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How this 27-year-old mum became an accidental star

18 Feb, 2016

It was just a typical day for Olajumoke, a bread vendor and mother of two. Little did she know that an accidental photo would set her on a whole new path

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."

BEATIFUL MISS X:WHO IS SHE.?Every one has been asking if this lady is a model .. It was just perfect coincidence ... She just happened to be walking by while I photographed . It happened so fast .She definitely SHOULD be a model. .. I'm happy to help her build a portfolio if she's interested .She's so beautiful and photographed so well. I'll find a way to track her down somehow . You guys can also help #lagos #doesanyonerecognizeher #okunorentwins #tinietempah @thisdaystyle #lagos
A photo posted by TY Bello (@tybello) on Jan 31, 2016 at 12:35pm PST

Then, she found her.

So I found her ...our beauty from the @tiniegram shoot and boy have I got a fantastic story to share with you all. Right here is an amazing 27yr old mother of two , Jumoke Sunday with an incredible life story .I called on three amazing artists @bimpeonakoya for beautiful makeup .. @zubbydefinition for hair and @emaedosio to make a short documentary about her .. Every one gave a yes !on the spot . They were all at the studio within an hour and we had the most amazing shoot with her. I've also spoken to a few people about the best way to help move her forward and reunite her with her family . ... The process has already begone and I'll figure out the best way to have anyone who wants to be part of the journey .Meeting and photographing her has inspired us all and we can't wait for the good that will come to her from all of this to unfold . She doesn't speak English well but here ,she was explaining how she found us . I had sent an assistant , as many of you advised ,to leave a message with the people in the area where we photographed her... So here she is .. #Olajumoke #tybellophotography #findingjumoke #thebeginning
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

JUMOKE ORISAGUNA : PORTRAIT WITH GRACE Grace is her 14 month old daughter and second child. #makeup by @bimpeonakoya #hairby @zubbydefinition shot with @phaseonephoto @profotoglobal @chimeralighting @digitaltransitions
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.

OLAJUMOKE ORISAGUNA : THE BEGINNING I've asked my self over and again why all of this is happening . One thing is clear .. This woman here is no charity case .. We met her in the middle of her hustle ... The woman works hard.. Seven days a week .. With a family to support .. But with dignity ..who pays that much attention to how she looks as she's about to hawk bread ... Arranging the bread so delicately like it was work much more .. Making sure she left the bakery while it was steamy and hot ... Every body likes their bread hot . .. All of this even when it's clear that her profit in a day is between N300-500 . This is the story of so many Nigerians .. The young house selling gala in traffic... The woman braiding hair under the bridge .. Nigerians work hard and we go it with style ... This has taught us and I hope everyone reading to pay a little attention ., to those clearly working hard around us .. You may have your own wahala to deal with .. But nothing gives you a bigger break from your troubles than just making life easier for someone else .. Give an orange seller a N1000 note and she may be able to take the next day off to attend to herself and her children . Jumoke is sorted ... I personally believe so with all the doors opening up for her but This story is more about the 'jumokes'around you . Who put in all the work but just need a little push .You may not be able to help every one but as I learnt from someone I really respect ... In your own unique way .... Do for the ONE what you would have liked to do for ALL. Jumoke ooo.. Wants to be a hairstylists but secretly nurses a fantasy to act in a Yoruba film one day .. I know she'll be a nollywood hit .. She did great in front of my camera and understood how to work the tiniest emotional nuances .She may not speak much English but can read and write in [email protected] can you hear!!! So here she is our #olajumoke she can now be contacted and booked with @fewmodels . She's an amazing model . Wishing her all the best #makeupby @bimpeonakoya #zubbydefinition by @zubbydefinition #beautiful #lifemakeover #devine
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 [email protected] 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.

OLAJUMOKE ORISGUNA : GRACE ( part 3) During the course of the day, @emaedosio who was making a short documentary about the process had asked her what she really wanted to do . 'Ka ma kiri Buredi ko suwon ' she explained that bread hawking wasn't the most profitable business but put enough food on her table . It also put a roof over a head .. Howbeit a roof she shared with scores of other hawkers . She was a trained hairdresser back in Osun state but her family could not afford the necessarily 'freedom ' ceremony ; a passing out ritual that gives a trainee a sometimes unwritten permission to start a full fledged salon . We all decided that the make over would be incomplete if it ended at the studio . Every one started to reach out to their contacts and through Bimpe we were able to get her a meeting with Ugo the pioneer of Make-me salon . As a result of the buzz she generated from the Thisday cover Our model is now close to starting an internship at @makemesalon and has been offered a additional internship with @sarisignature a famous Lebanese owned salon on the island island . To pay Jumoke her model fee from her first job in front of the camera we called @_ujumarshall one of Nigeria's And matched her fees .She's been offered a modelling contract with the help of @godsonukaegbu from a @fewmodels .She's also had @payporte reach out to her to be model on their next billboard campaign . This is clearly only the beginning of another chapter in Jumoke's story . Though it seems accidental it s clearly Devine . Just this morning ,mentor of mine offered to foot the bill for her accommodation ,education as well as her child's .. This finally makes it possible to be finally reunited with her husband and older child .
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 5:49am PST

Some behind-the-scenes footage of her stunning shoot

A video posted by TY Bello (@tybello) on Feb 7, 2016 at 8:10am PST

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Written by

Bianchi Mendoza

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How this 27-year-old mum became an accidental star

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