Nice to Meet You Ibi Meier-Oruitemeka from The Afro Hair and Skin Co • Dare to DREAM Series

"Actually one of my dreams in life was to live by the sea, I’ve lived most of my life in cities and now I live less than 5 minutes away from the beach (a wonderful little coastal town in the U.K.) It’s bliss! An ongoing dream of mine has been to run an afro artisan beauty business this is currently being nurtured and is slowly coming to life." 

-  Ibi Meier-Oruitemeka
The Afro Hair and Skin Co
St-Leonards-on-Sea, UK

• T H E   I N T E R V I E W • 

  Health and Lifestyle Edition

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If there was a movie produced about your life, who would play you and why?

In my head it would be Solange mostly for the awesome outfits and big fro! But also I’m really enjoy all the visual colour play she puts out.

Tell us two things that make you smile.

My beautiful 1 year old boy, his sparky energy and soulful eyes, and my husband and partner who is so loving and supportive.

What do you love about yourself?

I love that I am myself. Feet on the ground with my head in the clouds and I’ve always been this way, I accept that this is me. I’m driven a lot by my emotions and intuition and these functions I trust implicitly.

What is your to-go herb?

Thyme, it’s used a lot in West-African dishes and it helps to clear respiratory problems.

What is the first thing you grab when you have a cold?

Fresh lemons, honey, ginger and garlic they bring instant comfort. A classic rememdy that works! 

What have you been reading lately?

I’ve been reading a lot of articles about starting your own business, branding, economics that sort of thing, it’s really helped me to determine what I don’t want and navigate my way towards creating a sustainable business that reflects my values. I’m also halfway through Girl Boss hoping for insights and inspiration on running an unconventional business.

Name two people who influenced your journey thus far 

My mother is one! She has shown me that you can create something out of nothing, so long as you have the will. She has also shown me how to let things go in order to make space for new things to come. And my partner who has taught me to be slower and more thorough, rather than hurried and careless.

What are the three destinations of your dreams?

- New Zealand

- Iceland

- Ghana

How would you describe your fashion style?

Eclectic vintage or simple jeans rolled up and sweaters, I collect coats, I’m a coat hoarder, vintage is my weakness here.

What are your two favorite quotes of the moment?

"The world is full of magic things patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper." 

- W.B Yeats

"I am living breathing freedom." 

- Hiroko Sakai

Tell us one thing people would be surprised to know about you. 

I draw and I’m not bad at it.

For you, Art is...
...therapy. 

What are you thankful for?

For everything! I’m grateful for my life and all the love in my life, my family, my friendships, my home. My life is far from perfection but I value what I have and realize that I am very fortunate.

According to you, what is the purpose of life?
To live simply, less things and more love!

Connect with here: @afrohairandskinco
Photos, courtesy of Ibi Meier-Oruitemeka

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The Nice to Meet You Interview is Aile Rėve's signature. It is our way to soulfully connect with the artist and visionary. The NTMY allows us to take off for a voyage into the furthest reaches of their mind, with love, humility, and poetry.

Anaëlle Naná Moon Oyå
Mermaid-in-Chief @AileReve 

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Nice to Meet You Jonas Junior Mareus from Dekabes31• Dare to DREAM Series

"My dream in life is to have a successful business that helps people improve their life."

-  Jonas Junior Mareus
Dekabes 31, Co-founder
Montreal, Canada

• T H E   I N T E R V I E W • 

  Health and Lifestyle Edition

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If there was a movie produced about your life, who would play you and why?
Forest Whitaker; he can be so intense.


Tell us two things that make you smile.
Completing projects and satisfied customers.



What do you love about yourself?
I love being able to work on so many stuff at the time and my patience.

What is your to-go herb?
Mint.

What is the first thing you grab when you have a cold?

My blanket.

Name two people who influenced your journey thus far. 

• Frederick Douglas for his fight of abolishment of slavery and Black emancipation.
• Toussaint L'Ouverture for fighting to end slavery.

What have you been reading lately?

Finance, investment, leadership and international development books.

What are the three destinations of your dreams?

I love the sea so: 

• South Pacific Islands
• Tanzania
• Namibia

How would you describe your fashion style?

Whatever makes sense to me (even though sometimes it doesn't make sense to other people)

What are your two favorite quotes of the moment?

"Time we kill never die without reason."
"What we do for ourselves die with us. What we do for others remain forever."

Tell us one thing people would be surprised to know about you. 

I'm really shy so I will not be the first one to start a conversation but once it starts, we can talk about almost everything.

For you, Art is...

... expression of self.

What are you thanful for?
Life and my family. The people I was blessed to meet throughout my life.

According to you, what is the purpose of life?
Improve the quality of life of people around you. You have to impact the world in a way.

