Social media and social networking software, TikTok, have continued to give wings to a lot of creative minds to become global superstars, churning out content regularly.
Nigerian youths are not left out of this global trend, as they have leverage TikTok to take creativity to a whole new level. One of the few rising so high in this new wave is make up and fashion expert, Agbahiwe Stella Amarachi, popularly known as Ammie.
Ammie, who has become a celebrity and global icon with verified TikTok content creator, is from Nkwerre Local Government Area of Imo State, South-east Nigeria. The ingenuity and creativity in her made it quite easy to blend in as a distinctive content creator, in spite her background as an actor.
Agbahiwe Amarachi has been influencing plus-size models and females like herself through the impact of her content on the video hosting app. The actress is a body positivity advocate and brand influencer with close to 4 million followers on TikTok.
The Chief Executive Officer of Baddies Wurld; an online store where beauty accessories are sold, initially started to post fashion tips and trendy make up looks videos on TikTok for the fun of it, unknowing that she was going to be sitting on a gold mine. Her unrivalled creativity won her unexpected huge following, hence, the need to rebrand and repackage her ideas as an enterprise.
“I build my connection with my audience and other creators, I figured my niche and also keeping up with the latest trends, I get to come up with so many content and I decided to mix up my contents and put in more work because it’s not about taking a photo or video and posting it, it’s also about building a community that’s survives and thrives and I have the passion for fashion and open to give my audience more”, she disclosed in a recent interview.
“I joined TikTok during the COVID period and I got to learn that I can put out my talent and also learn new things , I started off with acting and then I moved to creating crazy makeup looks, transitions and I started joining the latest trends on social media platform. When i realized I got an audience, I had to step up and rebrand myself because it’s makes me happy when I help people with tutorials when they ask for one
I learnt I could actually monetize content creating, watched other creators too and I started exploring in the content creating field.I had so much interest In creating especially fashion contents because it’s rare seeing a plus size in the industry that’s into fashion and other amazing things”.
Ammie’s makeover from being just a TikTok user to major content creator is phenomenal. She gave an insight into how to become a successful content creator, riding on her dream to be a player in the Nigerian entertainment industry.
“A fashion person and a creator can attain success if they have a good communication skills, always consistent with creating contents , sense of style and knowledgeable of current fashion trends. A fashion person can actively seek inspiration, I mean like inspiration doesn’t always come as easily as i would like it to so i set boundaries, take breaks, find my flow, I stay curious and I am not afraid of mistakes because I know that is how I will learn”, Ammie pointed out.
Ammie is a recognized identity in the Nigerian entertainment sector. The TikTok star has worked with several local brands: Lush hair, Empower, Alipearlhairs, Yolissahair, and Asteriahaircoupon in the United States, to name a few. Due to her growing influence in fashion, the fashion enthusiast is followed on social media by some of Nigeria’s popular entertainment figures.
Agbahiwe Amarachi, who revealed that she has been body-shamed online, bemoaned how the fashion industry in Nigeria does not make provisions for plus-size ladies.
“One of the major thing I think is yet to be exploited well in the Nigerian fashion industry is the fact that as a plus size lady, we find it very difficult shopping wears in our size because often plus size are cut differently from regular size especially in Lagos, Nigeria. It’s very rare to see a plus size store for ladies even for men and it makes us feel like we are not needed in the fashion industry or anything that has to do with fashion in general.
“And plus size dress can be so expensive. As a plus size lady, I have faced difficulties like this and I have found a way to overcome it by finding other means to create something beautiful. I look forward to owning a plus size store of my own so that ladies out there can come in, shop and be able to express and feel confident in themselves,” Ammie expressed.
