Popular actress, Monalisa Chinda, tells Ademola Olonilua about her career and style
What is your Arise Foundation about?
The foundation has been on for about six years. We have been quiet about it because it is a passion for me. I run a charity organisation too, it is a non-profit organisation but we need funds to run it and keep the dream alive. We go out to source for funds so that the dream would not die. We have touched so many lives and have visited people in the society that deserve our care and love. We have been to orphanages and schools for the blind; we visit autistic children also just to show support and to let them know that we love them.
Why did you decide to start the foundation?
It has to do with the way I was brought up. I grew up in a family where all we do is give and show love to those around us. All my father did whenever he woke up was to get all the villagers together and they would all eat together. He was a traditional ruler. As a king, all he did every day was to settle disputes and he was a well known philanthropist. I grew up sharing, knowing that a lot of people need help. We were selfless kids growing up in Port Harcourt. Giving is part of who I am.
Were you inspired by a personal experience?
I had a cousin who once had a child. She had a safe delivery and after two years, the child started acting funny. I saw with my eyes what my cousin went through. She was confused because she did not know what happened. The child was healthy and able to speak but all of a sudden, the child could not speak any more. The child is 10 years old now and she is 85 per cent normal because the mother had to learn how to take care of an autistic child. It was a huge challenge for her. I was always helping whenever I could. It was an eye opener for me. It is not a death sentence but I realised that a lot of children have this problem. I met with Mrs. Dotun Akande who runs a school that caters for children with speaking problems in Ikeja to see how she copes. If you are not knowledgeable about the problem, an average Nigerian might think that someone is sending ‘juju’ from the village to attack your child. What I experienced is what inspired my movie, Silver Lining, which is doing so well all over the world. It also gave way to other charity works that I am doing.
You are also a talk show host. Why did you delve into that part of entertainment?
It is because I see it as an avenue to reach out to people. My talk show is a result of a 10-year plan; I conceived the idea in 2004. I remember vividly how I wanted to reach out to people who had experienced domestic violence, those who had issues with their marriages, people who had been abused basically. I started by writing in reputable newspapers in the country every Saturday and the feedback was amazing. It was a stepping stone for me and I started to gather materials and content. If I had started the talk show 10 years ago, maybe people would not have bought the idea then. I felt this is the right time, so I started the show. So far, the feedback has been amazing.
How have you been able to cope by being a mother, a talk show host, an actress and a producer?
I just love what I do. I think it has been easy because I love my job and I understand how things work. You cannot feed off your passion alone. You must spread your tentacles because you have to pay your staff, pay school fees, and go on holidays.
What was your childhood like as the daughter of a king?
I cannot say that I felt like a princess because we lived a very simple life. We lived in a palace but it was in the village. We lived a life without restrictions. My father was highly exposed and knowledgeable. He lived in Germany for a long time before he came to Nigeria to accept the crown and because of that, there was nothing like a deity’s shrine in our house. I am royalty but we were not pampered.
How would you describe yourself as a young girl?
I was an introvert while growing up. I always knew at the back of my mind that I had younger ones who looked up to me because I am the first child. That stopped me from just letting loose unlike my younger ones who could not be bothered. I was taught about responsibility from a very tender age. Whenever my younger ones got in trouble, I was always the one to be blamed. We were six in my family. From a tender age, my parents would call me and tell me that because I was fair-skinned, I should run away from trouble because I could be easily noticed. I just did not like anything that would make people point accusing fingers at me, so I always made sure I moved with the right circle of friends.
Why did you decide to study theatre arts?
Theatre arts was a lot of stress but it has made me well grounded in my chosen profession. I really don’t know why I chose theatre arts. My parents wanted me to read Law. Even when I filled my form, my mother made sure that I filled Law as my first choice and chose University of Ife. They left the form in the car and I went behind to fill Theatre Arts as my first choice and picked University of Port Harcourt. My second choice was Theatre Arts, University of Ibadan.
