How Zambia’s Margret Chola became a fashion icon

A grandmother in rural Zambia has turn into an model icon and web sensation – after agreeing to play dress-up and swapping outfits along with her fashionista granddaughter.

Margret Chola, who’s in her mid-80s, is thought to the world as “Legendary Glamma” – and adored by 225,000 Instagram followers for her placing and playful vogue images.

“I really feel completely different, I really feel new and alive in these garments, in a means that I’ve by no means felt earlier than,” Ms Chola tells the BBC. “I really feel like I can conquer the world!”

The fortnightly Granny Sequence was created in 2023 by her granddaughter Diana Kaumba, a stylist who relies in New York Metropolis.

She got here up with the concept when she was visiting Zambia to mark the second anniversary of the loss of life of her father – the individual she says impressed her ardour for vogue as a result of he all the time dressed effectively.

Throughout that go to Ms Kaumba had not worn all her fastidiously curated outfits, so she requested her grandmother – or “Mbuya” within the Bemba language – if she wished to strive them on.

“I wasn’t doing something on the time, so I simply mentioned: ‘OK. If that’s what you need to do let’s do it – why not?'” Ms Chola mentioned.

“You’ll miss me once I die and at the least this fashion you can be remembering me.”

Ms Kaumba wore Mbuya’s high and “chitenge” – a chunk of patterned material wrapped across the waist. And Mbuya’s first outfit was a silver pantsuit.

“I assumed it will be good to decorate up Mbuya in excessive vogue after which take images of her in her pure habitat,” Ms Kaumba tells the BBC.

That pure habitat is a farm within the village of 10 Miles, simply north of the Zambian capital, Lusaka.

Most frequently Ms Chola is photographed in all her glamour exterior – usually sitting on a chic wood chair or lounging on a leather-based couch.

Within the background are uncovered brick buildings with corrugated iron roofs, ploughed fields, mango timber and maize crops.

“I used to be so nervous once I posted that first photograph. I left my telephone for 10 minutes and in these 10 minutes there have been 1,000 likes,” Ms Kaumba says.

“My thoughts was blown. The feedback had been flying in and other people had been asking for extra.”

It was in April 2024 that the Granny Sequence actually took off – after Ms Kaumba posted a collection of images of her grandmother in a pink Adidas gown, a number of chunky, golden necklaces and a glittering jewelled crown.

“It stunned me to listen to that so many individuals around the globe love me,” Ms Chola says – who doesn’t know her actual age as a result of she doesn’t have a beginning certificates.

“I didn’t know I may make such an affect at this age.”

Ms Chola poses in garments which might be a mixture of vibrant colors, textures and types.

From a inexperienced American soccer jersey, mixed with a layered frilly pink gown styled as a skirt – within the colors of the Zambian flag to pay homage to 60 years of independence.

To a blue, black and inexperienced sequined high, full with a golden snake necklace and bracelet.

And Mbuya’s private favorite – denims, a graphic T-shirt along with her picture on the entrance and a blonde wig.

“I had by no means worn denims or a wig earlier than – so I used to be pleased, and I used to be dancing.”

Ms Kaumba, who has been a stylist since 2012, says that her grandma has “braveness, grace – and nails each look”.

All of the seems mirror her maximalist-chic aesthetic – which celebrates the enjoyment of extra, eclectic mixtures, the massive and the daring, and clashing patterns and hues.

On the coronary heart of all of it are eye-catching equipment – daring sun shades, outsized hats, necklaces, bracelets, pendants, rings, gloves, baggage, blonde wigs, crowns.

That affect has come instantly from her grandmother, who has “all the time been a lover of pearls and bangles”.

In a single notably playful scene known as GOAT – brief for best of all time – Ms Chola seems with a goat – that’s decked out in Mbuya’s beloved pearls.

Different equipment additionally mirror Chola’s persona and story.

In some photographs Mbuya is holding the beloved radio that she carries round all day and takes to mattress along with her.

Or she’s clutching an “ibende” – an extended wood stick that through the years she has used to pound millet or cassava or maize.

She is smoking a pipe or holding a metallic cup stuffed with tea, and hanging off the sting of the chair arm is an “mbaula” or charcoal brazier that Zambians usually use for cooking – particularly now that the nation is stricken by extreme energy cuts.

Ms Kaumba hopes that the Granny Sequence will spotlight that older folks nonetheless have loads to supply – and making recollections collectively is a crucial approach to “depart footprints for the subsequent era”.

“Don’t write them off, love them simply the identical until the tip as a result of bear in mind we might be identical to them sooner or later.”

On account of Mbuya’s photograph shoots, Ms Kaumba’s been employed by 4 granddaughters to model their grandmothers – aged between 70 and 96.

Ms Chola hopes that the Granny Sequence will encourage folks “to reside their lives and never fear about being judged by society”.

She urges folks to “all the time forgive your self for no matter errors you made. You may by no means change your previous – however you’ll be able to change your future”.

The photograph shoots have introduced granddaughter and grandmother nearer – and thru their particular bond Ms Kaumba has learnt a lot extra about her Mbuya’s usually tough life.

Ms Chola was raised by her grandparents, went to high school till she was 12 or 13 after which, due to financial causes, was compelled to marry a person in his 30s.

She had three kids, ended up ingesting closely and ultimately escaped the wedding.

That trauma nonetheless haunts her – however her sudden international fame has given her a brand new lease on life.

“I’m now capable of get up with a goal realizing that folks around the globe like to see me,” Chola says.

Penny Dale is a contract journalist, podcast and documentary-maker primarily based in London.