Be Inspired : How Photographer TY Bello Turned Bread Seller To Superstar Overnight(Photos&Video)

If by now you have not heard of Jumoke, the newest celebrity on the block, mehn you’re slacking.

Jumoke’s is a bread seller whose life changed after meeting celebrity photographer TY Bello about a week ago.

She is said to have been hawking her Agege bread while TY Bello shot international music star Tinie Tempah on go the streets of Lagos. Somehow, by divine providence, Jumoke appeared in one of the shots and the photo came out like she was part of the shoot and looked very nice. See the photo below:

TY Bello then posted the photo on social media platforms asking people to help locate her. She wrote in one Instagram post:

BEATIFULX : 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 #phaseone

Four days ago, TY announced that she had found Jumoke in an instagram post. See the video below:

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

Fast forward to present day, Jumoke has now been unveiled on the cover of Thisday style and has got Nigerian social media buzzing with her remarkable story as told by TY Bello. Read some of TY’s posts below:

OLAJUMOKE SUNDAY ORISAGUNA : A PORTRAIT WITH GRACE – part 1
I only recently started thinking it was important to make ‘behind -the – scenes videos of my photography sessions . I hardly , however make time to go through the footages simply because I find it uncomfortable looking at my self on screen and for the obvious fact that I sound wierd and embarrassingly loud when I shoot .
Yesterday how ever I sat with filmaaker @emaedosio as we combed through go-pro footages to see if we captured the very moment .. Olajumoke a bread hawker from the Sabo market bakery , walked entirely by coincidence unto our set of our Thisday style shoot for @tiniegram The moment didn’t look special at all. If anything she stood there a little confused .. Some people asking her to leave the set and others asking her to stay . I signaled if it was ok to take her photograph and she agreed and I pressed on my shutter so she could move ahead . My main subject of interest was the Okada driver that had slowed down just before she arrived .Okada riders have that cool lagos vibe and always happen to add a bit of swag to street portraits.
I was wrong to have paid her such little attention. Ever frame with her in it was perfect .. I had found a second subject in the Tinnie’s story .. A young beautiful hawker who could have served as a love interest of some sort .Digitally I made the red in her dress match @tiniegram sleeves to create a connection between them .
When the magazine came out last week and the images hit social media , I was proven right this girl split the limelight with the main subject effortlessly ..questions and comments started to fly : Was she a model ? How did we convince the model to balance all that bread on her head . The buzz about her multiplied when I clarified that she indeed wasn’t a model at all but simply stumbled on our set. I immediately begone my search for her .If so many felt she was beautiful enough to be a model.. Then maybe she was mean to be one .I was going to find a way to make it happen .I had assistants leave word with people in the area we shot her and to my delight the very next day , she showed up at my studio .. (To be continued )

 

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 face.@Bimpeonakoya 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

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 .
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lohicreates@olatoke we where just talking about this on our way to church. God is amazing!

 

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 Yoruba…@kunleafo 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

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

All day, #Olajumoke has been trending on social media and its clear why. Jumoke’s story is one of Dignity in labour, handwork, and how God can change your story over night.Hard work pays and God never forgets his own. Let Jumoke’s story inspire you today and remind you that God lives!!! Some embedded Instagram videos below(video may take a few seconds to load)

Olajumoke behind the scenes : Rerin Nla .. Nla Nla Nla .. My first fashion shoot in Yoruba .. Joy !@emaedosio made a short documentary about this day .It was awesome working with such an amazing team @bimpeonakoya worked for free like she was paid a billion dollars . I love you with everything . @zubbydefinition oga zubs always making magic . We made that gold headpiece from scratch with gold bangles and a broach . Fitted like a crown!!!Thank you guys for sharing and being part of the story . I feel so fufilled and this whole process has blessed me beyond words . The meeting with @payporte was awesome today … Go Jumoke !!!!!!

A video posted by TY Bello (@tybello) on Feb 7, 2016 at 7:53am PST

TY Bello Speaks:

Olajumoke behind the scenes : Retin Nla .. Nla Nla Nla .. My first fashion shoot in Yoruba .. Joy !@emaedosio made a short documentary about this day .It was awesome working with such an amazing team @bimpeonakoya worked for free like she was paid a billion dollars . I love you with everything . @zubbydefinition oga zubs always making magic . We made that gold headpiece from scratch with gold bangles and a broach . Fitted like a crown!!!Thank you guys for sharing and being part of the story . I feel so fufilled and this whole process has blessed me beyond words . Many thanks to the world best assistants @riasolanke ,@blessingsambo and ibrahim mohammed The meeting with @payporte was awesome today … Go Jumoke !!!!!!

A video posted by TY Bello (@tybello) on Feb 7, 2016 at 8:06am PST