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.

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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.

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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.”

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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.

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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.”

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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.

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