iameriwa

The Battle Is The Lord’s

There is no pain Jesus can’t feel

No hurt He cannot heal

All things work according to His perfect will

No matter what you’re going through

Remember God is using You

For the battle is not yours, it’s the Lord’s

There’s no sadness Jesus can’t feel

And there is no sorrow that He cannot heal

For all things work according to the Master’s holy will

No matter what you’re going through

Remember that God is only using you

For this battle is not yours, it’s the Lord’s

No matter what it is, you’re going through

Hold your head up, stick your chest out

And remember He’s using you

For this battle is not yours alone

This battle is not yours, no

You cannot handle it all by yourself, no, no, no, no, no, no

This battle is not yours, the Lord is the only one who can fight it

He wants to use you as His vessel so be open to Him

This battle is not yours, it’s the Lord’s

Remember that in the midst of it all

God only wants to use you

Hold your head up, stick your chest out

And remember He’s using you

For this battle is not yours alone

This battle is not yours, it’s the Lord’s

(Amen Ase) ❤️🙏🏾

Lyrics by @yolandaadams

Photography by @rebecca_ii

𝘙𝘰𝘸𝘦, 𝘙𝘦𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘤𝘢. 𝘏𝘢𝘪𝘳 𝘞𝘦 𝘎𝘰. 2021

Featured:

Model 1: @saussogod

Model 2: @aalyiah_heath

Model 3: @chloe_etnn

Hairstylist: @lushbraidsbyb

Makeup artist: @claraldsmakeup

Assisted: @harissamami and @papi.churos

Patiently waiting

Take a deep breath and exhale

Breathe out all the sadness, disappointment and failure

Breathe in peace, joy, happiness and prosperity

Stand up for your beliefs

Stand firm in your values

Inhale

Exhale

Stand up for your rights

Stand in your truth

Inhale

Exhale

Stand up for her

So she can stand up for you

Inhale

Exhale

Release all your tears, pain and sorrow

Reach your arms out towards your goals

Inhale

Exhale

Affirm all the good things you need

Aspire to become the greatest version of yourself

Be inspired and patient

The best is still to come

Author - @iameriwa

Photography - @garren.pryce

Model - @kiara_ailene

Wrapped Up In His Love

I AM happy

I AM blessed

I AM grateful

I give thanks to Baba God

For protecting me

Uplifting me

Providing for all my needs

For guiding me with His majestic touch

For healing me

For surprising me

For answering my prayers

Making all my dreams come true

For teaching me how to be patient with life

I AM

His beloved

His anointed

His precious child

I AM

Made in His image

Skin kissed by the sun

My eyes are filled with His love

I AM

Overcome with emotion

I AM

Excited for the future

I AM

All wrapped up in His love.

Déolà ❤️🙏🏾

Author - @iameriwa

Photographer: @marieb.photography

Model: @ninioma

Mua: @reneedewitmakeupartist

Champion Mindset

Flashback to the European Diversity Awards (EDA) Night at the Landmark Hotel.

Pink Dynasty won the 2021 SOCIAL MOBILITY INITIATIVE – sponsored by Accenture.

Unfortunately, I was unable to attend, but thankfully my Friend, big Sister and Co-director Dibo went on my behalf, wearing a custom made Eloli pink dress.

I was over the moon to find out that Pink Dynasty was found a worthy winner of this prestigious award. It is a gentle reminder that working alongside our passionate mentors, corporate partners, and stakeholders to break down the invisible barriers that prevent young women from low-income and marginalised backgrounds from upward mobility, is important!!!

As I embark on a brief hiatus, I want to thank everyone who has supported my journey thus far, and look forward to reintroducing Pink Dynasty as charitable incorporated organisation in due course.

Here’s to more success in 2022 and beyond!