Connect with Jonas Junior Mareus here: @dekabes31 | Website
Photos, courtesy of Jonas Junior Mareus


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The Nice to Meet You Interview is Aile Rėve's signature. It is our way to soulfully connect with the artist and visionary. The NTMY allows us to take off for a voyage into the furthest reaches of their mind, with love, humility, and poetry.

Anaëlle Naná Moon Oyå
Mermaid-in-Chief @AileReve 

Nice to Meet You Amanda Rinaldi • Dare to DREAM Series

My dream in life is to create a positive message with my artwork and have it reach around the world.

-  Amanda Rinaldi
San Diego, Los Angeles & NYC

• T H E   I N T E R V I E W • 

  Health and Lifestyle Edition

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If there was a movie produced about your life, who would play you and why?
Michelle Rodriguez, because she's confident and knows who she is on and off the screen. 



Tell us two things that make you smile.
Everything and my family.




What do you love about yourself?
My imagination and my hair.

What is your to-go herb?
Mary Jane

What is the first thing you grab when you have a cold?
Water, lots of it. 

Name two people who influenced your journey thus far.
As a child Dr. Seuss played a huge role in my life. He was the only author and illustrator I payed attention to. Today the biggest compliment I get about my art is that it reminds them of a Urban Dr. Seuss. As an adult I would have to say my wife.  

What have you been reading lately?

Understanding Perspective: Form, Depth, and Distance (The Art of Drawing).

What are the three destinations of your dreams?

Europe, Asia, and Africa 

How would you describe your fashion style?

An expression of what I think fashion is today and what I can afford.

What are your two favorite quotes of the moment?

"If you don't stand for something, you fall for anything"- Malcom X 

"It took me four years to paint like Raphael, but a lifetime to paint like a child." - Pablo Picasso

Tell us one thing people would be surprised to know about you. 
I played basketball from 7 years old to 17 years old on several different teams. 

What are you thankful for?

My journey and family.

For you, Art is...
Art is a universal language that tells our stories.

According to you, what is the purpose of life?
The purpose of life is to live with purpose. 

Connect with here: @amanda_rinaldi | Website
Photos, courtesy of  Amanda Rinaldi

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The Nice to Meet You Interview is Aile Rėve's signature. It is our way to soulfully connect with the artist and visionary. The NTMY allows us to take off for a voyage into the furthest reaches of their mind, with love, humility, and poetry.

Anaëlle Naná Moon Oyå
Mermaid-in-Chief @AileReve 

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Nice to Meet You Mía Day • Dare to DREAM Series

Seeing the day that this world becomes one love and one faith. That day that we look for one another without interest, that we express how we feel without someone willing to hurt us. The day that we have true friends, friends that supports us no matter what, that are there in good like in bad. That day when we don’t have to see our loves ones die because of violence, hatred nor envy. That’s my dream in life and I know that it’s coming soon.

-  Mía Day
U.S. Virgin  Islands | Los Angeles, California

• T H E   I N T E R V I E W • 

  Health and Lifestyle Edition

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If there was a movie produced about your life, who would play you and why?

I would play myself, because there’s no one that can play Me better than myself. I know my flaws and my strengths. I know me better than anyone in this world, except for our one and only mighty God, Jehovah. He knows me better than Me, Myself and I, because He is our creator.



Tell us two things that make you smile.

Watching others smile. Love seeing happiness, it makes me smile everyday. Also, when my husband wakes me up with coffee and a kiss! That makes my day!



What do you love about yourself?

I love everything about myself, especially my flaws, because it helps me to work harder on myself in becoming a better person.

What is your to-go herb?

As a student chef, I am exploring different types of spices to boost our taste buds. I love to be creative in my cooking and also love food with flavor but healthy. Some of my go-to herbs that I use are: cilantro, garlic, Chinese onions, oregano, pepper, cilantro seeds, and thyme. These are my essential seasoning tools. With these spices, I've created great plates. One of my favourite dishes is Stew Fish with Coconut Milk White Sauce. It's delish!

What is the first thing you grab when you have a cold?
I drink chamomile tea. It soothes me.

Name two people who influenced your journey thus far 

I will say my mom and my husband. Because they always believed in me. And even though I’ve been through hard times, they were always there to support me, no matter what. My mom taught me to face reality, to never freak out when bad times hits me. Also, that a great woman always communicates and confronts her fears. That built me into the strong woman that I am today. 

What have you been reading lately?

Jewels by Danielle Steele. Love her novels. She’s my favorite author.

How would you describe your fashion style?
It’s very vintage, hippie, classy and chic. Cute but comfortable.

What are the three destinations of your dreams?

