ARISE ORGANISERS & MODELS NON-PAYMENT. WHAT'S GOING ON?

PRINCE NDUKA OBAIGBENA

HELEN JENNINGS

We have been inundated by calls and sent anonymous comments bordering on the fact that a year after many so called home based(local) models did the last Arise Fashion Week 2012, they are yet to receive the payment for their jobs.  The models are especially angry that the annual show might not be happening in Nigeria this year, so they might not have the opportunity to make their grievances known. Also they are saying is it possible for the shows organisers to owe models abroad?

It got a bit bothersome, when those calling or sending comments began to think we were in league with the organisers to hide the fact that they have not being paid. The fact that we didn't or haven't talked about it, is because we never knew about it or could not have imagined that the organisers would have refused to pay the models(male & female) for jobs they had contracted them to do. Now from the little snippets we have gotten, the models seem to be ready for a showdown anytime soon. Many of the models have made up their minds that unless they are paid from henceforth, they wouldn't do any subsequent shows ever again. They are now saying that if they had known it would turn out like this, they would have walked away like some of their colleagues did last year just before the show began.

So over to you organisers, what seems to have affected the delay in payment to these models for a whole year? And if someone was mandated to do the payment, what has happened to the money and even the person? Is it in your plans/budget to ever pay these models? 

These questions need urgent responses and we are waiting to hear from you. Also can the models come out openly to make their demands?

TISHA MARIE ROCKS!!!!!!!!

COVER OF PLAYBOY FEBRUARY 2011

TISHA AT ARISE 2012 IN LAGOS - PHOTO WAS BY MM

We came across this hotness!!! Personified by chance at the last Arise Fashion Week 2012 a few weeks back at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos. She was one of the many who came in from all over the world to catch the vibes at the Fashion week. We were immediately enveloped by her gorgeousness and those piercing 'cat eyes' and she was all cool and very nice, and she didn't form 'unnecessary paparazzi' like some others in her shoes would have done. So we did a little digging and we found out that she was a 'celeb' in the U.S.

With a mind-blowing statistics 32D-25-38 body, Tisha Marie had covered the February 2011 cover of wait for it- PLAYBOY Magazine. And don't think because she's done that, to feel she's a dumb bimbo, far from it. The Oklahoma native, has a Bachelor's and Master's Degree in Art & Human Relations.

The gorgeous eye candy is a former professional football player, for the Lingerie Football League's Dallas Desire. She has also featured like 2 more times in Playboy Magazine apart from the cover- March and April 2011, she was a Hooter's Swimsuit Model 2010-2011 and has done several other gigs, including as a video vixen in several musical videos- Snoop Dogg-(''Tell Me What You Really Want''),Gucci Mane- (''Okay With Me''), Young Jeezy- (''SupaFreak'').

 Hear her-
What makes you sexy? - My Confidence and My Positive Self-Esteem.

What part of your body are you most complimented on- Everyone loves my eyes. They say they are ''Cat Eyes''.
We won’t mention some of the ''BIG BOYS'' we say her with. But we would gladly say- She's GORGEOUS.

TISHA MARIE AT THE LOBBY OF THE FEDERAL PALACE HOTEL PICTURE BY MM

AMFW 2012- OUT AND ABOUT ON DAY 2- WHEN THE FASHION SHOW REALLY BEGAN

EKU EDEWOR,TIWA SAVAGE & JUMAI SHABA

EKU & JUMAI

TIWA SAVAGE

TIWA

LILIAN UNACHUKWU

The fashion show could not start as scheduled on the 1st day as previously planned because of some technical hitches that had been solved by the next day. The schedule for the weeklong event had to be adjusted, as those who couldn't showcase before had to now be fitted into the other days making it a much tighter showcase per remaining days.

As usual, earnest work began as early in the morning of each day as possible, designers had to do last minute fittings, models had to wear the clothes so that what could easily be adjusted was sorted out, make-up had to start as early as possible, hairstylist were at hand to make sure all was in the right place.

The backstage was like a crazy house, with many models packed in, designers and their stylists, numerous aides doing this and that, it was a beehive of activity so as to be able to deliver the best at least.

We were everywhere to cover all the proceedings at the same time on the prowl to catch any fashionistas going about either on the red carpet or even inside the tents just before the shows were to start.

Like we will continually say, we agree that there were many things that could have been done better, we agree also that the shows could have also started more on time than they did, we agree that we thought the organizers might have taken up more than they could easily chew in the numbers of designers that participated at the fashion week-77 in all. We think a more reduced numbers of designers would have been more manageable. But all in all, we must commend the organizers for trying their best at delivering a world class show. Many might have tried comparing the show to the LFW or the Mercedes Benz NYFW or even the Paris Fashion Week, all these shows have been on for several numbers of years and they still encounter little hitches here and there, but one major thing is that they enjoy unbelievable supports from their communities, also there are things we would spend extra ordinary amount of resources on here, that are standards in those countries.

So let’s celebrate our own, in our own special way, slowly and gradually we would get there and by God's grace we would learn from our little mistakes and we would one day deliver the best that is comparable to any in any parts of the world. One way or the other the Arise showcase brought good attention to Africa whether anyone likes it or not.  Enjoy our photo-splash!!!!!

DESIGNER-JOHN KAVEKE & FRIEND

MILLEN MAGESA