Nike Oshinowo's Interview

This is Nike’s first interview in years. Encomium Weekly cornered her on Saturday, October 17th, 2009, during Helen Ajayi’s 50th birthday party and spoke with her on her sojourn outside Nigeria, the secret of her ageless look and more
Enjoy...

What were the things that kept you busy while you were away?

Nike “Oh my goodness I wasn’t working, I was a housewife. I was just doing things that English housewives do I guess (Smiles). Having lunch, shopping, hanging out, looking out for my husband, having a tea with neighbours, making sure the house is okay and basically supporting my husband.”

What is the secret behind your ageless look?

“It’s very simple. Sleep, drink enough water and take a healthy organic balanced diet. Three things: Sleep; most people just don’t sleep. They go on all day and sleep for two hours. I sleep. By 10pm, I’m fast asleep in bed and will not open my eyes until maybe 7 or 7:30 am. From the moment I wake up, I drink water. I would not put anything in my body that is not good for me. In fact there are some things that I eat just because they are good for me. I eat for my hair, I eat for my skin.”

We read in a magazine interview that your health-related issues scare you away from having children.

“I never said that”

What did you say?

“I’ve always suffered endometriosis. It’s no secret. When I turned 40, I talked about this issue because a lot of women out there suffer it and don’t know what they can do about it. I talked about my problem so that young women can know they are not alone and they should not be embarrassed. A lot of women with endometriosis have children. I didn’t want to put my body through all that. I wasn’t married. Now I’m married, maybe I might decide to have one. I’m lucky I’m married to a man who doesn’t put pressure on me. He married me, not a baby machine. If I have children, he loves me. If I don’t, he loves me. I’m lucky.”

You are one of the most celebrated beauty queens in Nigeria, what has kept you this good?

“I think that air of mystery. I don’t know where you are from, but I’m Yoruba and they say ‘nkan ta be gbe pa mo lo niyi’ (Whatever you conceal is prestigious). Maybe it’s because I’m not all over the place. If I’m invited to ten parties, I go to one. People still want to see more of me. They ask what is she doing? What is she up to?. In my years of being in the limelight, people didn’t quite understand. They always guessed the essence of Nike Oshinowo. I think that’s a good thing. You don’t have to be everywhere."

Interview by Shade Wesley of Encomium magazine.