Just smile and suck it in darlin...

I remember my first photo shoot.. it was not fun, I had no confidence, I carried business suits to impress potential model agents and the shoot was done by none other than Peter Beard the man who discovered Iman (if memory does not fail me). I was way too over weight, too young, had very bushy eyebrows and even bushier hair (yep, I did the thing of having a perm when it was in fashion). I went for the shoot because Evelyn Mungai, my mothers very good friend, knew Peter and she made the shoot happened. I have to thank the likes of Evelyn because if it wasn't for her and people like her I would have gotten no where in the modeling field.

I was awkward, gawky and just not receptive to a camera lens in my face. You could clearly see this in the outcome. After that, things got better, not great, but yes, better. As with anything, practice makes perfect. At any given opportunity I would do a photo shoot just for the experience. I got more comfortable with the camera, the person behind the camera and I do know some secrets that make you look great once the shoot is done and dusted. I am lucky to have since shot in South Africa for the Cosmo cover, I have also been lucky enough to grace  numerous covers in Kenya and done shoots for fashion designers in Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya and have shot in the UK with top photographers as well as in India with, as they would say 'Bollywood' photographers.

Today I would drop everything for a photo shoot - they are fun and I like fun, they are super creative - I like creativity and the outcome is simply stunning. Today, technology is far better, lighting is spectacular, make up artistes are amazing. You can make a day out of a photo shoot. You get there and there is food waiting for you, hair and make up get to work and then the stylists pull out looks that one could only ever imagine looking good together.
Kenya today knows its business in the industry and can boast some serious ass photogs, make up stylists, stylists and hair peeps. I am impressed.

My tip for a fantastic photo shoot - sleep well the night before, hydrate (this always shows if you do or you don't), be comfortable with the looks they pick out for you, talk to your make up artist about what you know you will confident in then when the lights go on, smile baby and suck it in -that is no industry secret- and have fun as you are in for the ride of your life.

Check out some snaps from my day with Barbara Minishi about two weeks ago..it is magnificent what some great make up and fantastic lighting can do to one's ego!!
www.thebarbaraminishi.com is her site.

By the way for more insights into what a real glam photo shoot is ALL about, I highly recommend you read the book BossyPants, by Tina Fey.

PS these photos may be for commercial use so have just used some of the shots that I had permission to share.

My first Kiss...

'Habari yako, tume tumwa ku kuuwe, bona unaongeya juu yangu? Thafadali piga simu tu ongeye' or something like that was the gist of the text message that I suppose was meant to be a death threat. At least they were nic enough to say 'habari yako' - Kiswahili for 'how are you?' and 'thafadali' - Kiswahili for 'please'.
My thoughts are, if you are going to hurt me, you are not going to warn me - forewarned is forearmed, but then again, the person on the other end of the sms seemed polite enough to give me a heads up - his mother must have raised him well (aside from the fact that he may actually kill people).

I can joke and laugh about it, but it is unnerving and sends a chill down your spine to receive a message like that. So I started to think, who would want me dead? I smiled because I could not count the number! Perhaps it was the person I shared my first kiss with. He was this hot Egyptian dude who had broken up with his very hot Indonesian girlfriend and needed a rebound girl. Guess who he set his eyes on - yup, monobrow me, who would have never got  kissed in high school had it not been for him. I remember him taking my good friend for a walk around the field to ask her if she could ask me if at 'hometime' I would meet him at the corner of the field for a snog. I (shamefully) did not play hard to get and at 3.00pm was there all ready. It wasn't what I thought it would be, kind of too wet for my liking and then it was over in perhaps 5 seconds.
Dude and his hot gf were back together the next day and they went back to ignoring me. Oh, why would he want me dead? Well you see, at the time of the kiss, I wore braces - the plate type - not the railway tracks and when he jammed his tongue in my mouth my first instinct was to close my mouth - I am not sure, but I think I may have hurt him!

