Today we are talking to Brenda, a model who has strutted the runway and taken amazing portraits.  “I’ve had a beautiful experience, you know, being on major runways is exciting. I have fellow models that look up to me, they love what I do and it inspires them. That’s a beautiful thing, being told your work is loved, being recognized and being out there representing people who believe in you feels good,” says Brenda, a petite lady with beautiful chocolate brown skin. The first time I met Brenda was during the Entrepreneur Fashion Week in March early this year, where she was modelling for my fashion brand, Ruth Yole, amongst other great designers. She is a very pleasant person, confident and exudes so much joy. “I am very funny, I brim positivity, I am more about energy than anything else.”

Brenda participated in the Miss Maseno University Pageant as well as Miss Tourism Siaya where she emerged as a finalist in both. She has also walked for designers at the Entrepreneur Fashion Week, an event that attracts local and international designers.

Brenda is a self-taught model, learning how to strut and pose from YouTube and TikTok. She says that modelling is not difficult, practice makes perfect.

About her creative direction for her shoots, she says, “If you check my work, I am behind most of the concepts. I believe being creative gives you more power when it comes to presenting your work. Your creativity should differentiate you from the rest.”

Brenda really enjoys modelling and that is the secret to being a great model. Being consistent and motivated, a lot of patience and perseverance are essential in the business. “Things don’t work within a snap of the finger. Sometimes you’ve got to be hardcore because some challenges need just that. Another thing, it takes lots of passion,” Her resilience, positivity, optimism and the will to move despite challenges has kept her grounded. Modelling has also helped her overcome her fears and insecurities.

Brenda is currently a freelance model. Professionally and locally, she looks up to Nivea Debra. “That lady has gone against all odds to be where she is, she has done so well for herself. It’s admirable.”

So far Brenda has had a great time during photoshoots as she works with good professional photographers. She always knows what is expected of her as a model before she gets to the studio. “Work still gets done whether I am directed or not.”

On a normal day Brenda loves being casual, “with good makeup on and a smile.” Her dream destination is Santorini, Greece.

Last words from her, “Appreciate every step and milestone you make. Do not compare yourself to other models it will kill you. Be very patient, if you are passionate and determined things will work out. Be humble.”

Follow Brenda on social media;

ayiemba_howardess on Instagram,

Brenda Ayiemba Howardess  on Facebook

@howardess on TikTok.

By Emmanuel Juma

Leadership has been and remains to be the axle upon which proper human civilization spins. Unlike before, there is an increasing demand for leaders whose performance is above the ordinary. This has been occasioned by the ever pressing challenges of all time. It is against this backdrop that several leaders have come up to try to bridge the leadership gap. Contrary to the expectations, most of these leaders end up being driven by high appetites for self-gain and aggrandizement rather than service delivery.

There is therefore a great need for a crop of leaders whose motivation is making remarkable impact in people’s lives. Transformative leaders focus on working with their teams and or followers to achieve a vision that they hold dear. Where there is clarity of vision, the means to achieving it become apparent and many times people find reason to put their effort where there is direction. As to whether these leaders are born or made, I personally believe that birth precedes making. In as much as some are born with inherent leadership qualities, without intentional sharpening of these qualities they may soon degenerate and fail to match the present demand.

The process of becoming a transformative leader is such a tedious one which requires that individuals first get their identity clear. This article does not prescribe any magical steps to cracking this complexity. It will however provide insight into how one can remain focused as they journey on this road. It is very important to appreciate that the passing of time does not necessarily make you a better leader but it offers you the space within which you can develop yourself. One therefore has to actively seek to grow by plugging themselves in avenues that will promote such growth.

I have had a rare opportunity of serving in various leadership positions since my high school days when I served as both the Students’ Council chairman and the Christian Union chairman. Each of these positions provided a lot of opportunities to learn better leadership traits which later became very useful in higher leadership roles in my university days. Anytime I have a chance to lead, I take it so seriously being aware of the fact that it is not the magnitude of the position but the impact one makes that really counts.

