Lola Maja

Lola Maja (born Omolola Maja; 26 January 1978), also known as Lola Maja-Okojevoh, is a Nigerian make-up artist; her specialties include special effects,[4] eyebrows and eyelashes. She is also a massage therapist, beauty tutor, and Spa and Cosmetics Brand Consultant. She is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of "Sacred Beauty"; she is known for working on several major fashion events and on major films such as The Figurine and October 1, as well as several music videos. She has done make-up for celebrities such as Genevieve Nnaji and Tiwa Savage. She also has worked with major fashion magazines, such as Style Mania and FAB, as well as models like Iman and Tyson Beckford.[2] In 2015, she won the "Best Make-up" Africa Magic Viewers Choice Award for October 1.[5]

Lola Maja
Born (1978-01-26) 26 January 1978[1][2]
Nigeria
NationalityNigerian
CitizenshipNigerian
British
Occupationmake-up artist, massage therapist, beauty tutor, Spa & Cosmetics Brand Consultant, entrepreneur
Years active1992–present[3]
Spouse(s)
Tonio Okojevoh
(
m. after 2010)
[2]
ChildrenTega Okojevoh (b. 2011)
Tallulah Okojevoh (b. 2013)[4][3]

Background and early life

Maja was born in Nigeria, to a father of Yoruba descent and a mother with Itsekiri, Lebanese, Italian, Indian and Scottish ancestry. At the age of 2, she and her family moved to the United Kingdom where she grew up. She moved back to Nigeria in 2010, after she got married.[4]

Career

Maja started working as a makeup artist when she was 14; whilst she still in high school, and into college. At 18, she had to make a choice whether to continue her degree or leave and take the role as makeup artist of the original team to launch Iman Cosmetics at their flagship counter in London; she followed her heart and launched Iman Cosmetics in 1997.[6][3] She launched her own Lashes range, "Sacred Lashes", in 2010. The line was started mainly to provide high quality products for make-up students and other makeup artistes in Nigeria, but the clients loved them a lot, that the company decided to start retailing them in boutiques and on the internet. The brand eventually grew to have a wide range of items.[3]

Maja went back to school to get a formal qualifications in "Beauty Therapy". She graduated from the London College of Beauty Therapy, then went on to St Mary's University College, Twickenham. Thereafter, she obtained a Teaching Diploma, after which She went further to launch a Beauty Academy in 2013.[3] "Sacred Lashes" eventually metamorphosed into "Sacred Group of Companies", which focuses on wide range of make-up related activities, such as: editorial, catwalk, studio photography, television, film, music videos, beauty therapy and training.[7]

Maja has a wide range in her make-up portfolio, from special effects to bridal, from beauty to creative fashion. She worked on the music video of My Darlin by Tiwa Savage, whom she transformed into an old lady in the video. She did Genevieve Nnaji's make up for the photoshoot of her clothing line St.Genevieve.[3] She has also worked as a Beauty editor for major fashion magazines like Style Mania, FAB and Noir.[3][6] Her make-up works have appeared on popular magazines, like: TW, Genevieve Magazine, True Love, Elan, Black Hair & Beauty, Colors, Pride, Sideview, and Trendsetter.[6] She has worked with supermodels like Iman and Tyson Beckford.[2] Other celebrities she has worked with include: Alek Wek, Ernie Hudson, Joe Estevez, Joe, Dru Hill, Ojy Okpe, Fifi Ejindu, Genevieve Nnaji, Omotola Jalade, Rita Dominic, Kate Henshaw, Tiwa Savage, Omawumi, Waje, Toolz, Toke Makinwa, Eku Edewor and so on.[3]

Maja did the make-up for two of Kunle Afolayan's films: The Figurine (2009) and October 1 (2014);[2] the latter, for which, she won the 2015 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Award for "Best Make-up". She was also the make-up artiste for the third and fourth season of the television drama series Shuga.[3] Maja has also worked on several music videos, such as: Wizkid's "Tease Me", Banky W’s "Lagos Party", Omawumi’s "Today na Today" and Dr SID’s "Something about You".[2] Maja is also a regular guest on television lifestyles shows & radio, to talk about beauty, fashion and makeup advice, while commenting latest trends in fashion.[6]

Personal life

Maja met her husband, Tonio Okojevoh at a cousin's wedding, whilst she was still engaged to another; an engagement which didn't work out. She became friends with Tonio and after six years, he proposed, without prior dating.[4] Maja has stated that she and her husband were celibate before they got married, a decision which her husband initiated, as his promise to God.[8] Tonio and Lola got married in 2010; together, they have two children, Tega and Tallulah, born in 2011 and 2013 respectively.[9] She once shared that whilst she was in labour with her first child, listening to "Bumper to Bumper" by Wande Coal helped to ease her labour pains.[10][2] She has also made it known that she won't be having anymore children.[8]

Filmography

Film and television
YearWorkRoleNotes
2009 The Figurine make-up, hair, special effects, cameo
2012 Turning Point make-up, hair, special effects
2013 Flower Girl make-up, hair, special effects
Shuga (season 3) make-up, hair
2014 Render to Caesar make-up, special effects
October 1 make-up, hair, special effects
2015 Shuga (season 4) make-up, hair
Fifty make-up, hair, special effects
2016 The C.E.O. make-up, hair, special effects

Awards and nominations
Year Award ceremony Prize Result Ref
2015 2015 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards Best Make-up Artist Won [11]
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References
  1. Lykon, Tolu (26 January 2013). "FAB Celebrations: Happy Birthday to phenomenal makeup artist, Lola Maja Okojevoh!". FAB Magazine. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  2. Esho, Wemimo (25 February 2015). "Lola Maja: 5 Things you'll love to know about her". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  3. "Chilling With Lola Maja". Genevieve Magazine. 8 July 2015. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  4. "My husband and I never dated–LOLA MAJA OKOJEVOH". The NATION. 19 April 2015. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  5. "List Of The 2015 Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards (AMVCAs) Nominees". DStv. StarGist. 13 December 2014. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
  6. "Lola Maja-Okojevoh Profile". Nolly. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  7. Anugwara, Boldwin (9 June 2013). "I'm living my dream – Lola Maja-Okojevoh". News Watch Times. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  8. Ndimele, Manuel. "Lola Maja Explains Being Celibate For 6 Years With Hubby". naij.com. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  9. "Make-up artist and beauty therapist, Lola Maja, welcomes baby girl". *parent company of the website*. *website name*. 4 May 2013. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  10. "'How Wande Coal helped me get over labour pain' – Lola Maja". Nigerian Entertainment Today. The NET NG. 15 November 2014. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  11. "AMVCA2015: Sacred Lola Maja wins Best Make-up Artist". Africa Magic. 9 March 2015. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
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