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Zambian grandma in her mid-80s becomes global fashion icon

By Musa Adekunle

17 November 2024   |   2:46 pm

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A grandmother from a rural village in Zambia has taken the internet by storm, winning hearts as a style icon after teaming up with her fashion-loving granddaughter to swap wardrobes in a unique twist on dress-up. Margret Chola, fondly called Legendary Glamma, is in her mid-80s and already adored by over 225,000 Instagram followers for…

A grandmother from a rural village in Zambia has taken the internet by storm, winning hearts as a style icon after teaming up with her fashion-loving granddaughter to swap wardrobes in a unique twist on dress-up.

Margret Chola, fondly called Legendary Glamma, is in her mid-80s and already adored by over 225,000 Instagram followers for her fun fashion experiments.

Her photos have sparked conversations worldwide, showcasing her charm and elegance in colorful outfits.

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“I feel different, I feel new and alive in these clothes, in a way that I’ve never felt before,” she said in an interview with the BBC. “I feel like I can conquer the world!”

The journey began in 2023 when her granddaughter, Diana Kaumba, a stylist based in New York, visited Zambia to mark the second anniversary of her father’s passing. Known as Didi among loved ones, Diana, who has been a stylist since 2012, came up with the idea when she noticed she hadn’t worn all the outfits she brought along.

She invited her grandmother fondly called Mbuya in their Bemba dialect to try them on.

“I wasn’t doing anything at the time, so I just said: ‘OK. If that’s what you want to do, let’s do it – why not?'” Chola quipped, even joking: “You will miss me when I die, and at least this way, you will be remembering me.”

Their first photoshoot was a mix of traditional and contemporary. While Diana rocked her grandmother’s chitenge and blouse, Mbuya stunned in a shiny silver pantsuit. Set against the rural charm of their village in 10 Miles, just outside Lusaka, the photos captured a blend of elegance and simplicity.

Diana revealed her nervousness before sharing the first photo online.

She said, “I left my phone for 10 minutes, and when I checked back, there were already 1,000 likes! My mind was blown. People kept asking for more.”

The project gained massive traction in April 2024 when Mbuya’s viral photo in a red Adidas dress, layered gold necklaces, and a glittering crown won hearts globally.

“It surprised me to hear that so many people around the world love me,” said Ms. Chola, who doesn’t know her exact age due to a lack of birth records.