If it's not him then may be it was the waiter I got into a fist fight with once. You see, we had gone out for lunch - the lady askari had directed us to park here instead of parking there and when we ate lunch and were ready to leave, the car was blocked. So I picked up a fight with the lady and asked her why she didn't direct the blocker the way she directed us (blockees) and she gave me a bit of attitude. To cut a long story short, it ended up being a melee and a waiter gave me a serious upper cut. I remember it hurt - my eyes were open but I couldn't see anything - that kind of humbled me and removed a serious chip off my shoulder. Hmmm.. so ya, I can rule him out - am sure he and I finished our issues there and then.
 
Who else? Let's see - there are some people I don't really care for in my life. They are in my life by default and that does not mean that I need to like them or kiss their asses. They don't like me for this. I know they don't like me and to be honest, I don't care. My life has so much more going on in it and their pettiness does not even feature. May be its a way to get my attention - try again!

Being in the business I am, you make plenty of enemies & frenemies! You meet people from all walks of life - those who want to know you because of the position you hold and how you can help them - you know who you are and how you have lunched me when I was the editor of DRUM - they want to know you because they want to do what you do - someone once said to me when I was on radio; 'I am only your friend because I want to do what you do and I can do it better' You meet people who take advantage and then you meet those who hate you and don't even hide it. I have met them all!

To be honest I cannot make out who the sms could be from - all I can say is that I send that person love and light - plenty of love and light and thank him (or her) for giving me something to blog about.

Boo!

Would you like to hear a ghost story? I am not into the horror films, I do not like blood and guts and all things gory but I am interested in things that make you go hmmm.. Ever sat around at a friends house during a sleep over and after talking about boys and fashion the topic of the supernatural comes up? Ever rented a movie and watched it and felt really creepy after because the story line was so close to reality?

I hate horror movies. I have watched Nightmare on Elm Street and seen through all the rubbish, I watched the Scream series and thought ok, interesting but there are a few movies that have given me sleepless nights and freaky vibes.
Let me tell you about the house I used to live in.

When I was three months old my family moved into a beautiful house in Loresho. It was set on 5 acres and it was huge. My dad wanted to buy this house and he made an agreement with the owner and he said he would renovate where necessary. He built the gate, the swimming pool, made the extensions and basically poured his love into this house. We had wall to wall carpeting, heck in one room we had floor to ceiling carpeting! This house was grand, it was my home.

6 years later my papa passed away - some would say he was too young to die. For me, the void will never be filled. Life went on as normal but odd things would happen - and for me, I  put it down to my imagination or may be that I was seeking attention - after all, I was the last born, the only girl and I had gone through the trauma of losing my father.
I remember as I got older and I would be alone at home I would hear things downstairs, like the kitchen chairs moving or a door being opened and shut. I would constantly see an owl in my garden, even though this animal is nocturnal, it would be staring right at me in the middle of the day.

The family business started to fail, things were not working out as well as they were meant to and one by one, we lost almost everything. The biggest blow was of course the death of my brother. When he was alive though, his friends and I were sat in his room one day and just like that, a light switched on and off - from the switch and we all saw it. There was one night that my TV switched on by itself and the video (haha, remember the era of the video?) started rewinding the tape in it by it self. I couldn't do anything but stare in disbelief.
After Raju died my eldest brother fell really ill. No doctor could diagnose his illness. He even went blind - but of course later regained his sight.
I used to sleep in my mums room (wouldn't you??) and I would hear footsteps. I remember when I would tell my mum she would say just pray. And I did and it would go away. Again, wild imagination or evil spirit playing mind games??

When I was 17 I had an official boyfriend. I took him home one evening and no one was there. It was dusk, I was locked out of the house. We took a walk in the huge garden. Of course, as a teen does, we took advantage of being alone. So we decided to kiss and as we leaned in for one, we heard someone behind us made the sound of a kiss in a mocking manner. There was no one behind us and gosh, did we freak out. We pelted our asses out of there, into his car and out of that compound.

I never looked too much into it but then as I got older friends would tell me that they felt an odd vibe. People would visit the house and say that this house was scary - but for me this was home. One day thieves decided to raid our home. They got my brother at the front door and he did a very brave (or foolish) thing. They held garden shears to his neck and told him to open the door. They were three. My brother told them to calm down and then yanked the shears from them and punched one of them. He then says that they all looked behind him and almost went pale as though they saw something paranormal. They ran into the shamba, we called the cops and Raj who got home in all of 5 minutes, to say the least, armed; it took 4 hours but they eventually fished them out of the shamba and they were arrested. That was an interesting night.


