Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has been unveiled as one of the global faces for BVLGARI’s ICONS Minaudière collection.

The collection, designed by Mary Katrantzou, Creative Director of Leather Goods and Accessories at the Italian luxury house, presents sculptural metal minaudières inspired by BVLGARI’s over 140-year jewellery-making heritage.

Adichie is one of five women selected globally for the ICONS Minaudière project, alongside Linda Evangelista, Kim Ji-won, Isabella Rossellini, and Sumayya Vally. Each woman is paired with a symbolic minaudière and commissioned to write an original miniature book designed to fit inside it, reflecting personal ideas on culture, tradition, inner life, nature, and belonging.

This is coming amid a period of personal mourning for Adichie following the recent loss of her son, Nkanu Nnamdi.

“We reached out to Adichie’s team, and her cousin, Mrs Ogechukwu Ogbeide-Ihama, who spoke with our reporter, confirmed that the Bvlgari shoot took place in happier times, in November 2025. She added that the author had been looking forward to the Paris launch and had planned to travel with her twin boys for the event.

“Sadly, she’s at home, heartbroken and completely devastated, mourning the loss of our precious Nkanu, who should be here with us today”, she added.

Adichie’s son passed this January following complications that have been linked to medical negligence at Euracare Hospital in Lagos. The incident has since been referenced in public discussions around healthcare standards and accountability, though the family has maintained privacy as they continue to mourn their loss.