Love Déolà ❤️

Author - @iameriwa

Model - @bashibi

Fashion - @eloliworld

Flowers for The Lady

Yes, you deserve appreciation

Yes, you deserve respect

Yes, you deserve love and laughter

Yes, you deserve rest

Yes, you deserve forgiveness

Yes, you deserve chances to learn from your mistakes

Yes, you deserve respresentation

Yes, you deserve equal pay

Yes, you deserve to lead

Yes, you should express your anger

Yes, you should show your pain

Yes, you should honour your tears

Yes, you should put yourself first

Yes, you should desire the best for your life

Yes, you should further your education

Yes, you should step out on faith

Yes, you should embrace your spirituality

Yes, you should ignore the naysayers

Yes, you should show up and show out

Yes, you should breathe

Yes, you can sleep

You are what you think, see and feel

Be blessed

And move with intention

You can do it Sis 😘

Déolà

Author - @iameriwa

Model - @aapioo

Photography - @caramia

Focus on You

Instead of worrying about what others might say, do, or think, just try to remain focused on yourself

Remember, you don’t need the applause or recognition of others to be great, just shine!

Easier said than done, but appreciating yourself doesn’t need to be hard Sis.

Stay blessed and focused 😘

Déolà

Author - @iameriwa

Model - @theferow

Photography - @jordanviision

Hair - @reeree_stylez

Lizzo is Queen

Melissa Viviane Jefferson, known professionally as Lizzo, is an award winning singer, rapper, songwriter and flutist.

Lizzo is multifaceted

Lizzo is multitalented

Lizzo is stunning

Lizzo is beautiful

Lizzo is a trailblazer

Lizzo is a real model

Lizzo is an influencer

Lizzo is hard working

Lizzo deserves all her trophies and accolades

Lizzo doesn’t deserve to be hated on for being a “big girl”

Lizzo doesn’t deserve to be disrespected for being comfortable in her own skin

Lizzo doesn’t deserve to be ridiculed for being vulnerable

Lizzo doesn’t deserve to be harnessed by the so-called body positive community, when she decides to prioritise her physical health and wellness

Lizzo doesn’t have to be your cup of tea but she is loved by millions, including me.

Lizzo is a phenomenal Black woman

Period.

If Adele and other non Black women like her can be celebrated solely on their talents, so should Lizzo.

It is a great shame that Black women in the music industry only achieve mainstream success if they are overtly sexual i.e. raunchy, eye candy, sole purpose to provide sexual pleasure (typically to men)

And of course fair skinned, slim, basically far removed from presenting any African phenotypical features.

Please support Black women for their God given talents the way you honour and celebrate Adele (a white woman) for just being a singer/songwriter.

Lizzo is basically the Black equivalent of [big] Adele only Lizzo has a more bubbly personality.

Some might say Adele comes without any gimmicks, that may be true but remember the barrier to international stardom and success isn’t the same for Black women 🤷🏾‍♀️

Author - @iameriwa

Model - Lizzo

Invest in yourself

Dear Black women,

In order to secure a comfortable future, you must first invest in yourself.

Invest in your education and career.

Invest in your wellness, take care of your spiritual, physical, and mental health.

Invest your time doing things that bring you joy, peace and happiness.

Surround yourself with people who can advance your mindset, skills, network, and understanding of the world.

Be comfortable with being uncomfortable, that’s where amazing things happen.

Stretch yourself but don’t overdo it

Rest

Breathe

Repeat

Use each day as an opportunity to share your awesome talents with the world, your community, your family, and circle of friends.

Be encouraged

Be encouraging

Be empowered

Be empowering

Be inspired

Be inspiring

Be everything you want to be

But most of all, be YOU

Remain blessed Black Queens ❤️🙏🏽

Author - @iameriwa

Model - Crystal Renée @luvcrystalrenee

Black Mixed fishing

I don’t want to spend too much time on this “hot” topic. So here are my thoughts on the mixed fishing phenomena…

1. I’ve noticed that average looking non-richly melanated women, who dont meet the conventional beauty standards i.e. slim, blonde and white, tend to partake in mixed-fishing shenanigans. In an attempt to appear more “desirable”, they use cosmetics, non-invasive/invasive surgery to alter their natural average features with hopes of looking : racially ambiguous, exotic, or of mixed heritage… because in “urban” culture such looks are considered beautiful.

2. If you are blessed to be an offspring of two Black parents, you shouldn’t feel offended or disappointed by this nonsense, because these white women aren’t contributing to our dehumanisation or erasure. If anything, their actions are negatively impacting mixed women.

3. Accordingly, Black women I urge you to put down your capes, and let mixed women and the ignorant self hating black men (who worship white/mixed women) fight this battle…it isn’t any of our beautiful black business.

Stay blessed and highly favoured Queens 😘

Author - @iameriwa

Models - Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Jesy Nelson