School was fun and given another chance, I would want to correct some certain things and come out with first class. During our time, there was nothing like Google, so you had to do everything on your own. Imagine reading like 52 books per semester. It was really crazy.
When your parents found out that you changed the course from Law to Theatre Arts, what did they do?
They were very furious. They were mad at me. My father was not too bothered because he was a liberal man. My mother almost skinned me alive. She was very angry with me. I had to tell her to trust me. She said that it would not fetch me money but when my parents began to see the progress I was making in the movie industry, they gave me their blessing before my father passed on.
How were you able to launch yourself into Nollywood?
It was very easy for me because I was one of the best in school and I always had distinction. I was always reading. I tried to work very hard. My hard work did not start now, it started from when I was in school.
I started acting while I was in school and I was paid N12,000 for my first movie role which was the Pregnant Virgin in 1996. It was fun. In 1993, I did a skit for NTA, Aba and I was about 17 years old then. I have always been a fan of the camera. My plan in life was that after school, I would get married then the fame could come and that’s what happened. When I got married, I launched my career in full force. I went to school with most of the people in Nollywood. Lancelot Imasuen. Francis Duru, Rita Dominic, Zik Zulu Okafor, we all went to school together.
Most people believe fair-skinned ladies have an advantage over their dark-skinned counterparts, do you subscribe to such school of thought?
I don’t think so. I think it has to do with insecurity and not knowing who you are. It also has to do with inferiority complex. There are a lot of dark-skinned people that have made it in life.
Then why do you think women bleach their skin?
I think it is stupid and silly to bleach your skin. It is a problem, a big one. I think it is really bad and it shows that women who do it lack self confidence. If you think about what would happen in the long run, you would refrain from such act. It does not make any sense. If you want to look beautiful, eat healthy and moisturise your skin. If you use moisturisers, it would help your skin to glow. Also try as much as possible to stay away from the sun because it is bad for the skin. Take precautions.
We learnt you are not a big fan of tattoos…
I love them but I can never have them on my body. I get bored easily and what if I decide I don’t want it anymore, then I will start looking for ways to remove it from my skin. If I want a fake tattoo, I would go and paint my skin with laali, the Hausa skin painting. If I do that, then I can easily remove it whenever I want.
Why do you always wear eyeglasses or are they medicated?
They are medicated. I cannot do without my glasses. I have them everywhere in my house. I have one in the bathroom, one in the sitting room, one in my car and about three in my office.
Why don’t you flaunt some flesh by wearing revealing clothes?
It is because I just feel that beautiful things are better off properly packaged. I just love to keep people guessing with my dressing. I like to dress really nice. I like to be conservative when I dress but it does not mean that when I am on the red carpet, I cannot show my shoulders. I cannot show off my chest. I just can’t. I will not go out looking trashy especially not at my age. Even when I was younger, I never wore revealing dresses. I like people guessing.
What would you never be caught wearing in public?
Even if I am the skinniest person on earth, I would never be caught wearing a bikini. I just would not show off my bum or my chest. If ever I am seen wearing a swimming outfit, then it would be one of those that would reach my ankle and would properly cover my chest. Even if I am like Beyonce, you would never see me in a bikini. I like to look like a lady.
Would you say that your background as the daughter of a king affected your style?
Yes, it did. Also my mother was a very devout Christian and it also helped.
What is your fashion fetish?
I love shoes, wristwatches and diamonds.
How many pairs of shoes do you have?
That is not fair because I have since lost count. I really love shoes.
What is your most used fashion item?
I wear all my things every now and then. I think it is my sunglasses. I have a lot of sunglasses and I cannot go anywhere without them. I have sunglasses everywhere.
What is the oldest fashion item you have?
Unfortunately, I don’t have any because I always give out things that I no longer need. I don’t have. I don’t give out my jewellery because my mum keeps them.
How long do you stay at the salon?
I don’t go to the salon, I do home service. Because I make my hair once a month, it used to take about five hours. Now, it takes me two hours to make my hair.
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