Paloma Elsesser Captures the vibrant power of Lagos’s Coolest pageant

photo: Courtesy of Paloma Elsesser

I didn't play soccer, however changed into so proud to watch my foreign woman Crew upward thrust during the ranks and win the Homecoming cup this 12 months.

You in no way neglect your first time in Lagos. As Paloma Elsesser will tell you, the Nigerian megatropolis seems to pulsate with shiny energy at pretty lots each hour of the day and nighttime. "The hues and the heat make you believe in a daze, however that daze is spicy," she says. "day after day weaves into the subsequent with sticky harmony." The model made her 2d commute to Lagos last month for Homecoming, the annual competition thrown through British-Nigerian music maven Grace Ladoja. The lengthy weekend of activities protected a pop-up store full of one-time-most effective collaborations (Kenneth Ize and Mowalola had been among the Nigerian designers who made limited-edition pieces), a soccer match, and a sequence of intimate panel discussions wherein Elsesser participated alongside fashion designer Irene Agbontaen and stylist Ade Samuel. The grand finale? A outstanding live performance that introduced collectively the ultimate in native skill in addition to a few particular overseas visitors. "Of direction seeing Skepta is always a favourite. The energy that young people carry for him is what makes Homecoming so special," says the mannequin. "My chum Grace additionally put me on to this new artist known as Rema. It was astounding to witness his first essential efficiency."

For Elsesser, the most memorable moments of her shuttle got here with little fanfare. "i really like going to Tarkwa Bay, it's this staggering seashore that has an amazing artisan community and the families who reside on the small island are so type," she says. "ultimate yr I frolicked with a little woman named Stephanie all day and this time I spent the day together with her and her sister Popo. We went swimming and noted boys and clothes all afternoon. It became in fact pleasing to consider related to someone whose life appears so distinctive from mine." See extra highlights from her travel within the slideshow above.