Award-winning author Chimamanda Adichie recently opened up about why she mainly wears fashion pieces from Nigerian designers.

In a chat with YouTuber Shade Samagbeyi, she revealed that early in her career, she often hid her interest in style, hair, and makeup.

She explained that she felt pressure to downplay her love for fashion because people might think she wasn’t serious about her writing.

“Some people believe liking fashion makes you less serious. I pretended not to care because I wanted to be seen as a serious writer,” Chimamanda said.

She added that part of her reason for speaking openly about fashion was to show that women with big ideas, including those in politics, can also enjoy style without judgment.

Chimamanda made a conscious decision to embrace her fashion interests publicly, hoping to encourage other women to do the same.

When it comes to wearing Nigerian brands, she said this is a deliberate choice to use her influence to highlight local talent.

“I was tired of pretending I didn’t care about fashion. I love hair and makeup, and sharing this openly can help women feel free to embrace their passions,” she explained.

She described her support for Nigerian designers as a form of “fashion nationalism” and a subtle way to give back to her community.

“I’m lucky to have a platform where international designers send me clothes, but I choose to wear Nigerian brands to show support for local talent,” Chimamanda said.