More than a flower girl

Photography: Femelle Studios Hair: Pashcanel Mitchell Make-up: Natasha Wright

From fighting her own battles to owning a £1k wig, Chidera Eggerue - aka The Slumflower - is no shrinking violet

Author of the number one Sunday Times bestseller What A Time To Be Alone and brainchild of the #saggyboobsmatter movement, Chidera Eggerue has extraordinary energy. Intelligent, insightful and passionate about life as a woman – a black woman - her forthrightness on issues like sexism, racism and white supremacy has garnered her fans and staunch critics alike.

In an exclusive interview with Spell, she opens up about her public fallout with a fellow author and spills the tea on her expanding wig collection...

HOW HAS LOCKDOWN 3.0 BEEN?

A lot has been going on to say the least. I decided to go public about my management team supporting a white author who was plagiarising my work and just so happened to belong to the same agency. My main concern was that no one would be believe me, but I felt like my back was against the wall and I had to say something. I’ve been gaslighted and dragged through a media fiasco; to experience this during lockdown has been horrific.

“WOMEN ARE MADE TO FEEL SHAME FOR INVESTING IN THEMSELVES”

HAVE YOU ALWAYS BEEN ONE TO STAND UP FOR YOURSELF?

Because of what I stand for and my presence online, I’m seasoned in standing up for myself. The internet exposes you to a world of trolls, so the way I equip myself against them is by having a deep inner knowing of who I am and what I’m willing to accept. I don’t need people to agree with my reality for it to serve me.

WHERE DID THE NAME THE SLUMFLOWER DERIVE FROM?

It was inspired by the photographers Street Etiquette who are two guys from New York. They made a project called Slumflower where a young boy from the hood was aesthetically shown wearing flowers. The story was heavy, but the imagery was so delicate and I loved the idea. Being from Peckham and growing up pre-gentrification, people always assumed you must be ‘ghetto’. I wanted to flip that on its head and choose a name that embraces a beautiful thing growing out of an environment that otherwise wouldn’t necessarily promote its growth.

LET’S TALK HAIR: HOW MANY WIGS DO YOU OWN AND WHICH IS YOUR FAVOURITE OF THEM ALL?

I think I own 20 wigs and my favourite has to be my big afro. It’s followed me to so many places and served me so well. It’s a synthetic wig I found on either eBay or Amazon. I brushed it out to the max to get it to the texture and volume it is now.

WHAT’S THE MOST YOU’VE EVER PAID FOR A UNIT?

It’s a custom-made wig and I paid around £1k. Hair is just like a sass thing and for the right wig I’m prepared to put down the money. I feel like black women are made to feel shame for investing in themselves when in fact buying hair is not a shallow exercise. We can be smart, financially secure and adore ourselves. Where’s the crime?

ON A SCALE OF ONE TO 10, HOW GOOD ARE YOU AT DOING YOUR OWN HAIR AND MAKE-UP?

I’d rate myself seven for hair and a 9.8 for make-up. The only time I don’t do my own make-up is for photo shoots. When it comes to events and public appearances, it’s easier for me do my own make-up. I really know the nuances to my face, plus it’s part of my ritual to going out and getting amped up for the night.

CARBONCOPIES OF CHIDERA’S COVER LOOK

A complete round-up of all the hair and make-up essentials you need to recreate April’s cover look

Bare & Natural

Brazilian Lace Wig in Natural Way, £149.99

MAC Cosmetics

Glow Play Balm in ‘Pinking of You’, £17.50

ColorWow

Dreamcoat Supernatural Spray, £24

Lottie Freckle Tint, £24