Michelle Obama Finally Gets Some Serious Competition: Introducing Chantal Biya, First Lady of Cameroon (PHOTOS)
Oh you gotta give it to her: Michelle Obama tried. But even in her chic cowl neck number she still could not over shadow the lady in red (and leading fashionista) in the photo above: Chantal Biya, 39, first lady of Cameroon. Out of the dozens of "couple" photos to emerge last week, Biya's is the only one that caught my attention.
And yet, this red number (with matching red hair) is but a toned down version of Biya's legendary glitz and glam. A quick scan of photos snapped of Cameroon's first lady reveal a woman who has cultivated a particular brand of fabulosity which can only be described as: bold, brazen and - yes, beautiful.
As you can see from these photos, Biya loves a combination of traditional and western gear. In the past, she's mentioned Dior and Chanel as her favorite European labels, while the traditional African outfits she dons are custom made, designed and sewn by tailors. No matter the origin of her ensembles though, it's almost guaranteed to inspire the same reaction: an open-mouthed, wide-eyed stare. Whether posing with Paris or kneeling in front of the Pope or greeting the paps, she always steals the scene. What makes her unique in her chic is that all elements of her ensemble - from hair to to makeup to garments - seem to battle each other for attention. It's never clear which wins.
As I type this, my mother, a proud and stylish African woman herself, is almost embarrassed at my level of enthusiasm. In her opinion, Biya generally looks tacky, a point I won't argue. Yet, while she may be no where near as polished in her presentation as M.Obama, she is every bit as passionate about fashion. In Cameroon, her wardrobe has made her so popular she routinely launches trends and has a hairstyle, the Chantal Biya, named after her. Exotic ensembles, trend setting hair styles, and a dedicated following: if these do not a fashion icon make, then I don't know what does.
Read more from Zandile on her daily fashion blog, The Blay Report.
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Thanks for the post, Ms. Blay, I had alot of fun reading the comments it elicited : )
While Mrs. Biya looks like a flamboyant VIKING queen, FLOTUS perfectly depicts an AFRICAN-AMERICAN dignitary.
Sooo very proud of my beloved FLOTUS, more now than ever : )
cameroooooon!
She's tacky.
I like her for being herself. as loud as it may be :-)
LOL . . . I agree -- on BOTH points.
Both are beautiful women of color. Excellent!
Zandile, what did Chantal Biya do before she married Paul Biya? Give us some context. We know a lot more about Michelle and all I know is that Chantal is Biya's second wife. What happened to the first? Does Chantal's hairstyle speak to her preference? Culture? Occupation? Ethnicity? What do the people of the Cameroons think of her style and her husband's?
The question of prior occupation may be embarrassing.
oooooops..
Oh, Zandile. You've got to be careful posting "toung-in-cheek" articles on your Blog. The HuffPosters have their panties in a twist -- not know how to take your fashion statements
Serious competition? ARE YOU SERIOUS?
Fierce
The more I look at the photos, I smile because she is a beautiful lady with a wonderful personality. She has the personality that makes the wardrobe and hair work. I can hear the Pope now saying, Helloooo Miss Lady.
FLOTUS's dress is beautiful! Glad she didn't wear the small sweater and belt over it or under her breasts. More of this style and FLOTUS will bloom all year long.
This woman is tacky with a Capital, Bolded, Underlined, Quoted, and put in italics T!
And from what I hear Michelle is more gracious and less spendthrifty.
I know drag queens who would kill for her hair dressers number.
LOL!!
Leave this woman alone. She is beautiful and has a style all her own. Different people have different standards of beauty and style. Stop trying to impose your own views on others.
Dear Suntio, you have no idea at what cost to the people of Cameroon this woman is living up her style.
Once again, the headline is misleading. Ms. Biya's style is over the top. Her hair looks like a lions mane in a teatrical production of Lion's King. He clothes are over the top.
What competition? Gezzzzz, we all have eyes here.
I think the lion's mane thing is on purpose. I'm sure this guy loves his wife though.
Her style comes at a prize for the poor people of cameroon, how can HP compare the two??????????
So true. Certainly the downfall of Cameroon is not her doing, but she could at least look like she cares.
Oh, that's hair, I thought a small woodland creature found a new home.
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