Luvvie Ajayi is a New York Times best-selling author, speaker and digital strategist who thrives at the intersection of comedy, technology and activism. She is the voice behind Awesomely Luvvie, a widely respected humor blog that covers everything pop culture – from TV, movies and technology to travel, race and life’s random adventures.
She has interviewed bosses like Oprah Winfrey, Geena Davis, Gloria Steinem and Shonda Rhimes, and has spoken on several notable stages including The White House, TedXColumbiaCollege, SXSW, Social Media Week (Nigeria, South Africa), U.S. Embassy Port-au-Prince (Haiti), and Techne Summit (Egypt), among others. Her first book, I’m Judging You: The Do Better Manual (2016) was a New York Times and Washington Post best-seller.
Name: Luvvie Ajayi
Website: https://www.awesomelyluvvie.com and https://www.awesomelytechie.com
Instagram: @luvvie
Twitter: @luvvie
Facebook: /AwesomelyLuvvie/
1. What are three words that best describe you?
Funny, truthful and fierce.
2. Tell us why you’re awesome in two sentences or less.
I’m awesome because I’m doing the things I love every single day. And I love that every day is different.
3. What are your three biggest indulgences?
Shoes (favorite is Cole Haan)
Blazers
Spa days (down time)
4. What’s currently your favorite…
Restaurant: Mad Boiler in Chicago
Food: My favorite food is always going to be jollof fries
Drink: Orange Fanta
Shopping destination/store: J. Crew. They’ve been taking my money!
Fashion item: Shoes! I stopped counting how many pairs after about 150. I have a whole separate shoe closet.
Place to hangout: Home.
City: Chicago
Travel item: Bose Quiet Comfort 35 wireless headphones. You put them on and before you even turn on your music, it sucks the noise out of the room. It quiets EVERYTHING.
Beauty product: Magnolia Makeup Liquid Matte lipstick in Kitten. It’s been my signature lip for the last two years.
Skincare product: I’m pretty low key when it comes to my skin, but Olay Light Hydrating lotion has transformed my skin.
Hostess gift: Even though I don’t drink, I still think a bottle of wine is a great gift.
Home décor item: Himalayan Salt lamp. It serves as a nightlight, but it’s also supposed to be calming, so it’s a great two in one!
Book: The Broke Diaries by Angela Nissel AND The Alchemist
Website: Besides mine? Because I would actually read it if I wasn’t writing it. I’d say teenvogue.com, they’re killing the game right now.
Magazine: Essence – They’ve really been stepping up.
Please list at least three of your absolute favorite, MUST-HAVE items. (If you were stranded on a desert island, you would probably bring these with you.)
Multi-colored pashmina
Vaseline
Swiss Army Knife
5. What’s the ONE thing you absolutely can’t live without?
Nigerian food and my faith. The Oja Express App for delivered food.
6. What is your biggest pet peeve?
Prejudice. I think it encompasses a lot.
7. If you could have dinner with anyone (living or not) who would it be, and WHY?
Michelle Obama. I would love to find out what really went on behind closed doors in the White House from my home girl Michelle (because we’re home girls in my head). I wanna ask her what the 411 was!
8. What does it mean to you to have a strong, engaging brand and how has having one helped you?
I’ve been posting content online for 14 years and that has helped me become a “best friend” in people’s heads. Creating a space for thoughtful, funny content online has helped me build a real community around my voice and my brand. For me, my pride about the community I’ve built and the brand that I have is that you can come on to any of the platforms I’ve built online and read the comments, and still retain hope in the world, because my audience is super funny and they show up as the best of humanity.
9. What is one piece of advice you would give your younger self?
I would tell myself, “You should know that writing is your purpose. Don’t fight it.” I was fighting tooth and nail for a long time because I didn’t know any writers and didn’t know you could make a living at it. If you love doing it, own it.
10. What is one piece of advice you would give to women today about staying true to themselves and succeeding on their own terms?
Try to cancel out the noise around you, and be and do exactly what you want to be and do. And do it even when it’s not profitable and you’re wondering why you’re doing it. If you’re compelled to do it, do it.
1. Magnolia Makeup Liquid Matte lipstick
A bright matte red with a subtle pink hue.
$16.00, https://www.magnoliamakeup.com
2. Multi-Colored Pashmina
Make a statement in this colorful print scarf. Add to a neutral outfit as a pop of color or go all out and pair with bold prints. This scarf is a must have addition to any closet.
$16.00, https://www.venenofashion.com
3. Bose QuietComfort 35 Wireless Headphones
A bright matte red with a subtle pink hue.
$349.95, https://www.bose.com
4. Orange Fanta
Bright, bubbly and instantly refreshing, Fanta is made with 100% natural flavors and is caffeine free.
Under $5.00 at the grocery store
5. Olay Light Hydrating lotion
The moisturizing formula instantly quenches skin and leaves it feeling refreshed. In just 2 weeks, you’ll notice plump, hydrated and luminous skin.
$26.99, https://www.olay.com
6. OjaExpress
OjaExpress offers on demand delivery for African and Carribean groceries. Through them, you can have order delivery to your front door in as little as an hour.
Price varies, https://www.ojaexpress.com
7. The Alchemist
Combining magic, mysticism, wisdom and wonder into an inspiring tale of self-discovery, The Alchemist has become a modern classic, selling millions of copies around the world and transforming the lives of countless readers across generations.
$12.74 – 17.00, https://www.harpercollins.com
8. Cole Haan Shoes
Trafton Cole and Eddie Haan began Cole Haan in 1928, resolving to make good goods and nothing but good goods. Their entrepreneurial spirit and timeless vision inspire their products still.
$110+, https://www.colehaan.com
9. Swiss Army Knife
Those who need to be ready for anything take one of these with them everywhere.
$16+, https://www.victorinox.com
10. Himalayan Salt Lamp
The negative salt ions released by heating a Himalayan Salt Lamp can boost blood flow, improve sleep, increase levels of serotonin in the brain, and calm allergy or asthma symptoms.
$19.99, https://www.mineralamp.com
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