Name: Afiniki Maita or Afi (Afi Like Taffy)
Twitter (though hardly ever on it)
Age: 36
Title: Mrs. or Boss Babe, Featured British Stylist & Style Vlogge, Fashion Consultant at Saks Fifth Avenue
Married/Single: Happily married for almost 13 years.
Kids: Not yet, still enjoying each other…
City you live in: Scottsdale, Arizona
A typical day in my life includes…
waking up checking my Type 1 Diabetic pump lovingly named Shanaenae, adjusting her depending on my blood sugar readings, working out, brekkie, heading to work to style and help women look and feel their best.
I was born…
in West Africa, Nigeria, raised in North London, Highgate and fell in love and married an American man. We’ve lived in Scottsdale AZ for over 12 years!
My favorite thing about Arizona…
the opportunities that are made available if you work hard and seek them out, they can be limitless. It’s still a growing city with so many possibilities which I love!
I’m listening to…
Doja Kat, Billie Eilish and Justin Bieber’s new album, Changes.
My family…
are the reason I am. Though split across the pond in England and Africa I rely on them heavily for emotional support and guidance. We lost our mother when we were so young so that bond is never-ending.
If I could have dinner with anyone, it would be…
Amy Winehouse whom I went to school with as a teenager in North London, The Mount school. I would chat about our teachers, what she thought of life and ask if she can teach me to sing like her as I continuously asked at a young age…
One thing I cannot live without…
literally or figuratively? I can’t live without insulin in the literal sense as a chronic sufferer of type 1 Diabetes for nine years now. Figuratively my phone as I run my business through it filming and posting style videos I create three times a week on Instagram. Posting pictures, writing to sponsors for collaborations, speaking to my family across the pond on Whatsapp, making plans for the future and more all on my phone!
When I was younger, I wanted to be…
someone important, someone who is seen just like everyone else. I wanted to matter and thought being in a musical group would do that for me. However, I know that what I do now: educating people about my chronic condition of type 1 diabetes, working with JDRF, an organization to help find a cure for people with my condition, being a survivor of childhood mental abuse and thriving despite of it, and encouraging body positivity, matters in some small way to some people and that’s enough for me for now.
I’m inspired by…
all the women I meet every day. The local women, entrepreneurs and boss babes, the empowering women who are full-time workers and have their side hustle. Seeing them do what they do, even though it’s hard AF, motivates and lets me know I can do it too.
The one person who motivates me is…
my mother who passed away when I was 6 years old. I didn’t know her very well but I always think to myself “Am I making mummy proud?”. She had all my best friends who are my siblings (three sets of twins in three pregnancies) and I am the person I am today because of them.
If I could change anything in the world, it would be…
the intolerance of others based on the color of one’s skin, religious beliefs or sexual orientation. Grow up and get over it, it’s 2020 already!
The perfect day would be…
going out for brekkie, getting a massage and facial, lazing around my house in my cozy sweats watching saucy movies on Passionflix next to my hubster of 12 years!
My first job was…
selling mobile phones over the phone, golly gumdrops it was telemarketing at its best!
My favorite escape…
heading to Paris in the summer with my love, it’s lovely jubbly to escape there as the Parisiennes live life to the fullest. To be part of that is a dream!
My life…
is more than I could ever have hoped for. Blessed to have my family across the pond, the exceptional medical help I do, be with the love of my life and have the exceptional friends I’ve made along the way.
I’m currently working on…
transitioning to a video blogger on IGTV and YouTube, working with new brands for my birthday burlesque photoshoot and building my brand, Afi Like Taffy.
Always…
do your best no matter what!
Never…
assume to know what someone really thinks of you!
Favorite Quote…
“The key to success is to start before you are ready.” – Marie Forleo
Biggest Dream…
to be a highly successful international Image Consultant and style influencer with my brand Afi Like Taffy. Traveling and living in different cities around the world styling successful people and living my most unimaginable best life.
My Pet Peeve(s)…
when someone doesn’t show basic manners, “please” and “thank you” go a long way in my book.
