Keisha Omilana

Oloori Keisha Omilana of Ipetu-Ijesha (née Bolden), commonly known as Princess Keisha Omilana, is an American model and entrepreneur. She was the first African-American to be featured in three consecutive commercials for Pantene, and later became the face of an international advertisement campaign for the company. Omilana has also modeled in campaigns for the French luxury brand L'Oréal, the British clothing brand Boden, and the American CoverGirl, Maybelline, and Revlon.

Keisha Omilana
Born
Keisha Bolden

Inglewood, California, U.S.
Occupations
  • Model
  • Media Executive
  • Entrepreneur
SpousePrince Adekunle Adebayo Omilana
Children2
Modeling information
Hair colorBrown
Eye colorBrown

As the wife of Omoba (prince) Adekunle Adebayo Omilana of Ipetu-Ijesha, she is a Oloori (princess) of the Yoruba House of Arigbabuowo in Nigeria. She and her family were the focus of an episode of the second season of the British reality television series Stacey Dooley Sleeps Over in 2021.

Early life and education

Omilana was born and raised in Inglewood, California.[1] She studied fashion at a school in Chicago.[2]

Career

Omilana moved to New York City to work as a model. She worked with L'Oreal, Maybelline, Boden, Revlon, CoverGirl, and Pantene.[3] She was cast in three consecutive commercials for Pantene, becoming the first African-American woman to do so.[2] Omilana was also featured in an international advertisement campaign for Pantene.[4] Omilana has also walked in New York Fashion Week.[5][6]

In 2010, she and Sarah Bradford were dressed by Maggie Norris as part of her co-presentation exhibition An Evening of New York Couture, in collaboration with Verdura and Aman & Carson Interiors.

After moving to London, she continued to model and was featured, along with her daughter, in an editorial for Mocha Magazine.[2]

In 2017, Omilana launched A Crown of Curls, a hair care business geared towards families with mixed-race children.[2] She also co-launched a body oil business, De La Ke, with her mother and sister, Debbie Bolden and Missy Bolden.[7]

In 2021, Omilana and her family were featured in the second season of Stacey Dooley's reality television series Stacey Dooley Sleeps Over, as the focus of the second episode of the season.[8][9]

Personal life

In 2004, while living in New York City, she met Prince Adekunle "Kunle" Adebayo Omilana, a member of the Arigbabuowo ruling Yoruba house in Nigeria, outside of W New York Union Square.[10] They married on January 28, 2006.[11] She wasn't aware that her husband was a prince until after they were engaged.[2] They have two children, Prince 'Adediran King Omilana and Princess Adediora Isabella Nicole Omilana, and have lived in New York City, Cyprus, Dubai, and London.[11][2]

Prior to, and after, the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, media outlets listed Omilana, along with Princess Ariana Austin Makonnen, Princess Angela of Liechtenstein, Princess Sarah Culberson, and Emma Thynn, Marchioness of Bath as other examples of black royal and noble women.[12]

In 2023, Omilana served on a panel with Princess Sarah Culberson, to talk about diversity and inclusion, racial representation, African royalty, and the role of monarchy in the modern day.[13] She also talked about the Duchess of Sussex stepping down from royal duties.[14] She compared her own stepping down from royal duties to that of Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.[15]

References
  1. Wang, Kimberly. "10 stylish royals who aren't Kate Middleton". Business Insider.
  2. Friel, Mikhaila (May 10, 2020). "Princess Keisha of Nigeria says she didn't know her now-husband was a prince until 2 years into their relationship, when his mom called her 'my princess'". Insider.
  3. "10 Young Royals Who Are in the Business of Fashion".
  4. "Princess Keisha Omilana - #The Working Princess On Never Giving Up on Your Dreams | Diversity Business Magazine". October 3, 2020.
  5. "All the Royals Who Have Walked the Runway at Fashion Week". Vogue Arabia. September 12, 2018.
  6. "princess-keisha-omilana-of-nigeria-walks-the-runway-at-the-news-photo-1592242374".
  7. "Our Story". Fruit of the Spirit Body Oils.
  8. omar, sue (May 3, 2021). ""As a model, I think it's great that my daughter is also a child model"".
  9. Roberts, Sophie; Johnston, Ian (May 11, 2021). "Mum defends letting daughter, 5, take on 8-hour modelling shifts". bedfordshirelive.
  10. "Princess Keisha of Nigeria said people are often surprised by how 'non-royal' her life is: 'I love Target'". Yahoo News. March 1, 2023.
  11. Omilana, Keisha. "I'm an American model who married a Nigerian prince. Like Meghan Markle, we experienced discrimination when we moved to UK". NigeriaAbroad.com.
  12. "Black Princess Diaries: Meet Keisha Omilana". Essence. October 28, 2020.
  13. Friel, Mikhaila. "Princess Keisha of Nigeria said people are often surprised by how 'non-royal' her life is: 'I love Target'". Insider.
  14. "Princess Keisha of Nigeria said stepping down from royal duties isn't the same as 'turning a blind eye or giving up' and compared her experience to Meghan Markle". MSN.
  15. "Princess Keisha of Nigeria said stepping down from royal duties is not the same as "turn a blind eye or give up," comparing her experience to Meghan Markle - US Today News". March 29, 2023.
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