We left that house 7 years ago and we haven't had any strange experiences since. I know that if you have faith in positive energies you can always overcome negative experiences. Light always removes darkness. What utter shit, you may think! Perhaps -may be this is just my creative writing getting the best of me..but as with any scary story I have to leave you with the thought of it being as close to reality as possible.
I can tell you this - a new family moved into the lush house in Loresho that sits on 5 acres last year. Within 4 months the daughter of the house passed away from a mysterious illness and just last week her father died of a heart attack. Coincidence? You make your own conclusion. (play scary music here...tananananananananananananana)

News n Nonsense

So, J.Lo announced her separation, a meteor fell from the sky in a rural part of Kenya, Norway was bombed, Amy Winehouse died and in Kisumu they turn thugs into grass eating animals- the things that make the news. I stopped watching the news and even stopped reading the paper (I only buy the nation for the crossword) because it is filled with all things negative and to be honest I do not want to be surrounded with depressing stories because I would rather live in a world filled with good, positive vibes.
My husband always screams at me about not being in the know. You see there was a time when I could summarize a Newsweek or a Time in 30 minutes to you I was very aware about who raped who, which killer said what about a Kenyan musician, and how a certain person killed his wife's lover and handed the genitals to the police. But I am past that. I know that what you surround yourself with you will attract. So I choose not to know about inflation and drug overdoses, or famine and train crashes.
It is my world so it is my choice. It may change after a while but for now - I am quite content.

So this is how the week has started off - nice and sunny this morning. Last weeks blog brought about me chatting about 'death' - so we will have none of that. Instead I will just fill you in on the nonsense that is my life. I call it nonsense because to me, it is my life, but to you - you may think - WTF! And I am reading this looney crap? Like sometimes I watch the Kardashians or Jerseylicious (yep, instead of the news) and I think to myself what nonsense! But it is 'reality' TV. It is about their lives; how Kim doesn't touch a drink and how Khloe ignored her at a party and how Kourtney and Scott did it in the bathroom. Or how Tracy yelled and spat at Olivia and how Alexa bitched about Gayle and then cried about it (may be I watch it a bit too much). We all know it is scripted because otherwise it wouldn't be as interesting. I mean, how much of reality is 'interesting'. Like right now, if a camera were following me, they would catch me in my PJS, sitting in an unmade bed, sipping my green tea, clicking away at a computer. Of course, if they wanted to make it interesting - they would script in a phone call and I would be bitching about someone who would eventually find out and we would have a big blow up later on..
I go off tangent...hmm..where were we? Hmmm, oh yah, my week..

So the TV show I am working on - sort of on hold at the moment. Do not know why. I will find out and keep you posted. I may be doing a photo shoot for a new line of sexy stuff - again have to be vague, cannot reveal all just yet. We are in negotiations. Also may get a gig in the USA for a something. Gosh, it is hard to keep you posted as I talk in parables.

Aah! There was a wedding this weekend - but I only made it to the actual wedding - you know Asian weddings, they go on for like 10 days - and here is me, only showing up for the one function. But that is pretty much all I have to say about that -ooh, to spice it up,  I can tell you that the family of the groom is an ex-boyfriends family and also relatives; my cousin married his cousin. But that is kind of where that story ends. Weddings - I like getting dressed up and going for these do's - it is just so nice to people watch. The dressing up takes a lot out of you. I cannot imagine being there for all the functions, my wardrobe is not big enough. Raj always rolls his eyes when I say I have nothing to wear and my wardrobes are full. The thing is I cannot do repeats. I have learned that from being in the media - people remember what you wore, when you wore and how you wore it and you know - people like to say 'doesn't she have anything else to wear?' when they see you do a repeat outfit. I try and make the most of my outfits, the good thing is there are many different circles I roam in, so chances of me being seen in an outfit twice is rare. But I am cautious. Let's be honest, a woman can never have enough clothes or shoes..
Moving on, I tell you what I did do too much of this weekend- Artcafe. Artcafe is a restaurant in a popular mall and I was there for a meeting on Friday and then a girlie lunch on Saturday and then a family lunch on Sunday. I like their Rose and their food - but there is overkill and I think I may avoid the place for a while to come.

