Toke Makinwa covers Fame Extra Magazine reveals how she cried on her first date after separating from Maje Ayida

Toke Makinwa is the cover star for the debut issue of Fame Extra Magazine. The media personality’s editorial spread is tagged “The Rebirth” as she talks about everything from dating again, to misconceptions about marriage, the upsides to being single and more. She also talks about fashion, her body and so much more.

See excerpts below from the interview with Latasha Ngwube.

HER MARRIAGE & DATING

On misconceptions about marriage: People are not honest enough! You are told to keep quiet about everything like showing a sign of ‘all is not well’ automatically means you have a bad marriage. The thing is, everyone struggles, no situation is perfect and if people walked around with a little bit of honesty about their situation, a lot of marriages might survive. Religion is also a very big problem, God is involved in Marriage and he has also blessed us with the capacity to think and make decisions for ourselves so people need to be less religious and more aware of His love. There will be way less judgement. So much goes on in a home and you are told to keep mute, keep taking, pray till your knees get dark from kneeling (which is a good thing, don’t get me wrong), but a lot of people lose who they are trying to keep with all of these mandates that doesn’t always work. I am not saying you should go around telling everyone your business but I feel if we had more people open up about their struggles and a society that is less judgmental, people will begin to appreciate the beauty of seeing two people work at staying together and realising the sheer amount of work required on both sides.

On dating again: Yes, and I am having a lot of fun right now.

On being single: It’s tricky! It’s exactly like learning to ride a bike again but I think I am doing very well. Laughs. Of course you get the initial stumble and fall off but the key is to accept that things are different now and that’s ok. My first date after my separation, I cried on my way home as I couldn’t believe I was back dating again, the stress and joys of getting to know someone again, the excruciating pain of the past and the will to trust another again.

HER CONTROVERSIES

On the most absurd thing she’s read: That I had a child I was hiding. It was so silly but yeah, that was funny.

On handling controversies: I just don’t meddle too much in what is being said or how it is being analysed… I simply keep it moving. God has been so incredible in my career and before I started, he told me. “You will hold your peace and I will fight for you”. He has not failed me yet. I just pray about the situation and remind him always that as a servant looks up to his master and a maid servant to her mistress; my eyes are on him (GOD).

On googling herself: 

Loooool. I used to have the google alert on my phones but it was so mentally draining and because I try not to believe the hype, I just work, work some more and stay thankful… I took it off!

HER BODY

On plastic surgery: 

Hmm… I am not against it, I feel like it’s a comfort thing, I have seen people struggle with those things that they are insecure about and once they get something done, they become different people. They are more confident, and if it rocks their boats, why not? I never judge another’s decision as I haven’t walked a quarter of a mile in their shoes so whatever makes you happy, whatever helps you sleep well at night…. Knock yourself out.

On her favourite feature:

 I used to wish I was taller, I used to wish I had a bigger frame and I passed 25 and started adding some extra weight and I wished for my small frame even more. No one is perfect, we are all on a journey to love ourselves and some people get there faster than others but in the end, we realise that it keeps changing and the key is to embrace even the things that we want to change so bad.

On her skin secrets:

I have none. I never go to bed with makeup on, I am a product junkie, you should see me at the cosmetic brand, I try so many things till I find what works and I try to exfoliate a lot too.

HER FASHION

On how much her beauty looks cost monthly: 

I can’t tell you otherwise I’d have to kill you but I feel really blessed and fortunate enough to have met some amazing people who took a chance with my brand from day 1. It goes beyond achequelationship and I try to tell a lot of upcoming people in this business; you’ve got to climb the tree not from the top but from the bottom. Find people with similar goals who want nothing more than to succeed and form a partnership where everyone grows together and it’s beneficial. That way we would all work when no money is coming in and then work some more when we are all MADE. Everyone on my team is now on a retainer and we started from the bottom. Let’s just say God heard our cry and has blessed us and is still blessing us.

On designers she currently loves:

Lately, my love for shoes are actually a problem. Lol… I love Balenciaga, Aquazzura Wild things/pompoms, Sergio Rossi, and of course Alaia Sandals too. For me I go thru phases when it comes to labels, I am a label wh*re, I need to stay faithful but they are so many amazing brands it’s like a kid in the candy store. For clothing, I love me some Nigerian Brands like Nouva Couture, Toju Foyeh, Lisa Folawiyo, April by Kunbi, Lanre Da Silva and Deola by Deola Sagoe.

On fashion don’ts: 

Oh there are so many but what irks me the most must be the wearing everything in trend. Not everything in trend fits your body frame. I love to keep up with fashion and of course everyone loves to be on top of their game and we like to have an idea of which direction the world is going but there are somethings that are in and might not necessary be for me.