Zambian grandmother turns into trend icon

In a small village simply exterior Lusaka, an 85-year-old Zambian grandmother has turn out to be an unlikely trend sensation.

Margret Chola, now referred to as ‘Legendary Glamma,’ dazzles her 225,000 Instagram followers with daring, flamboyant outfits and a confidence that defies age.

ZAMBIAN GRANDMOTHER AND HER STYLE

Her story started in 2023 when her granddaughter, Diana Kaumba, a stylist based mostly in New York Metropolis, turned an informal concept into a worldwide phenomenon, in line with the BBC.

Kaumba, visiting Zambia to mark her father’s demise anniversary, requested her grandmother to strive on her unworn outfits.

What began as a playful change remodeled into the Granny Sequence.

ZAMBIAN GRANDMOTHER’S PHOTOSHOOT

The primary outfit? A silver pantsuit, worn by Ms Chola in her pure rural habitat.

“I assumed it could be good to decorate Mbuya in excessive trend and take pictures on the farm,” mentioned Kaumba. The response on-line was overwhelming. “In simply 10 minutes, the primary photograph had 1,000 likes,” she recalled.

The agricultural backdrop of Ms Chola’s village, full with mango timber and maize fields, contrasts strikingly together with her high-fashion ensembles, in line with Every day Jang.

ZAMBIAN GRANDMOTHER’S COURAGE AND GRACE

Whether or not posing in a feathered lilac high or carrying daring sun shades formed like pineapples, her seems to be captivate.

Her private favorite? A pair of denims paired with a T-shirt bearing her personal picture.

“I had by no means worn denims or a wig earlier than, so I used to be completely happy and dancing,” Ms Chola shared.

Every outfit within the Granny Sequence combines vibrant colors, clashing textures, and outsized equipment.

Kaumba describes her grandmother as having “braveness, grace, and the power to nail each look.”

LIFE IN ZAMBIA

The photoshoots usually characteristic quirky props that replicate Ms Chola’s life.

A charcoal brazier, a picket pounding stick, and even her beloved radio make common appearances. In a single playful shoot, she even styled a goat in pearls.

South Africans would possibly discover this story deeply inspiring. It’s a reminder that rural roots don’t restrict creativity or international attraction.

Like South Africa’s personal custom of mixing fashionable traits with cultural heritage, Ms Chola’s pictures present how rural African life can affect international trend.

AFRICAN PRIDE

Her picture in Zambia’s nationwide colors—inexperienced, pink, and black—pays homage to her nation’s independence, in line with the Telegraph.

It additionally echoes the delight many South Africans really feel for his or her nation. By way of these photoshoots, Ms Chola’s fame has skyrocketed.

She’s impressed different households, with Kaumba now styling grandmothers aged 70 to 96. “Older folks nonetheless have a lot to supply,” Kaumba remarked.

ZAMBIAN GRANDMOTHER EMBRACES THE BEAUTY OF AGING

Ms Chola hopes her story encourages others to embrace life absolutely, no matter age.

“You’ll be able to by no means change the previous, however you possibly can change the long run,” she mentioned.

For Ms Chola, the journey is private too. Raised by her grandparents, she left college at 12 resulting from financial struggles and endured a troublesome marriage.

REWRITING THE NARRATIVE

Her surprising fame has given her a brand new function. “I get up understanding folks world wide like to see me,” she mentioned.

Ms Chola’s story isn’t nearly trend. It’s about discovering pleasure, bridging generations, and rewriting life’s narrative.

Her journey, very similar to South Africa’s evolving tradition, exhibits the facility of resilience and creativity. As she places it, “Dwell your life and don’t fear about what society thinks.”