There was so much I wanted to share but now that I am sat here I cannot really think of much - must be the Monday blues or the fact that the brain is slowing down (too much frickin reality TV). Let's see this week may be more interesting in the world of Pink - if it is - I will share all in next weeks blog. Until then, you have a wonderful week, stay amazing and love yourself.

Me and Robin Sharma..or is it Robin Sharma and I?

So here is the deal; I got asked for an interview by the only Asian newspaper in town. At first I was slightly hesitant, long story, but because of the writer I agreed to go for it. I acted (key word) like a bit of a drama queen, I mean I know a lot of people call me a bitch, and well, I may as well live up to the reputation. But honest, the writer is a good person and has worked hard to be where she is, am glad that it was her who did my story and she did a good job. Plus I got to share the cover with one Robin Sharma. I saw something coming, I mean, I cannot hog the limelight.. You had be there for a certain part of my life to get it.
Anyway, long story short, thanks to Rav, you did a fantastic job!

Ah yes, if you read all my blogs, you will see that every now and then someone in my life passes away. Don't get me wrong, I am not trying to trivialize death. Quite the contrary. My mums brother passed away last week. I am sad because in a way it is an end of an era. On the other hand, with all my soul searching and my faith in the way things work, I know that this is the journey we will all travel and all we can do is hope that ours is peaceful and easy when the time comes. Uncle Dini was a part of my life; birthday parties, events, dinners, weddings, etc - he was always there. He was a dog lover, in fact he got me my first dog who was my best friend (as they are). I say, may your soul RIP, I know you are happy as you have met those who departed before you and I know you will always be with your family in spirit.
At the funeral, as much as they remind me of loved ones I have lost, I could not cry - not to say that I was forcing it - but all I found myself doing is praying and at one point planning my funeral - I made a mental note to write it down, how I would want things to go.
The reality is, we all must go, the not knowing when is scary but just means that we must all live well, tell people that matter to us that we love them and make a difference in a strangers life, even if it is with just a simple smile.

Wouldn't it totally freak your freak if I pass away like a week from today and then people will say -' its like she saw it coming, did you read her blog?' - that would be a great way to generate some traffic for the blog. Agreed, death is no laughing matter - but we still should be ready to laugh, its healthy!
(and she said we should laugh....sniff...)

So, I am in the middle of planning some photoshoots, chasing monies owed to me (I hate that), ignoring random texts from losers of the past and enjoying the company of my two doggies and my baby girl. She is so the best thing in the world (yes, they should make a t-shirt with that slogan for all mothers).  I love her company and watching what sort of a human being she is turning out to be. I tell you, she is exhausting though - her energy levels are super high and she is  very determined.
Ooh it is Raj's birthday today. I baked him a cake (not the boxed ones you get at the supermarket - a proper, butter and sugar, cake). I also made him breakfast and a steak dinner and have been pampering him and spoiling him. Raj is a simple dude and he is a blessing. I love having him in my life- I am one lucky lady! Yep, and before you ask - I am so not a domestic Godess - I can cook, I don't love it, so me being in the kitchen is a BIG deal.

How is going with the airplanking you ask? Well, we are trying to master the art. I have not photographed mine yet.. I know Gupz did, will have to send you the link and I know Suede is the guru, so follow him @iamsuede on twitter to learn. Btw, planking is a yoga position - it gives you amazing abs - it is to be done on a yoga mat on the floor - not somewhere where you can fall asleep or plummet to your death! Just an FYI.

Random - I got a strange what's app message from someone (famous) who tried to tell me about someone else (has been) which was so eh to me. Thought I would share, think they need attention. RANDOM!

Thanks for reading the nonsense..btw, the blog got a mention in the interview I did, way to go blog!
Until the next one - comment, skype, bbm, text, what's app, fb or tweet but be in touch (coz you know, this could be my last week alive...)

in the pink: Bumped off Al Jaz for the PM

in the pink: Bumped off Al Jaz for the PM: "Hello there! It has been a minute since I last posted a blog - and so much has been going on.. Let's see where do I start? Hmmmm...Ok let..."

