owners and their product and services,
• Encourage cultural export by linking Nigerians business owners with a national and international networking.

Awards: I have been honored with various awards from all over the country on woman entrepreneurs and the resent one was received in Lagos.

My advice to young ladies out there: Don’t be afraid to ask for what you want. You have to ask for things to be successful—a lesson that women in my generation could hear a few more times throughout their careers. Ask for opportunities. Ask for a raise. Ask for a job, knowing Success Is Uncommon Everyone is different,The important thing is to embrace it—not suppress it. It’s okay to be the odd one out. In fact, I think being different, and being unique, is one of the key components of being successful.
A quote that has stuck with me through the years is, interestingly enough, from sports coach Cal Stoll: “Success is uncommon, therefore not to be enjoyed by the common man.” If I strive to be normal, how could I ever be different? If I was never different than my peers, how could I achieve greater success than the rest of the pack? So the next time someone says you’re unusual, take pride in it. That’s what will set you apart–and set you up for success. I am Gloria Silva and this is my true life story.

To like our page! Visit www.facebook.com/sfnigeria www.facebook.com/glowsols Twitter@holaatme8Instagram@gsignatures

My name is Irene, I am a graduate of foreign language, French to be precised from the University of Uyo. Presently, I am in the beauty industry as a professional makeup artist, the creative director of CheeriesMakeover Studio.

How come you studied French and you are into makeup business?

I have always had passion for the makeup and beauty related matters. So immediately after my national youth service, I had to go for training in makeup. To me it was just a natural thing to do because I had passion for it. Although when I went for the training at the initial stage, I didn’t see it becoming what it has become today in my life. I was just like, let me go and train and improve my own personal makeup while waiting for a job. But today, I thank God I took that step, it has been the best decision of my life and I have no regrets whatever.

How long have you been doing this?

I have been doing this for six years now and still counting.

What is your makeup specialty?

Bridal and beauty makeup

Can you count the number of brides you have done makeup for?

Awwwh! No, I can’t count. I have lost count as at now.

How do you handle difficult brides/clients?
I have been here for a long time so I have devised means to relate with all my clients. Because I’m a very simple and easy going person, that trait has helped me a lot in dealing with difficult clients which I rarely have anyways. Soft words and patience works the magic for me.

Do you have challenges in your business?
Definitely there are. Like every other business, there are a lot of challenges but guess what? I’d rather choose not to see them as stepping stones. I use them to encourage myself to work harder and stay on top of my game.
Can you recall any memorable moment in the business?
I have so many memorable moments in the course of my work, but the ones I always look forward to are the wows that comes from my clients after having the CHERRIES EXPERIENCE. The prayers they shower on me after they see their faces in the mirror.
How do you see makeup business in Nigeria?
The person who coined the adage; ‘looking good is good business’ should be proud by now because the business side of beauty is being greatly explores by my likes in Nigeria. The awareness is more in recent times which make it easier. So to me the business side of makeup is better business.
What are the worse makeup mistakes people do and you are tired of seeing?
I ‘m tired of seeing a lot of women use red pencil to draw their eyebrow. Hello dearies, it’s brown not red! I’m pretty tired of also seeing white faces and black necks. Please make them match, blend your face and neck together.

What are the beauty routines and essentials that you would recommend as a makeup artist?
As a makeup artist, I would advice that you always take off your makeup from your face before going to bed. Never sleep with your makeup on. Endeavour to get a facial treatment every now and then to pamper your face. Drink a lot of water to moisturize your skin and face and add glow to your face.
Do you see yourself owning a beauty/makeup range in the nearest future?
Yes, I see myself owning a makeup brand in future by the grace of God.
What do you do aside makeup brides?
I train people on the skill, I sell makeup products and shoes of all kinds. I sleep, drink and eat makeup, everything I do is beauty related.
Where do you see yourself and brand in the next five years?
In five years time, I see Cheeries Makeover as one of the leading makeup brands in Nigeria. And we will surely keep doing better.
Advice to big sisters who dare to dream big due to their body size?
To the big sisters out there, I say you should keep your confidence high by staying healthy. It is not just about being big, it is also about being healthy in your BIG size. Be sexy and always put your best forward.
Big sister is four, what is your message to them?
To Big Sister Magazine at four, I say Bravo! You are doing absolutely well and I’m so proud of you. You make me proud as a curvy woman. Sometimes I wonder how you get to pull all this through, then I remember you are driven by passion, and for this, I know the sky is your stepping stone. Keep the good flag flying; you are touching many lives in beautiful ways.

FactFiile

Full names; Irene Gregory Udoh
Birthday; 9th May
Zodiac; Taurus
Fav Food; Unripe plantain
Fav Drink; Natural Juice
Most expensive fashion item; Perfume
My Most have makeup item: Powder
Who inspires you; God and good people
Connect with Irene via
Fb; Irene Cheeries Makeover Udoh
Fb pg; Cheeries Makeover Studio
Instagram; Makeuo by Cheeries
Email; Irene-amazing@gmail.com