Dabota Lawson has achieved alot in the world of entertainment. The lady who says she has a dual personality spoke to Solomon Nda-Isaiah recently on sundry issues.
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Tell us about yourself; something really interesting that makes you stand out?
I’m Dabota Lawson as you already know, from Rivers State. I come from a family of 10, mum, dad and 7 siblings. I grew up in Nigeria and had my college and university education in the UK. I have a BA in financial Economics from the University of Leicester and a CIMA Accounting and Business from the London School of Business and Finance. I have got a dual personality and can fit into any crowd. Physically, I am 5’11 so I always stand out in the crowd. I have achieved certain things in my life especially in the world of entertainment and NGO’s. I am associated which also makes me a recognisable face in society. I have just completed my reign as Miss Nigeria UK 2009/2010.
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?What is your profession and what is a typical day like for you?
I am an accountant by profession, a model, presenter, graphic designer and event planner.
My day starts at 5.30am and usually ends the next day between 2- 3am. I have lots of meetings, financial analysis and going on the high sea sometimes as a result of my job. Planning events, marketing, constantly developing our blog with my group partners for my private business, some days in the week and during the weekend I am modeling, at a photo shoot or hosting an event. But when I am free, I try to spend time with my family or I travel around the country with my friends and party.
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?List three adjectives that best describe you.??
? Charming, witty, overactive.
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What are your good and bad qualities????
Good qualities: articulate, tenacious, gentle.? Bad qualities: could be bossy, over ambitious and emotional
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You have been doing a lot in the entertainment industry, tell us what it has been like.
Oh my God! Where do I start from?
I will start from the good side. When it comes to modeling, this has been my passion from age 5 and I have had several coaching, mentoring and a successful part-time career in the UK and Africa plus lots of experience in high fashion, runway/catwalk, editorial, illustrative, modeling competitions and pageants. In the past 2-3 years, I was the pioneer cover girl? for Naija Times and also cover girl for Society Celebrations Magazine after winning Miss Nigeria UK, and a couple of features in other magazines.? That part comes easy and I have been blessed to have worked with some really good and great people in that industry. Recently I just did a completely different and amazing fashion show with
MTN Lagos Fashion Week. I worked for a designer called Anita Quansah who makes fabulous jewelry pieces. I had to get on a power bike and was dressed up head to toe in safety pins and glass can you imagine?
On the flip side, sometimes I have limitations based on my weight. Every now and again I loose myself and put on weight and that is usually the only problem I have.
When it comes to presenting and hosting which I am pretty new to, I have been able to handle quite a number of shows in a short space of time with some – list celebrities in Nigeria. I have been an official reporter for Naija Times Magazine on behalf of Coca- Cola for the Nigerian presidential Super Eagles send forth dinner, hosted Ice Magazine branding party, the NMAA (Nigeria’s Model Achievers Awards) and a couple of others I am looking forward to doing before the year runs out.
I also plan to try my hands on acting as well.
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What is your romantic life like? If you are single, what’s it like dating on the island and in Nigeria as a whole?
I wish I had time for that right now. Hopefully next year I would be thinking of getting involved with someone special.
Tell us a really embarrassing story.?
In boarding school early in the morning, I woke up to get water to have a bath and did not realise the security dogs were still out of their cage and I was chased round school half naked by the dogs. I could not show my face in class, I was seriously embarrassed and had some bruises from falling down and just felt like going home.
How do you like living in the UK?? What are the advantages, disadvantages of living abroad???
Living in the UK for close to eight years and coming back to Nigeria made me realise how much of a world there is out there. Having the opportunity to get the best form of education, experiencing different cultures and interacting with people from all over the world were some of the advantages I can point out.
Other than that as much I love the fact that I have moved back home, it could be difficult at times blending into the system and when it comes to current affairs, I am way back on information about things going on.
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Being a beauty queen and? in the lime light, how do you feel about the issue of women and sexuality in Africa, in terms of the way it is regarded. Do you feel that women are sexually oppressed?
In some parts of Africa women are definitely oppressed and are frowned at whenever they speak out about their sexuality regardless of how old they are. But in this generation, the oppression faced by women is not as much as the older generation in Africa, people are more open to talk about their sexuality.
What are the most important issues that young professional adults face living abroad?? Do you think it’s the same as the US looking at drugs, STDs, economic struggles?????
I think the major problem people in Diaspora face is the issue of blending with the norms of a society either socially or in a working environment that is different from their background or where they were brought up.
In every young society, the issues listed above are common, though in some parts of the world not as rampant but they exist
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Where is the most exciting place you have been to in this city????
I don’t have one place I love in particular; it all depends on my mood and who I am with.
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What do you do for fun on the island?
Hang out with friends, club, attend fashion and comedy shows, go to the beach and boat cruise.
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What is your happiest moment???
I am the happiest person when I am around people I love
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What makes you sad?? Angry? Why????
Sad: bad news, being ill and not achieving a target.
Angry: bad service, liars and people that don’t take instructions when given, people that don’t keep to appointments.
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?What is it that you want to accomplish in Nigeria / your ultimate goal in life????
My main goal in Nigeria is to be successful enough to make a name and be able to reach out to people in need and to contribute to society positively as a whole.
If there was one thing you could change about yourself, what would it be?????
I would change my bad eating habit and diet. I hate routines and when it comes to my diet I find that sometimes I am stuck with a routine and so change it every time.
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Who are some of your heroes and why????
My number one heroes are my parents because without their love and support from the day I was born I would not be where I am today.
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What would you like people in the West, like the US and the UK to know about what life is like in Nigeria???
Life in Nigeria is fun. We are a developing nation and have gone so far, and we are exposed and have access to just as much as they do in the UK or in the US.
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How would you describe your group of friends???
Crazy, sexy, cool. God has blessed me with the most amazing people who I call friends, my close friends today are people I have known from way back when I was a kid. They are now family to me.
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Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
In five years I hope to have a wonderful family of my own, manage my own company and become an international super star, a role model to the younger generation as I am already doing and have several awards for my work with the youth of the society.
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Who are some of your favorite celebrities and which one of them do you want to be like????
I don’t want to be like anyone, I just want to be me, and stay true to myself. It is hard being real in the world we live in where people try to tell you who you are, what you should wear and how you should wear it. There is so much pressure especially in this particular industry. Everybody wants to copy and do exactly what they see on TV.? If people can like me for who I am and appreciate my work, well that is great and I would know I have succeeded.
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?All the same I have a few people I admire like Jennifer Lopez because she is one of my fashion icons plus I admire her zeal in life coming from a middle class to becoming an international super star. I also admire Angelina Jolie because she is a philanthropist. She has used her fame and success to help support people from all over the world who are in need. She is also a wonderful mother and manages her acting career well.
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Who do you love in the entertainment industry here in Nigeria??????
There are so many people I like, some of them whom I have met and have developed friendship and working relationship with and they are all beautiful individuals.
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Where are your favorite vacation spots?
I would have to say Bournemouth in England. I went there for my 21st birthday and it was the most amazing time of my life.
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What is your most prized possession?
My albums from when I was a baby till now. I would not want to ever lose them.
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Being a celebrity, what message do you have for your fans?
Okay, first of all I do not consider myself a celebrity (laughs). I find it weird when people use that word in reference to me, let alone talk about fans. However, I would like to advise everyone out there with a goal or a vision to keep striving to achieve your goal, do not let anyone put you down, life is an adventure so dare it be humble, forgive and show love to everyone. And to those who have been following my progress and new admirers’ thanks for supporting and believing in me. God bless you.