Bumped off Al Jaz for the PM

Hello there!
It has been a minute since I last posted a blog - and so much has been going on..

Let's see where do I start? Hmmmm...Ok let's see, so a friend of mine approached me to film a TV show, she explained the whole idea of it, and I thought yaiy, sounds fun and agreed to jump on board. Call time was 6am, which for me means 6am and for everyone else meant 8.30am. Of course, I showed up at 6 and did nothing for a while accept eat breakfast and chat to the crew who must have thought "oh goodness she is eager..."
Anyway, we filmed 3 shows at a go, and it was super fun. I cannot say much about it, yes I was given a 10 page contract, but I don't think it said that there was a confidentiality agreement, but still, I have been in the biz a long while to know that there are some things you can say and some things you wait to be said.

What else? Oh yah, I organised the 2nd annual Fashion And Beauty expo at Westgate Shopping Mall. Wow! The turn out this year was super and the exhibitors were fantastic. Again, I have been in the event planning business long enough to know that you cannot please everybody! But I am open to listen to constructive critics, not haters! Reason the event is put together is because I am a shop-a-holic and I was pleasantly surprised to find out that I need not travel EVERYTIME I need to be trendy! It helps when you want the genuine designer stuff, but when you want to just go for a fad - here is a tip, buy it cheap because it ain't going to last! So here I am surfing the net and I see all sorts of Divas (a female version of a hustler as Beyonce put it) with these online stores and the trendiest bits in town. I would have loved to have hogged them but it makes sense to expose them to my fellow fashionistas. Then there is, of course, the local designers, who produce some stunning stuff.
Anyway, to cut a long story short, FAB is supposed to be a platform for everything available in Fashion And Beauty in Kenya.
Nana Gacega wrote a wonderful piece in The Star on Saturday - she, like me, loves to shop and she totally embraced the idea.
Anyway, while chatting FAB here are some sites to check out if you want to get your online shopping on;
www.2nu.co.ke
www.avid-style.com
www.fabguru.co.ke
www.silkdreams.co.ke
And if you are crazy about all things FAB, look out for www.fab.co.ke that will be launched real soon.

I got a call from a strange number and answered it and it  was Al Jazeera. They had heard of the charity work I do and wanted to interview me on a show called 'the Cafe'. Of course I said yes. They then sent me a series of emails about who what and when and asked me to answer all sorts of questions. I was pretty impressed with myself that my work would get acknowledgement and my opinion mattered. Last night I got another call from the same number telling me I had been bumped off the show as they would rather interview the PM, Mr. Odinga himself. Of course they would! Blah! But they have kept me on file for the next one.

So while all this is going on in my world, Ariyana is busy growing, and my oh my she has. I never knew 9 months would pass this quick and they have. The girl already has a mind of her own and is making me use all my energy on chasing her all over the house has she crawls. The other day she took two steps on her own without the help of anyone and I cried. Hey! Am a mama, and I had full right to cry. That is a day I will always remember. I keep wondering what sort of a person she will become. Honestly, this is the time I really value my mother, what an amazing job she did - as in, educated us, holiday-ed us, fed us, clothed us, etc and made it look pretty effortless.
I also look at Rajs parents and value them too. There was a time there when I thought I knew everything, but being a parent opens your eyes to a different world and humbles you in a way.

Speaking of Rajs parents, they are in India as we speak and I ask you to send Rajs dad a bit of healing energy (if you believe in that, otherwise just say a quick prayer for him) as he has been unwell and is under going medical treatment. Thank you for that.

The African Winter is in full swing, it is freaking freezing here in Nairobi and I have my heater on - thank goodness KPLC have not cut the power, as they do in our pretty city, whimsically I am sure! My tooth is sore so I have to get my ass to the dentists office, it is something I have been putting off for the longest and it's Monday (is that a good or a bad thing? For me makes no difference)

Oh by the way, I have become a bit addicted to Twitter and my friend DJ Gupz and I are learning how to Airplank courtesty of the guru himself, Suede. Follow us on twitter to find out more..
@pinkyghelani
@iamsuede
@Gupzsaund

Have a wonderful week and thanks for reading (and commenting) on the blog
ps..next one I am going to tell you about a Jewellery collection that I designed... FUN