She soon began as a presenter on a show about Nigerians living in London and later got signed to the production/management company R70 World as the presenter of the programme Out and About on BEN TV. Presently Ronke is the presenter and co-producer of the popular Black Variety Show on OBE TV (Sky Channel 159) in the United Kingdom for about four years now, started showing in Nigeria about two months ago. The show is rated the No.1 television programme for Nigerian and African lifestyle, broadcast live from the heart of London.
Ronke Apampa
What exactly is Stars on the Runway all about?
Stars on the runway is a fashion show with a difference featuring 6o celebrities and twelve
designers on one runway. 60 celebrities will be wearing creations made by twelve designers. We chose ten top designers in Nigeria and two Nigeria designers based in Brooklyn. The celebrities were divided equally among the designers, so we have like six celebrities to a designer, making outfit for them.
The reason why we say, it’s a fashion show with a difference is because for the first time in Nigeria, 60 celebrities will be modelling for charity. Secondly, the celebrities are divided into five categories: we have the Divine Divers, Players Ball, Celebrity Couple, Movers and Shakers, Peculiar Pairs.
So it’s just an ordinary show that the models just come on the runway. The categories are fun, Divine.
Divas for example are leading women of style and class in Nigeria, we have the likes of Bianca Ojukwu,Genevieve, Omotola, Yinka Davies and more. Players ball, Kanu Nwankwo, Mr Segun Odegbami, Jim Iyke, Julius Agwu, Kojo Williams. The celebrity couples, we have Olu and Joke Jacobs, Tunde and Wumi Obe, Tunde and Bimbo Oloyede, Lady D and Chalie Boy, Baba Suwe and Omoladu.and the rest of them.. The Peculiar Pears is the one I am not going to reveal because that’s our golden category, I just want people to come and see. Whose idea is this?
It’s my idea but, of course borrowed from different places, I’ve been, because we attend different fashion weeks around the world and we saw what they do, but this has never been done before. Ayo Shonaiya came up with categories, I thought it will be nice to have the
players ball, divine divas instead of just getting people to come on the runway. We both worked together on the project.
What is the objective of staging a show of this magnitude?
The aim is to raise money for an orphanage, for children orphaned by HIV Aids. It is not just about celebrities coming out to start their stuff on the runway, there is more to it. The celebrities are offering their status to add glamour to the event and to help the children.
Why did you think it was necessary to do that, what inspired it? Personally, I have a strong passion for children, not just children, but helping people. I love to help out when help is needed. It’s not because people say it’s good to help, I just feel there is a need to have an
orphanage dedicated to children, orphaned by HIV/Aids.
It’s a global thing now, and it’s really big in Nigeria. I think, there should be more awareness.
Again, every year, we will be giving to different charities, for the first edition, we will be giving it to ‘Support For Africa’ which Patty Boulaye’s charity. I think she is one woman that has a passion for charity, she’s built three clinics so far in Nigeria, The fourth one will be in Cameroon. Hopefully if we have enough money, we’ll build an orphanage and a clinic. Next year, the money might go to Kanu Heart Foundation or the Sickle Cell Foundation.
Who are the designers and what kind of clothes should we expect on the runway?
The show, I tell you, will blow peoples mind and I say this with so much confidence. People will not see something like that in a very long time, its never been seen before and this is what they are going to be talking about for years. There will be other editions, but for this first edition a lot of work has gone into it. Some of the designers: are Modela, Nobel, House of Bunor, Zizi, Lanre Da-silver Ajayi , Okunore Twins, KSLD. Then up and coming Victoria Couture, Ejiro Imostaferi, and Adebayo Jones is making a special appearance as well. There is a twist to it, the celebrities will not be wearing what they used to in their normal life, for instance, there is a male celebrity that will be dressed like a lady on that day, I’m not going to reveal who, there is one that has decided to go old school. The ladies will be
really daring and there is a soundtrack for every celebrity as they step on stage.
As regards entertainment, we have the Creative Academic students, performing a special aids song and a dance troupe performing., we are hoping to bring in Ageli kijo or Sola Ama. It will be hosted by Richard Blackwood and Stella Damasus. Richard Blackwood is a British actor it will be his first time in Nigeria.
What were the challenges you faced getting all these celebrities to be part of the show?
To be honest I think I have been really lucky, they have been very supportive. I think Nigerians are really helpful, in nature, they want to give to charity once they believe you are honest and it’s a good platform for them donate. Most people just say charity and they do not know exactly what it entails some people feel its a way of swindling people . But we live in a society where charity is done like it is supposed to, and once I was able to convince them that we are honest, it was easy getting celebrities to do their measurements, go for fitting and all. Princess Abba Folawiyo has being wonderful, Biola Okoya too, these are people you do not expect to see on the runway, but they will be there.
But getting sponsorship has been a very big problem,it has been very difficult, for Nigerian companies,you need to give them all the time in the world and they have been moving at really slow pace but, I am sure we’ll get there after the first edition, they will understand.
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