SWANKY JERRY - NIGERIA'S CELEBRITY FASHION STYLIST
KINGDOM VISION
Jeremiah Ogbodo agreed to do reality tv under the one condition that Africa would be displayed as the wealthy kingdom that it has always been to those who call the continent home. Young, Famous, and African debuted on March 18, 2022 introducing the world to award winning and down to earth Nigerian fashion stylist, Swanky Jerry, hailing from the vibrant city of Lagos, Nigeria.
IT’S A LEGACY
Swanky is defined as stylishly, luxurious and expensive, which is a perfect depiction of Ogbodo, who initially wasn’t interested in Netflix’s upcoming reality show simply because he cherishes the mystique of his brand and the anonymity of his lifestyle. Young Swanky Jerry was privileged to be born into a traditional Nigerian family dynamic that, ironically, allowed him to explore his creative side. So, upon graduating from Command Day Secondary School Oshodi, he earned a certificate in fashion design from the School of Style in New York. He launched Swanky Signatures Styling in 2012 and became a designer of shoes, waistcoats, bowties, and backpacks, and then evolved into image consulting and styling. Even though he didn’t have to overcome the hurdle of convincing his parents to support his career choice, Swanky Jerry admitted that initially clients didn’t see the value of what a stylist brings to the creative sphere. “It wasn’t easy to win people over,” he said. After a decade of advocacy and consistent work ethic, he’s become the preferred fashion stylist of African presidents, music artists, and actresses. He’s concluded that the work of a stylist is different and entails more than merely dressing individuals, but it takes mental and emotional work, research, and creativity….it’s a legacy.
THE MAN
While the global pandemic was wreaking havoc, Swanky Jerry was becoming accustomed to features in Forbes magazine, GQ South Africa, and season 1 of the Netflix series, Young, Famous, and African; where he was seen consulting with his clients, who happen to be his closest friends, about their conflicting relationships, while somehow staying above the fray. Although Swanky Jerry is who the world has fallen in love with, Ogbodo, the man, has not given into the world’s pressure to elevate his status regularly on social media. In fact, his priorities remain to glorify Africa and maintain his anonymity.
“Jeremiah Ogbodo agreed to do reality tv under the one condition that Africa would be displayed as the wealthy kingdom that it has always been to those who call the continent home.”
Annick Tyler resides in the southern region of the United States.