Why Every Parent Should Talk About Ify

Ify was bullied by her schoolmates and was often called chubby. Today the 10-year-old designs a clothing line called ChubbiLine

Ify is what family, friends and those who love her call Egypt Ufele. She is 10 years old and lives with her mom and sister in New York. Ify suffers from Asthma; it almost killed her on a couple of occassions. Doctors put her on steroids to help her condition. And one of the side-effects of medication was weight gain.

Before long, Ify was relentlessly bullied at school for being overweight. Chubby or fatty was what they called her. She was poked with pencils, pinched, laughed at and bullied for being that "fat kid". Yes, kids can be cruel, unless parents teach them differently.

Fortunately, the bullying did not break Iffy. This kid was made of sterner stuff. She was also surrounded by strong women, her mother, sister and grandmum, who were her role models. She learned to cope with bullying by spending quality time with her older sister MisPerri Fashions, and her maternal grandma sewing outfits for her dolls. Soon Ify learnt to use a sewing machine and began designing clothes for adults. Today, Ify owns her own fashion label called ChubiiLine.

Ify loves dressing up women and kids deemed 'large-size ' by the rest of the world. She used to travel frequently to Nigeria Here she was exposed to and inspired by the beauty of African prints and the African culture, which influenced her design.

Today, Ify is a successful entrepreneur in the fashion industry. In February 2016, Ify became the only child designer to present her collection during NYFW ( New York Fashin Week) and received a standing ovation for her creative designs for all sizes and genders including adults and curvy models. She was also honored at the Full Figured Fashion Week 7th Anniversary Runway Showcase & Industry Awards Ceremony in the US. She was presented with the Jr Trailblazer of the Year award for launching her own plus-size clothing line.

Iffy's Motto is: "No kid should ever feel bad about how they look." She wants to empower all kids to do their best and always work hard.

Now you know why I said every parent should talk about Ify to their children - those who bully and those who get bullied.

Image courtesy: madamnoire. Com