Fashion
The Evolution of Toke Makinwa’s Style From Girl Next Door to Fashion Icon
Once upon a time, Toke Makinwa was just that sweet girl with a charming smile and a girly wardrobe to match. Fast-forward to a few years, she is now one of Nigeria’s biggest fashion powerhouses and is always serving looks, always on point, and forever giving us something to talk about. The Toke we knew has evolved, and her style has grown with her, transforming into a full-blown fashion icon who’s earned her place at the top.
Let’s take a walk down her memory lane and see how Toke moved from a simple girl and became the queen of slay.

Toke Makinwa
Early Days: Simple, Sweet & Safe
When Toke Makinwa first stepped into the entertainment industry as a radio personality and budding TV host, her fashion style was cute, conservative, and very safe. Think corporate dresses, blazers, and the classic pumps that were all invoked in early 2010s Naija. Her style was clean and feminine, a mix between church-girl and red carpet-ready.
She wasn’t out to shock anyone, she was just your regular pretty girl with quality taste. But even then, you could tell Toke had an eye for elegance. She knew her angles, understood the power of a flattering look, and could rock a fitted dress so well.

Toke Makinwa
The Glow-Up Era: Hairs and Bold Moves
Toke’s glow up era began somewhere between her personal reinvention and the launch of her YouTube channel Toke Moments, that time bore a new fashion start.
Bold-colored wigs, flawless makeup, snatched waists, and fierce red carpet looks—Toke began taking risks, and it paid off. She abandoned the “safe zone” and started experimenting with designer pieces, edgy styles, and daring colors. Her love for high fashion became obvious, and she merged streetwear with glam effortlessly.
This was also the season of body hugging dresses, jumpsuits that fitted every curve perfectly, and a steady flirtation with luxury brands like Gucci, Balmain, and Versace. Toke no longer played small, she was serving main character energy.

Toke Makinwa
The International Girl Era
Then came what I like to call the “International Girl” chapter. When Toke started attending fashion weeks in Paris, rubbing shoulders with A-listers, and appearing in Vogue’s street style recaps.
Her style evolved into global, sleek, and editorial. We started seeing her in custom outfits, like oversized blazers paired with bralettes, and feathered gowns, straight from international designers. At this point she was not just dressing to impress anymore, she was dressing to influence. And influence she did.
Stylists and fashion bloggers started citing her as an inspiration. Nigerian designers saw their pieces gain attention after a “Toke moment.” The girl who once wore safe gowns was now confidently pulling off structured dresses, styled suits, and runway-ready pieces. She had officially become a fashion girl.

Brand Toke: Style Meets Strategy
As she evolved, Toke Makinwa didn’t just become a style icon, but also a brand. She launched her own fashion collection “Toke making Luxury”, an exquisite leather bag. She also launched her beauty line “Toke Makinwa Beauty” a brand majoring in beauty, cosmetics, and personal care. An expression of her fashion personality.
She understood what it meant to show up and show out. And she kept her audience guessing, always switching things up. One day she’s in soft, romantic pastels and florals. The next day, she’s channeling her inner baddie in a head-to-toe leather look.
The unpredictability, mixed with her consistency, is what kept her relevant and respected in the ever-competitive world of Nigerian fashion.

Toke Makinwa
Why Toke Style Is Loved
Toke Makinwa’s style journey wasn’t just about clothes. It’s about growth, confidence, and a woman coming into her own. From her failed marriage to business wins, Toke has used fashion to reflect her evolution—and Nigerians have watched every step of the way.
She’s taught us that you can be soft and sexy, classy and bold, playful and powerful. You can move to any desired level you want in life and your style should evolve with you.

Toke Makinwa
Final Word
Toke Makinwa didn’t just stumble into fashion greatness—she walked into it head high, looks and all. From a simple girly to a full-blown style queen, her evolution has been a joy to watch.
If there’s one thing to learn from Toke, it’s this: never be afraid to switch it up, serve looks, and own your game. Because fashion is not just what you wear, it’s how you show up in the world. And Toke? She shows up fierce.
read also: Biography of Cynthia Onoriode Lowo -Model and Fashion Icon
Models
Tamunosoye Karibi George Wins Miss World Nigeria 2026
Tamunosoye Karibi-George just officially became the new Miss World Nigeria, and Bayelsa State has every reason to celebrate.
The 26-year-old was crowned at the grand finale held at Balmoral Hall, Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos, on Saturday night, June 6, 2026. She surpassed 19 other finalists to win the title. Although she represented Bayelsa State in the competition, Karibi-George is originally from Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Photo: Instagram
The pageant, organised by the Silverbird Group, started with 37 contestants from different states. They went through a week-long camp that consisted of leadership training and community engagement activities, which also counted toward judging. The field eventually narrowed to 20 finalists. This year’s competition theme was “Pride, Power, and Purpose.”
Silverbird Group founder and former senator representing bayelsa east Ben Murray-Bruce broke the news on Sunday via a post on X, congratulating Karibi-George and highlighting her work outside of pageantry. He wrote: “WE HAVE A QUEEN! A new chapter begins. Please join us in celebrating TAMUNOSOYE KARIBI-GEORGE, representing Bayelsa State, as the newly crowned Miss World Nigeria 2026! More than a queen, Tamunosoye is a passionate advocate for change.

