An accidental photobomb changed the life of a 27-year-old Nigerian mum of two.
She was just walking by peddling loaves of bread but then she accidentally stepped into a photo shoot. Photographer Ty Bello was photgraphing British musician Tinie Tempah.
The stunning beauty stole the show and soon after, Ty Bell took to Instagram to find out more about the woman. “I’m happy to help her build a portfolio if she’s interested,” she typed to her followers, adding, “I’ll find a way to track her down somehow.”
A photo posted by TY Bello (@tybello) on Jan 31, 2016 at 12:35pm PST
Then, she found her.
A video posted by TY Bello (@tybello) on Feb 3, 2016 at 7:00am PST
And she did not disappoint. She continued to wow and work it in front of the camera
A photo posted by TY Bello (@tybello) on Feb 7, 2016 at 3:35am PST
Ty Bello shares that she is no charity case. She works hard, seven days a week, to support her family with dignity. Not paying attention so much on how she looks, she focuses on providing good products: warm and fresh bread arranged delicately atop her head. She makes about 300-500 Nigerian Naira a day, about 1.5 to 2.5 US dollars.
A photo posted by TY Bello (@tybello) on Feb 7, 2016 at 5:47am PST
Jumoke the ‘model’ the Internet had been searching for speaks almost no English. She explained how she had worn the exact outfit in our photograph the day before and someone showed her her own photograph on his phone from face book. A mallam led her to my studio that morning . She narrated her journey to lagos …A hair stylist from Ire in Osun state but not making enough profit between she and her husband, a sliding door installer in from same village, to care for their two young children.
At the invitation of a distant relative who knew someone operating a bakery, she relocated Lagos with her 14 month old daughter to give bread hawking a try , leaving her husband and older 5 year old behind.
As I listened to her I wondered if the beauty I had seen on my screen as I edited my image was a fluke. Well until she smiled. I realized that I was wrong. I had in fact ,underestimated the beauty of this 27 year old woman.
As always, it was her eyes and of course her perfectly chiseled features that jumped out at you when she chuckled. This lady belonged in front of my camera.
After a conversation with her husband telling him the story of our meeting I decided I was going to photograph her that very afternoon. She stepped in front of my camera and I almost couldn’t recognize her. She moved different too. Jumoke looked straight into my lens emoting like she had done this all her life.
I knew we had found a star.
OLAJUMOKE ORISAGUNA : GRACE. (PART 2)’ Aso kan na ni mo wo kiri Lana ‘.. Jumoke the ‘model’ the Internet had been searching for speaks almost no English. She explained how she had worn the exact outfit in our photograph the day before and someone showed her her own photograph on his phone from face book. A mallam led her to my studio that morning . She narrated her journey to lagos …A hair stylist from Ire in Osun state but not making enough profit between she and her husband , a sliding door installer in from same village ,to care for their two young children . At the invitation of a distant relative who knew someone operating a bakery , she relocated lagos with her 14 month old daughter to give bread hawking a try , leaving her husband and older 5 year old behind . As I listened to her I wandered if the beauty I had seen on my screen as I edited my image was a fluke ..well until she smiled ., I realized that I was wrong ., I had in fact ,underestimated the beauty of this 27 year old woman. As always ., it was her eyes and of course her perfectly chiseled features that jumped out at you when she chuckled .This lady belonged in front of my camera .After a conversation with her husband telling him the story of our meeting I decided I was going to photograph her that very afternoon..Within an hour ..Bimpe Onakoya , one of Nigeria’s leading makeup artist and Zubby one of my favourite hairstylist were at my studio to work magic. They had both followed the story online and were more than happy to put in their very best for her. Olajumoke .., with curly extensions out ,revealed a short natural Afro that beautifully hugged her face.@Bimpeonakoya also had decided to keep the make up minimal… She stepped in front of my camera and I almost couldn’t recognize her . She moved different too.Jumoke looked straight into my lens emoting like she had done this all her life …. I knew we had found a star #tybellophotography #olajumoke #makeup by @bimpeonakoya #hairby @zubbydefinition #blackbeauty shot with @phaseonephoto @profotoglobal @chimeralighting #grace #beauty
A photo posted by TY Bello (@tybello) on Feb 7, 2016 at 4:01am PST
Bread hawking hasn’t exactly proven to be a profitable business since it put a roof over her head.
Because of the buzz she generated, she was offered an internship with Sari signature, a famous Lebanese-owned salon. She has also signed a modeling contract with Few Models. And Payporte asked her to sign on the be the face of their next billboard campaign.
One of Ty Bello’s mentors even offered financial help to sponsor both her accommodation, education as well as that of her child’s.
Because of their generosity, Olajumoke can finally be reunited with her husband and eldest daughter.
A photo posted by TY Bello (@tybello) on Feb 7, 2016 at 4:43am PST
A photo posted by TY Bello (@tybello) on Feb 7, 2016 at 4:43am PST
Some behind-the-scenes footage of her stunning shoot
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