What I hate about men – Mariam Elishaon

Unlike other beauty queens who immediately disappear from the social scene after their reigns, Mariam Elisha has remained in the limelight. As
former Miss Valentine, she has continued to expand her pet project in addition to other engagements. To
her credit, her clothing line, Rikaoto and Urban Style magazine are fast becoming household names in
Nigeria and beyond. She also has a foundation where she caters for the less-privileged children. In this
interview, she talks about her modelling career, love life and plans for the future.
What has been happening to you?
Nothing much, I go to work everyday and do what I'm supposed to do. I'm managing my clothing line called, Rikaoto, and my magazine called Urban Style.

What informed your decision to go into fashion and
magazine publication?
I naturally love to see people dress well and wear
good clothes. I realise that in Nigeria, we do not have
companies that make quality clothes that people can buy at their convenience. I wanted to be that kind of
person that could make such clothes people need when they have occasions or other social events to
attend.

Are your services meant
only for the high and
mighty?
Not really. Average
Nigerians can afford it. My
clothes are affordable,
depending on the kind of
fabrics and style required.
We have the ones that are
meant for the high ends,
and also, we have the ones
for the average salary
earners. It depends really
on what the clients want. In
other words, we have the
very expensive ones and
we also have the affordable
ones.

Where do you source your materials from? I buy my fabrics anywhere I find myself or
sometimes, I order specifically from where I know
they have the kind of fabric I need at that particular time. I don't have to disclose where I procure my
fabrics from. That's my secret but we have good
fabrics.

Do you make clothes yourself?
I know how to make clothes myself. I also have
people who do them and I supervise them.
Tell us about your Urban Style magazine?
It is about fashion and style. And as a fashion crazy
person, I decided to do something that would celebrate the works of the fashion designers, showcasing fashion and style in a different way. How people can combine clothes and other accessories.

I have a partner and things are actually going on since I started the publication.
How has the experience been?
It has been challenging but so far, I am coping with the stress. No work is easy as my mum would always
tell me.

How challenging is running a clothing line as well as publishing outfit?
The challenge of becoming a fashion designer is enormous. Most of the time, there is no power supply, and we have to depend on our generating set. The tailors are not consistent. They are not ready to give you the standard for which you employed
them most of the time. You always cross-check whatever they have done to ensure they have the
meet the standard. When I came into fashion designing, I was thinking it was something I would
cross my legs and fold my arms and probably pick up
my pen and give someone instructions on what to do, and he gets it right but it isn't so.

In fashion designing, you have to focus your mind,
brain and come down to the level of the tailors for them to understand what designs you have and how
to interpret the designs that you have conceptualised in your mind. Also, it's really challenging dealing with
different clients; the super rich and the middle class. On the Urban Style magazine, it's equally
challenging, publishing a special interest
magazine;getting celebrities to adorn the cover of the magazine; putting the whole thing together
including the adverts for that particular edition. Then the challenges of distributing your magazines.It is an
easy task.

What else do you do aside your fashion outfit and your magazine?
I also have a foundation called, Save Tomorrow Today. I love charity and as an ex- beauty queen, I
started a foundation during my reign and it's still functioning till date. I love lending help to humanity
whether I am a beauty queen or not. I have been able to cater for the welfare of these children under my
care, and I'd visit different organisation soliciting
support so I can help give them hope in life. It's been
working out so far and we usually hold different. events about three times in a year. Most of the time,
we don't make such events loud because we believe in not blowing our own trumpet.
With all of these activities, what time do you have for
yourself?
I just try to create time for myself. It is all about
timing. When its time to be at Rikaoto, I will be there,
and when it's time to give attention to the Urban
Style magazine, I do certainly that. I have people who
work with me. I have already taught them what to do
when I am not there. I can always come back for feed
back. Though, it is not easy coping with the stress.
You recently contested the Miss Nigeria pageant,
what informed that decision?
I have always loved the name-Miss Nigeria and I feel
that being Miss Nigeria will provide me the needful
platform to affect more lives positively. As you know,
I'm into charity and I do a lot of things to assist the
poor. At the moment, I have not less than 40 children
under my care. It is really pretty difficult coping with
these children. I feel I need more helping hands and
being Miss Nigeria will probably give me more
support to smiles to the lives of these children.
Are you going to contest again?
No, I think I'm done with pageant for now
Do you have any plan to organise your own pageant?
I don't have any plan to organise any pageant but
maybe, in the future
Tell us about your style?
I really do not have a specific routine but what I do is
when I wake up in the morning, I ensure that I wash
my face before applying anything I want to apply. If I
want to apply make up, it's probably when I'm back
from work. I make sure I clean my face, using the
facial removal but I don't use any specific cream, its
just normal baby oil. I use mild soap. I don't use
anything hard because my skin is very sensitive.
Your dress sense?
It depends on the occasion. Sometimes, I like to look
simple, but very dramatic. I am always very simple.
When I'm not in the red-carpet mood, I love casual
wears.
What kind of books do you read?
I read all kinds of books, especially, motivational
books and poetic works. My favourite author is Wole
Soyinka. I love his poems a lot.
Who's the man in your life?
I think my relationship is personal to me. I will marry
at the right time. I pray it happens soon.
What kind of man would you
love to marry?
I want to marry a God fearing
man because I always dream
of making heaven. I don't care
whether he's tall , handsome
or rich. As long as he has the
fear of God in him, and has
respect for womanhood, I will
marry the person. He must
take me for who I am. I'm
okay with him.
How many times have you
been heartbroken?
Once. I don't want to talk
about it please.
What do you hate about men?
I hate disappointments and lies. Disappointment, not
in the context of when one promises to marry a lady
and later on, he didn't keep to that promise. I mean,
when I trust you as a friend and I expect you to keep
to that trust and never hurt my feelings.
How has it been as a young entrepreneur?
I don't believe that because I'm young, I should fold
my hands and wait for my parents to do everything
for me. I believe that as an individual, you have the
right to to give back to society whatever you have
gotten from it. You can make a difference in your life
if you believe in yourself and what you want to
achieve in life. I have always been a hardworking
person even when I was in school. I was combining
my studies with modelling. It wasn't easy but I tried
as much as possible to strike a balance. Whatever
you want to be in life, you can achieve it by
remaining focus and committed to your cause.
Who supported when you started this cause?
My father supported me. Initially, he didn't give me
anything, but when he saw the zeal in me, he started
supporting me. I started with the little money I
saved. You don't have to have billions of Naira before
you can set out to achieve your dream. There are
intelligent students from poor homes who are
supported by well-meaning Nigerians. Just begin
with something and help will come even from
unexpected quarters.
How do you describe yourself?
I am simply amazing!
Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN