Ifeanyi Chijindu
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Ethnicity/Nationality: Nigerian-American
Active Years: 1993-present
Ifeanyi also credited as Ifeanyi Chijindu is a Nigerian-American author/writer, entrepreneur, artist, model, actress and screenwriter.
Early Life
Ifeanyi was born in Los Angeles, Ca. to Nigerian parents who immigrated to the United States in the late 70s. She is a first generation Nigerian-American and is the eldest of five children.[1] Ifeanyi spent most of her childhood in Pomona, Ca. and living throughout various cities within southern California's Inland Empire.
Career
Ifeanyi showed a childhood interest in literature and the arts when she had her first poem published at eight[2], completed a 90 paged novella at eleven and at 15, Ifeanyi sold her first short story and won 2nd place for it in a contest hosted by Superior Communications and Publications.[3]
By 17, Ifeanyi was regularly performing her poetry at paid venues.Around this same time, Ifeanyi also deepened her interest in acting and won the part of "Maya Angelou" in a local play called "Women In Love."
In 2004, she published her first book, A Girl's Life...the Song that Never Ends, a themed poetry collection centered on her experiences about love, hatred, family, spirituality, racism, sexuality, individual and ethnic identity throughout her childhood, adolescence and early adult hood.[4] [5] [6] [7] Cal Poly Pomona presented her with the Golden Leaves Award in recognition for her literary achievement and for being the youngest person at the university to receive this award. [8]
In 2005, Black Diaspora Magazine published "Healing from Within," Ifeanyi's feature article about Djehuty Maat-Ra, creator of DHERBS and celebrity herbalist who counts celebrities like R & B singer Brandy and actor Blair Underwood as part of his clientele. [9]
Ifeanyi wrote for The Poly Post newspaper from 2005-2007 where she displayed her incisive writing style with her cultural profiles on artists like El Salvadorean painter Carlos Flores and in film reviews of movies such as Pirates of the Carribean 3 [10], The Reaping [11] and The Return [12].
In 2007, Ifeanyi's film critiques and social editorials allowed her to receive an award from the Society of Professional Journalists for "Best Editorial" for an article about on-campus ethnic centers.[13]
In edition to writing, painting, modeling and acting throughout her adolescence and early adulthood, Ifeanyi worked as a freelance make up artist for aspiring actresses and models before creating Goddess Cosmetics, Accessories & Toiletries also known as Goddess C.A.T., a beauty line featuring cosmetics made with herbs and other natural ingredients in August 2006. [14]
Goddess C.A.T. became one of the few early companies who created healthy cosmetics for women of color before ethnic and herbal make up gained mainstream popularity with older cosmetic corporations.[15][16]
Ifeanyi's beauty advice and social commentaries on issues relating to women's roles and beauty ideals have been featured in various newspapers, women's and beauty magazines such as Glamour Magazine [17][18], The Inland Valley Daily Bulletin [19], San Bernardino Sun [20], The Whittier Daily News[21], San Gabriel Valley News [22], Sheknows.com[23], Newsday.com[24] and Feministing.com[25]
References
- ^ http://womenentrepreneur.com/column/2146.html
- ^ The Voice newspaper 1987.
- ^ Superior Publications & Communications poetry & short story anthology; 1993-94
- ^ http://ww.bbotw.com/resource.aspx?id=1592
- ^ http://www.amazon.com/Girls-Life-Song-That-Never/dp/0741418649/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1201637675&sr=8-1
- ^ http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/results.asp?ATH=Ifeanyi+Chijindu&z=y
- ^ http://www.target.com/Girls-Life-Song-That-Never/dp/0741418649/sr=1-1/qid=1201638145/ref=sr_1_1/602-4069336-6576651?ie=UTF8&index=books&field-original-keywords=ifeanyi%20chijindu&rh=k%3Aivan&page=1
- ^ http://www.csupomona.edu/~library/specialcollections/goldenleaves/2004_2005/2004_2005.html
- ^ Black Diaspora Magazine: May/June 2005, pg.31-36
- ^ http://media.www.thepolypost.com/media/storage/paper1127/news/2007/05/30/Entertainment/pirates.Of.The.Caribbean.3.Sinks.Beneath.Expectations-2909788.shtml
- ^ http://www.thepolypost.com/home/index.cfm?event=displayArticlePrinterFriendly&uStory_id=a7309e32-8ed8-4c90-ad4e-856a64781123
- ^ http://www.thepolypost.com/media/paper1127/sections/20061114ArtsLiving.html
- ^ http://spj.inlandpro.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12
- ^ http://media.www.thepolypost.com/media/storage/paper1127/news/2007/04/03/News/Student.Fulfills.Dreams.Early-2820146.shtml
- ^ http://www.goddesscat.com/intro
- ^ The Inland Valley Daily Bulletin newspaper: U Entertainment; April 2007
- ^ http://www.glamour.com/lifestyle/slideshows/2007/12/thenandnow?slide=3
- ^ Glamour Magazine: January 2008, pg. 91
- ^ The Inland Valley Daily Bulletin newspaper: U Entertainment; April 2007
- ^ The San Bernardino Sun newspaper; April 2007.
- ^ The Whittier Daily Newspaper; April 2007
- ^ San Gabriel Valley newspaper; April 2007.
- ^ http://www.sheknows.com/articles/1/100575.htm
- ^ http://www.newsday.com/features/lifestyle/ny-ethnichair-photos,0,824909.photogallery
- ^ http://feministing.com/beauty/
External Links
Goddess C.A.T.
Women Entrepreneur website
Glamour magazine
She Knows Website