Photo: Instagram
Through her initiative, Beyond Labels, she champions inclusion, dignity, and empowerment for children with special needs, creating safe spaces where every child is encouraged to dream boldly and realise that their circumstances do not define their future.”
Karibi-George takes over from Joy Raimi, who held the Miss World Nigeria 2025 title and represented Nigeria at the 72nd Miss World pageant in Hyderabad, India. Raimi finished in the Top 20 overall and was among the Top 5 contestants from Africa.

Photo: Instagram
Karibi-George will now represent Nigeria at the 73rd Miss World Festival in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, from August 9 to September 5, 2026.
Fashion
Oleku Is Back and Better, But with a Fresh Twist
The Oleku style is making its way into the spotlight but with a redefined twist. The classic Nigerian short wrapper style is back, from Lagos parties to celebrity photo shoots, the oleku is everywhere again. The women bringing it back are not playing it safe at all.
Mercy Aigbe

Photo: Instagram/Mercyaigbe
Mercy Aigbe wore a two-piece dress in black and burgundy damask brocade with intricate swirls, featuring wide, flared sleeves and an asymmetrical mini hemline detailed with metallic gold fringe. She accessorized with a sculptural gele crafted from the same damask fabric, round retro-style sunglasses, a metallic gold chain necklace and a small rectangular red micro bag. The outfit was paired with red strappy high-heeled sandals.
Nelly Mbonu

Photo: Instagram/Nellymbonu
Nelly Mbonu wore a fitted lace two-piece dress featuring three-quarter sleeves and a floor-length side train, crafted from an intricate overlay lace woven in sky blue and silver threads. Her accessories included a gele made from a cerulean blue fabric, a matching blue ipele draped over her right arm in silver floral print, a filigree gold pendant with matching drop earrings. For footwear, she wore classic white pointed-toe pumps.
Kiekie

Photo: Instagram/Kiekie
Kiekie wore a high-low two-piece from Accost Collection, her brand in jacquard with an intricate pattern in blue, magenta and red, with puff sleeves and a pleated short side train. She styled the look with a large, multi-layered gele crafted from the same jacquard fabric, traditional layered coral bead necklaces from Ordawyse Jewels and matching bracelets. She completed the look with dark cat-eye sunglasses and a cherry red quilted leather bag. She wore turquoise satin pointed-toe pumps.
Simi Dapson

Photo: Instagram/Simisanya
Simi Dapson stepped out in a gold two-piece adorned with sequins, beads, and intricate embroidery, featuring sheer long sleeves and a draped detail extending from the hip. She accessorized with a gele in a muted champagne tone adorned with dark embroidery, a bold necklace and matching drop earrings, and a rectangular clutch fully covered in sparkling red sequins. She wore open-toe high-heeled shoes.
Bimbo Ademoye

Photo: Instagram/Bimboademoye
Bimbo Ademoye wore a metallic silver co-ord set trimmed with deep red ostrich feathers, styled with a red metallic gele, gold earrings, necklace and complemented by red strappy heels.
Hilda Baci

Photo: Instagram/Hildabaci
Hilda Baci wore a lace embroidered top, ruched pink mini skirt, a bow-tied pink gele, a silver mini bag and embellished kitten heels.
Bose Ogulu

Photo: Instagram/Boseogulu
Bose Ogulu, Burna Boy’s mother and manager, wore a neon green lace crochet blouse with wide, bell-shaped sleeves and a high-waisted mini skirt in green-and-gold brocade. She styled it with a gele in matching green-and-gold fabric, a gold necklace, drop earrings, and metallic clutch.
These women are not just revisiting an old trend. They are reshaping it through redefined fabric choices and better styling. The oleku is no longer just for owambe. It has moved into broader fashion dialogue, and these looks shows its continued relevance.
Entertainment
British-Nigerian Rapper Dave Announces First Lagos Headline Show.
British-Nigerian rapper David Orobosa Omoregie popularly known as Dave, has officially announced his first headline concert in Lagos, scheduled for 16 and 17 October, 2026, at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Cultural and Creative Arts formerly known as the National Theatre. The announcement was made through Dave’s official social media platforms. He revealed that the shows to be performed are part of his ongoing “The boy who played the harp” world tour.
Dave is widely recognised as one of the most successful rap artist in United Kingdom with several awards.

Photo: Instagram
Despite his Nigerian root, he has never headlined a concert in Nigeria before. This makes the announcement a homecoming moment as one of the most successful British-Nigerian artist prepares to perform in Nigeria for the first time.
The Lagos shows are being viewed as a significant milestone in his career indicating his global success and a special return to his ancestral roots. Which strengthens the growing connection between global music stars and African audiences. The performances are expected to bring together fans from across Nigeria and beyond, as it celebrates the growing influence of African culture on the global music scene. The Lagos shows further strengthens the growing connection between international music stars and African audiences.

Photo: Instagram
As the concert date continues to draw nearer, anticipation continues to build among fans eager to witness Dave’s headline concert in Nigeria. With his strong reputation for live shows, lyrical storytelling, and chart-topping records the concert is expected to be the most remarkable music event in Lagos this year.
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