Let me very first begin this post by saying that I don't understand Linda Ikeji personally, we aren't buddies, and I've "satisfied" her only a couple of times at social events ...

Written By:
Francesca Uriri

Published On:
24 Sep 2016

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However with all of that being stated, I likewise have a deep and abiding regard for her. Is that ironic? Perhaps. But I have actually pertained to understand that you can disagree with somebody on something and still appreciate them. Whether you accept it or not, Linda has shown through her impressive journey of being a blog writer and opinion influencer, that she is a motivation to countless people all over the world. She has boot strapped her method to success using a design that was once unpopular and discounted. She's an Outlier, and manages to inspire, prompt and baffle many simultaneously, and with fervour.

I can't consider a great deal of people who've run a modelling firm, an events company, a magazine and a lot of other companies, failed at them, and still kept pushing forward. I likewise do not know of anyone else (at least not on this side of the planet), who is legally making tons of money by blogging.
[advertisement] I indicate, before Linda, whoever thought it was possible to purchase a house in Banana Island, and open a string of media-related companies gotten from the proceeds of running a gossip blog site? If the United States of America has the "American dream," then Linda Ifeoma Ikeji has the "Naija Dream." Strong, unrelenting in its pursuit of happiness and hope, and eventually, effective. Here's a woman who hit ground no at some time in her life, and is back to level 100. You have to respect such grit and determination, since as my Sapele people will state "E nor simple."

Linda or "Lin-Lin" as she's fondly called by those who are close to her turned 36 years old a couple of days back; and to mark her wedding, she published a 14-minute long video on her blog site. Within hours of her publishing this video, social media was buzzing with all type of comments and remarks about it - and I knew that I needed to see it for myself. 3 minutes into the video, I wasn't rather sure whether I liked it or not, because it came off as somewhat insincere and scripted; plus Linda looked a little uneasy dealing with the camera. However, something altered shortly after - I'm not even sure what. But the veneer of coolness split, and something more warm, earthy, authentic and vulnerable spilled out.
[advertisement] And as Linda started to speak about her failures, her desires, her relationship with God, her belief in the credibility of her dreams, her utter amazement at how her life ended up, and the affirmation that she still "plans to be around for a long period of time," something in me likewise paved the way to the hope and inspiration that she was sharing.

And perhaps it was a psychological minute, perhaps that thing was fleeting, but I recognized it, and I felt it strongly. Because it was genuine, effective and wholehearted. And in that one special moment, I forgot all the times I disliked Linda, or all the irritating things she had actually done, and in that suspended area, between my laptop screen and her video, I commemorated with her. I cheered her on, and I desperately wanted her to succeed.

So you can imagine my inflammation when individuals took just a few seconds of that video - of her preferring a fantastic guy for a hubby - and turned it into an occasion for ugly small talk, senseless rhetoric and upsetting remarks. How do you condense ALL she said, and narrow that down to just one segment of her video? What is wrong if she openly (and very truthfully I might add), spoke about what she wants? Is her desire for an other half somehow less valid or disgraceful since she discussed it in the open? If she had discussed further growing her service or buying another home - would those declarations be met derisive comments? Exists not a peaceful strength and dignity in such a guileless program of vulnerability? When people honestly and truthfully open up themselves, the least we can do, the least we should do as humans is to accord them the respect and self-respect that they deserve.