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WHY I AM HOSTING A TV REALITY SHOW – AGBANI DAREGO

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A new reality show is about to make its debut on the airwaves. The show tagged “Stylogenic” will be woven around the concept of a style team which includes make-up artists, hair stylists, models, photographers and stylists. The host of the show will be the international renowned super model and former Miss World, Agbani Darego. Recently Agbani was in the country at the official launch of this reality show which took place in Lagos and in this interview, she opened up on why she is identifing with the show.

It’s been quite a while since emerged as the first and only black African winner of the Miss World contest. Between then and now, what have you been doing?
Well, I have been very busy. I have been in school. I have been studying at the New York University for degree in Psychology. I have been doing a lot of modeling work. So, it’s not as if I have been away doing nothing.

About Stylogenic – what is it all about, what will be its focus?
Firstly, I must say that the show is quite unique, in the sense that unlike other reality TV shows, it won’t be focused on a particular individual, or one aspect of fashion. It’s going to be focused on the whole aspects of fashion. In essence, it will be focused on a group of people involved in fashion such as the designer, the model, the make-up artist, the stylist, the hair stylist and the photographer. What this means is that at the end of every edition when there is an eviction, not one person will be evicted, but the whole team.
And I think that the whole idea that it not just going to be limited to Nigeria alone, but pan-African, makes it quite a lovely concept. Also the show is not going to be reaching out only to Africans here on the continent, but Africans in the Diaspora as well. Also there will be casting sessions in London, New York, Johannesburg, Nairobi and Lagos. So, I believe that’s a great opportunity to take the African fashion industry to a new height, and for me, when I was approached to host the show, I was like ‘wow!’ It’s a great opportunity, it is something I can be very proud lending my name to, and it also offers me the opportunity to spend more time at home.

So, what sense of style is the show trying to portray?
It’s trying to portray a sense of style that everyone has. It’s just like you woke up this morning, you went through your closet, and you wanted to wear a particular thing. Why? It’s because that’s what makes you feel good. Today, over 94 per cent of people believe that the fact that because they work hard, they should look good, they should reward themselves. ‘I want to reward myself, I want to look good.’ So, every individual has his or her own sense of style. We are not trying to say that this is a perfect style because we all have our sense of style. For example, in Nigeria there are so many ethnic groups, and each one of them has its own different attire. That’s stylish, that is being fashionable; that’s style, and that’s what we are trying to promote. Everyone has a sense of style that they are proud of, and we are not trying to change it.

Is Stylogenic modeled after Project Runway? Is it something close to it?
Well, in some ways it is similar, but in many other ways it is different. Project Runway features just the designer. So, in that aspect it is going to be totally different. I think the only similarity is that at each episode, the contesting teams are given a task like in Project Runway. Stylogenic is going to be focused on a style team, a whole team of people, and not on one person, or one aspect of fashion.

Who and who are going to be the judges for the show?

I guess you have to watch the show to find out. But I can tell you this that we are going to invite international buyers from all over the world, people who already know their trade and what fashion is all about.

How many contestants are you looking at?
It’s going to be a team of six people, and there are going to be several teams. I believe we will have six teams made up of six people, and we are going to have 13 episodes.

How long will it run?
At one episode a week, I think that will be about three months.

On a personal note, what sense of style will you try to inject into the show?
For me, I am not trying to force my sense of style on anyone. The show is about people being aware of style. My own preferences, or choice of style quite different from that of everyone, because we all different types of people. My own sense of style speaks for itself as does that of every other person. It says who I am, who Agbani Darego is.

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