- Italy
- Egypt
- London

What are your two favorite quotes of the moment?

"I will walk by faith even when I can not see." 2 Corinthians 5:7 

"Not every story is ours to tell."- quoted by me.  

Tell us one thing people would be surprised to know about you. 

I love to sing! I sing everywhere and anytime. While taking a shower, in the car, even the commercials I sing. (laughs)

For you, Art is...

A maze. You can’t accomplish it until you start lookin for it. Everything around us is art. The first smile of a newborn baby, the perfect scent of a flower. The giggles you listen of people when they are in joy. The scent of your favorite food, that smile we give when we know, that we are about to eat something we love. And the photographs we take to save our memories. Memories we constantly feel, that gives us a spark of happiness, while we are going through them.

What are you thankful for?

I’m thankful for knowing Jehovah God. For being alive, and for having great friends and family that loves me.

According to you, what is the purpose of life?

I will say that the purpose of life is serving the one who created us. He give us all of these wonderful gifts: life, family, love , friendship, the earth where we live on and all the wonders that we see in it. So, why don’t we serve Him in return?

Connect with Mía Day here: @sunrisesmile_jw
Photos, Courtesy of Mía Day 

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The Nice to Meet You Interview is Aile Rėve's signature. It is our way to soulfully connect with the artist and visionary. The NTMY allows us to take off for a voyage into the furthest reaches of their mind, with love, humility, and poetry.

Anaëlle Naná Moon Oyå
Mermaid-in-Chief @AileReve 

Nice to Meet You Claudja Joseph • Dare to DREAM Series

My dream is life... I wish that I find my purpose, that I pursue my passions, that I love without reason, never lose my sense of wonder and live my vision, that is my dream.

-  Claudja Joseph | Montreal, Canada
(Secretly represent Laval City)

• T H E   I N T E R V I E W • 

  Health and Lifestyle Edition

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If there was a movie produced about your life, who would play you and why?

Mmm, good one. Maybe Nia Long because she’s got that good girl next door aura, and she’s my secret female crush. She’s always been a little in the shadow, but doing her thing, and I like that.



Tell us two things that make you smile.
A breathtaking skyline, children’s laughter.




What do you love about yourself?
That I am a sensitive, creative, curious, generous, silly big kid at heart.

What is your to-go herb?
Mint! Fresh and tasty and so many uses.

What is the first thing you grab when you have a cold?
Ginger, honey, lemon (and rhum, depending on how bad the cold is!)

Name two people who influenced your journey thus far 

My aunt who passed away from cancer, she was a true ambitious and passionate and really lived and love fully, very inspiring, she died young, but lives on with me every day. 

God, truly, I cannot neglect the power of spirituality in my life, it grounds me, keeps me focused, reminds me to look at the bigger picture and to grow, learn, give love and continually become.

What have you been reading lately?

The issue is I have NOT been reading lately! ;) We started a book club with friends and the last book (that we never finished… aaah summertime...) was "My Brilliant Friend" by Elena Ferrante. I have to get crackin' :) I also have on my list "The gifts of Imperfection" by Brené Brown.

What are the three destinations of your dreams?

- South Africa
- Iceland
- India

How would you describe your fashion style?

A little garçon, a little edgy, a little sporty chic, simple, quirky, all about details.

What are your two favorite quotes of the moment?

"Let go, let love, let God." 

"Be you and the rest will be."

Tell us one thing people would be surprised to know about you. 

I actually am super shy, which people are always surprised to find out. My social bee character is actually a shield, that I have mastered throughout the years. Oh, and I don’t like sea food or chocolate!


What are you thankful for?

I am thankful for the opportunity to live this life, for my health, my family, my friends, the love that I get to give and that I receive in sevenfold, and for all the other adventures, learning and blessings in disguise I have yet to uncover. I’m truly, extremely thankful to be alive, well, and happy.

For you, Art is...

Art is life. Art is love. Art is expression and connection. Art is part of the cure.

According to you, what is the purpose of life?

Life is the purpose. We look so hard sometimes to achieve things, material things, and we get caught uP in the system, in the rules, in money, in our differences. Life to me is about balance, about love, about growth, about exploring. The purpose is to become, to stretch to our full capacity, to listen to the voices and the signs that come our way, and to truly be, just be, ourselves, positively, wholesome, and lovingly. But mostly, to never lose our magic. 

Connect with here: @colourofdaydreams
Photos, courtesy of Claudja Joseph

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The Nice to Meet You Interview is Aile Rėve's signature. It is our way to soulfully connect with the artist and visionary. The NTMY allows us to take off for a voyage into the furthest reaches of their mind, with love, humility, and poetry.

Anaëlle Naná Moon Oyå
Mermaid-in-Chief @AileReve 

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