Nigerian Heiress Named L’Oreal’s Africa Digital Ambassador
“I don’t want to be known simply as the Hilton heiress,” American businesswoman, media personality and socialite Paris Hilton said some years back, “because I didn’t DO ANYTHING for that.”
For an heiress, Temi Otedola – who was recently unveiled as the first-ever Africa Digital Ambassador for the French costemics giant and global beauty and luxury brand, L’Oreal Paris – has an unusually busy work schedule, and the resume to match. Heiresses (at least as far as the public imagination is concerned) are supposed to live charmed and perfumed lives, living in a perpetual fairy tale with a happy ending – or a succession of happy endings. They didn’t HAVE to do anything for it except what they’d already done, i.e. BE BORN into a life of fame and fortune. That was the life, by the way, that Paris Hilton led in her early years until she was thrown into the headwinds of harsh media and public ridicule in America, an egalitarian society where unearned privilege is (if not exactly frowned at) certainly not something to shout from the rooftops about. The phrase, ‘famous for BEING famous’ (used to describe persons whose celebrity status can only be ascribed to their privileged backgrounds, rather than to any creative accomplishment), was originally used in reference to Paris Hilton, who is the great-grand-daughter of Barron Hilton, founder of the iconic Hilton chain of hotels. Over the years, though she has silenced her critics by building an impressive networth of over $300 million on her own steam, thereby showcasing her entrepreneurial prowess across a diversity of business interests. In addition to her family connection to the famous hotel chain, Paris (now a married mother of 2) has built a highly lucrative product and endorsement empire which ranges from clothing to handbags to perfumes.
In the same manner, Temi, the youngest child of the Nigerian billionaire, Femi Otedola (and grand-daughter of a former Governor of Lagos State, Sir Michael Otedola) has in recent years managed to transcend her famous last name (and the inevitable stereotypes associated with people, especially females, of her background) to launch a budding career in media and entertainment. An actress, fashion/lifestyle blogger and style trendsetter, she made her Nollywood debut in Kunle Afolayan’s 2020 Netflix film, ‘Citation,’ in which she played the role of Moremi Oluwa, and for which she won an award as ‘Best Actress in a Leading Role’ the following year at the 2021 Ghana Movie Awards. She was also nominated for ‘Revelation of the Year’ at the 2020 Best of Nollywood Awards on the strength of the same film. She also starred in ‘The Man for the Job’, a feature film written and directed by Niyi Akinmolayan.
In 2014, she started a fashion blog called JTO Fashion, in which she documents current and emerging trends in fashion, beauty and art, as well as recounts her travel experiences around the world. For the new L’Oreal Ambassador, life beyond her privileged cocoon has always promised more, and that ‘more’ is always just beyond the horizon (not out of reach, but needing a little bit more than just the desire to attain it). And like her famous forebears, Temi Otedola has always been willing to break from the (very comfortable) comfort zone into which she was born, and reach out for that ‘more.’ Born on March 20, 1996 to Femi and Nana Otedola, Temiloluwa Elizabeth Otedola was educated in the United Kingdom, and received degrees in Art History from the University College, London and the University of London. She has two older sisters, namely, the well-known artiste and disc jockey, Florence Ifeoluwa Otedola (better known as DJ Cuppy) and Tolani Otedola.
An epitome of understated elegance, the cool, calm and collected Temi Otedola embodies not only the L’Oreal Paris brand’s unapologetic appeal to class and pedigree, but also its quest to bring out the true essence of feminine beauty, elegance and that vaguely-defined but unmistakable quality that the French usually refer to with words and phrases like ‘chic’, ‘panache’, ‘elan’ and ‘savoir faire‘, etc – a quality which (in far too many women) is hidden below the surface of one’s outward appearance and outlook like a rough and submerged diamond – waiting to be unearthed and polished to sublime perfection. In a post to her teeming followers that gave an indication as to why she bagged this prestigious appointment, and why she and the iconic brand are a natural fit:
‘I’m so excited to share L’Oréal’s iconic products and equally iconic brand with all of you,’ she writes. ‘To me, the L’Oréal woman is empathetic, unapologetic and of course, infallible. She’s worth it! I can still remember playing with my mom’s L’Oréal lipstick and mascara, so this is a REAL dream come true!!! I’m charging up for all the many moments and milestones I’ll be creating with my new L’Oréal Family.’
L’Oréal’s advertising slogan, “Because I’m Worth It” (as referenced by Temi in her Instagram post above) was first introduced in 1973. In the mid-2000s, however, it was replaced by “Because You’re Worth It”. This lasted until 2009 when the slogan changed once again, to the present, “Because We’re Worth It”.
Founded on July 30, 1909 by a young French chemist named Eugène Paul Louis Schueller, who developed a hair dye formula originally called Oréale, the now almost 115-year old multinational is one of the world’s largest cosmetics companies, which over the decades of its operations has carved an enviable reputation for itself in the fields of hair and skin care, sun protection, make-up and perfumes. With a net worth of about €41.18 billion, L’Oreal employs almost 90,000 people worldwide. Currently headed by Jean-Paul Agon as Chairman, Françoise Bettencourt Meyers (granddaughter of the company’s founder, who is the Vice-Chairman), and Nicolas Hieronimus as CEO, the company, whose global headquarters are located in the French city of Clichy, boasts a number of globally successful up-market subsidiaries such as Garnier, Kiehl’s, Lancôme, Maybelline, NYX Cosmetics, CeraVe, AcneFree, Ambi, Matrix Essentials, Aesop and others.
With her appointment as Africa Digital Ambassador, Temi Otedola joins a distinguished cast of L’Oréal ambassadors, mostly drawn from the worlds of the arts, music, movies and activism.
With its products, services and activities both within and beyond the world of beauty, wellness and luxury, L’Oréal has set itself the mission of offering all women and (and indeed men) across the globe not only the the best of cosmetics innovation in terms of quality, efficacy and safety, but also the impetus to live their best lives, first by looking their best, and feeling on top of the world.
As L’Oreal Paris’ Africa Digital Ambassador, Temi will be fronting a campaign featuring the company’s Infallible Makeup range, while also working with the business on a number of women-focused initiatives. She will work alongside the South African actress Thuso Mbedu, (who was named L’Oreal’s international Brand Ambassador last year). Mbedu, who starred in the Hollywood blockbuster ‘The Woman King’, is the company’s spokesperson for the sub-Saharan Africa region.
In a statement, the L’Oreal Group described Temi as ‘a multi-talented actress, entrepreneur, and global influencer … embodying diversity, self-confidence and a modern vision of beauty.’
Not bad for a girl who just wanted to break out of her cocoon of inherited wealth and privilege – and do something meaningful to impact the world around her.
Back in the day, Paris Hilton was fond of saying that heiresses needed only obey just one rule, even as they navigated a world in which they could do – and get – practically anything they wanted. “The only rule is: Don’t be boring.”
With her resume – and now with this L’Oreal appointment – Temi Otedola has proved that boring, she is not. Far from it.
And, yes, She’s Worth It.