We are living in days when many young people want to rise to celebrity status overnight but the reality is that it does not take a day to become a celebrated leader. However, whatever you do  every day counts and this applies to all areas of life. Most people prefer to take shortcuts; it however does not apply to transformative leaders. To be very useful while in the scene, you must invest heavily in your time while behind the scenes. It is undisputed that the journey of great leaders is marked with several years of unlearning and learning and painful stories that people may not want to relate with. It is also very important that those wanting to be great should be willing to sit under great people who can carefully instruct and mentor them throughout the journey.

In conclusion, it has always been said that everything rises and falls on leadership. We should therefore be very aggressive to grab every opportunity to improve our value as leaders of today and tomorrow.

Emmanuel is a champion of value-based leadership and an alumnus of Emerging Leaders Foundation and Taifa Teule Leadership Experience.

You can connect with Emmanuel JB on Facebook.

“It has always been my dream to become a TV and Radio broadcaster ever since I was a young boy and I got this from my grandfather who was a Radio Presenter.  He had this deep voice for radio and when he spoke you would definitely stop and listen to what he was saying. I knew I also wanted to follow that path.” says Dan, host of Sema na Mjomba Show on Mjomba TV. This is a show on YouTube, whose aim is to tell the story behind the story, with more focus being on the Boy child. He interviews men who can offer guidance and inspiration to their audience.

After completing his secondary education, Dan went to college and enrolled for a Bachelor of Commerce course. After graduating, he undertook a  Music Graded Course, ABRSM and became a Music Teacher. “All this time people who knew me and those who didn’t know me would tell me ‘You have a good voice for radio, do something about it’ I tried doing voice demos, went to several radio stations but in vain. ‘Earth is hard’ at times ata kupita tu pale kwa gate so that you can access the office was a problem because I didn’t have an appointment most of the time.” Nevertheless, Dan never gave up on the dream of being in front of the camera or behind a mic one day.

Fast forward to 2020, Covid hit the world, schools were closed immediately and he didn’t have a job to wake up and go to. One evening as he was having dinner with his wife, she asked him to shoot a video on Covid awareness. His wife graciously recorded him and that one video opened another chapter of his life. “I owe it to my girl because that is when I started shooting  the ‘Quarantine Edition’ while still continuing with the Covid Awareness videos. With the help of my sister, we were able to start a Youtube channel: Mjomba TV and began sharing my content on Facebook and Instagram.”

Dan was so sure that having the show was what he wanted to do. He came up with the concept of Sema na Mjomba Show with his producer. They needed to figure out how to implement it because they did not have money at the time. They resolved to recording the content using Dan’s phone, posting it on social media and it was such a joy!

Dan loves washing cars, he finds it therapeutic. As he was cleaning the car one afternoon, a friend of his who is a videographer asked him to go to his place so that they could do a recording. “Sikutaka kujua kama nilikuwa naosha gari ama nini, I just jumped into the car which was now half-way done (full of soap) and drove to his place. I knew this was a golden opportunity that God had brought my way. I got there and he had already prepared the set. The set was dope.”

This was his first time shooting professionally and his friend helped him on how to conduct himself in front of a camera. They shot several videos for several weeks before actualizing the show. Their biggest challenge was getting a venue for recording the show since they didn’t have financing. After a long search, they were fortunate enough to meet the Owner of Rimpa Green by Baileys. He liked their idea and allowed them to record the show at his restaurant.

“That is how Sema na Mjomba Show was born. Our aim is to tell the story behind the story and we are focusing more on the Boy child and interviewing men who can offer guidance and inspiration to our audience.” They have managed to do 14 episodes for Season 1 and have been fortunate to interview celebrities and career professionals such as CEO at Kenya Film Commission, Timothy Owase, Founder at Documentary & Reality TV, Eugene Mbugua, actor Melvin Alusa, flight attendant and baker Eric Joe Munene, farmer Caleb Karuga and musician Holy Dave among others.

“We are working on Season 2 which will be bigger and better and we hope to continue telling inspiring stories and bringing positive vibes to you wherever you are. As I always say, we are just getting started.”

“To the young people out there strive to identify your gift. And it is very simple, that thing which you do to the absolute best is what you are gifted in. Once you have identified it, work on it polish it, be consistent and always remember to put God first in everything you do. Remember, ‘Your Gift will make room for you here on earth and will make you dine with great men”

You can watch the inspiring Sema na Mjomba Show, here. Subscribe, like, comment, and share their videos. You can also connect with them on Instagram and Facebook.