Celebrity beauty secrets

Shirley Genga and Matilda Nzioki find out how these female personalities maintain their looks.

Anne Kiguta,

KTN News Anchor

What does your daily beauty processes entail?

Oh my...I’m going to sound terribly simplistic but anyway, it is all about a steaming hot shower and

Cecilia Mwangi - Former Miss Kenya

al style and not the latest trends.

Cecilia Mwangi - Former Miss Kenya

Do you have to gym to maintain a lean figure?

I’m not a gym person. I just watch what I eat. When I get hungry I take water and fruits. I love me some chocolate and cake but I try not to over indulge. When I got my baby last August I ballooned to a size 12 but now I’m back to size eight.

How often do you do your hair?

Weekly or after every two weeks.

How long does it take you to get ready?

I get up at 7am to go to work and by 8.30am I’m out. My spouse thinks I take long but to me it’s a short while considering I’ve done everything from make-up to breakfast.

Edith Kimani - KTN News Anchor, Reporter

How is it for you to maintain a good public image?

I have to maintain a certain percentage of the on-air persona off screen. That means even in casual outfits, I have to represent both the KTN and Edith Kimani brand. So my makeup and wardrobe have to be in check.

Edith Kimani - KTN News Anchor, Reporter

What do your daily beauty processes entail?

Not much to be honest. Daily cleansing, moisturising and light make-up when I am off air.

How long does it take you to get ready?

As long as it takes. With time it is taking me less time but if it means going to the salon severally in a week then it’s a sacrifice I am willing to make. The audience is my boss, and they deserve to get the best even when I am not on TV.

What salon and spa process do you do and how often?

Believe it or not I am not a mani-pedi kind of girl. My nails get special treatment once a month...or less. Otherwise, I polish from home. Hair is essential for me so maybe three times a week when on air and once a week when not. Facials are supposed to be once a month although I have become lazy with those recently.

How is it for you trying to achieve an always-glowing facial skin?

With enough sleep and a good laugh, it’s not too difficult. But everyone has those off days when nothing seems to work. On such days, I just let go and let live.

Do you find it expensive to maintain an attractive public image?

It is expensive to maintain any image if you are not smart about it so I do what is needed with the resources availed to me.

Avril - Recording artiste

How do you maintain your look?

I visit my hairdresser once in two weeks and once a month for my front hair gradient. I have to make sure it’s the right gold colour as it is my signature look. The rest of the time I do it at home as my hair is natural and I have a home regimen.

As for my shape, I’ve been trying to gym but I rely mostly on the right diet. I recently stopped taking sugar, rather, I’m using natural sweeteners like honey. To cut on the carbs I do whole wheat like in bread and I’ve dropped my soda-daily addiction. I don’t want to jiachilia.

How do you maintain a good skin?

I never sleep with make-up and I have to moisturise before going to bed.

Where do you shop?

Anywhere really. I like Mr Price and stuff from Blackbird Jeans. For red carpet events, I have to get a new outfit and shoes. Designer Achie Otigo does my clothes. The whole ensemble normally costs Sh10,000-Sh15,000.

Do you do second hand markets?

Yes I do. I could be going about my business and spot something lovely by the roadside, I won’t hesitate. I like unique stuff that suit my style.

Wahu - Singer

How do you maintain your look?

I have moments where I am going to the gym, like three to four times a week, eating right and drinking lots of water, but I will be honest and say lately, there has not been much of that happening. Hopefully, I will get back onto the bandwagon soon.

Beauty treatments:

I guess I am like any other girl in this regard. I like to do my eyebrows, a good manicure and pedicure every now and then. For my face though, I cleanse, tone and moisturise on a daily basis and always go out into the day with sunscreen (SPF 30). I also try and drink lots of water, though it is quite a challenge to do the recommended eight glasses.

Do you feel pressure to look a certain way?

If I am hanging out in my neighbourhood, not at all. I will walk out in jeans, a T-shirt, sandals and a hat if I have a bad hairdo. If I am going for a function, yes, I do feel the need to dress up but I don’t mind, I love dressing up.

Where do you shop?

Anywhere! I am comfortable shopping at Toy Market as I am at Westgate. For me, it is about how much I love what I buy, and not where I buy it.

Describe your look and style? Easy, classy and comfy.

　

Wendy Kimani -singer

How do you maintain your look?

Well I just recently started going to the gym. I am not going to lie that I do it daily, I miss every now and then but it is healthy to go. It keeps me in check with my diet and my singing is way better after I have exercised. I also try to eat and to drink lots of water, which is great for your skin.

Beauty treatments... I definitely have like the most boyish eyebrows ever so I have to keep them trim and shaped. It is amazing how nicely shaped eyebrows can make a huge difference to your face. When it comes to hair I love to change it up so much but sometimes I run out of ideas on what to do. I like my hair big, it looks better on me so I weave and braid it a lot. My hair is permed but I really wish I knew how to work with natural hair. I do my own nails and sometimes my niece does them for me, she is amazing.

Where do you shop?

I shop everywhere! Anywhere I find something I like I buy.

Beauty is... Very relative and can be a lot of different things but for me when I look at my self in pyjamas with no make up and hair held up I feel beautiful, it is just perfect.

Habida, singer

How do you maintain your look?

I work out five days a week and I am on a dietary plan, which my best friend Jane Githehu, a competitive body builder in the States, has done for me.

Beauty treatments...I get my eyebrows, armpits and other areas waxed maybe twice a month. I only visit the salon to treat my hair when it begins to look dry and desperate because I am not really the hair salon or hair pampering type. I used to get facials done but now I just do not have the time.

Do you feel pressure to look a certain way?

Of course! Being in the entertainment industry requires that one looks their best. Sometimes though I give myself a break and just walk out of the house in jeans, sports shoes and a tank top.

Where do you shop?

Abroad mostly, I either go myself or send someone who is going out. I like 2nu at 20th Century, Nairobi. Plus I also have stylists who source clothes for me.

Beauty is

Beauty is definitely from the inside, the more honest, loving and genuine you are the more you shine on the outside.

Joey Muthengi, Radio host

What do you do to keep up with your celebrity image?

I am a big fan of Tae-bo and Pilates so I make time at least three times a week to workout. I have also just started doing yoga and I find it extremely calming.

Beauty treatments:

I like being pampered so I often go to the salon to do my hair, nails, and get my eyebrows threaded. I am a sucker for facials too, so twice a week I have at-home facials after my working out.

Do you feel pressure to look a certain way?

I feel pressure to look the best ‘me’ that I possibly can, not to follow trends or look like other people.

Where do you shop?

Everywhere — I do quite a bit of online shopping; my cousin owns a boutique in the States so she sends me a lot of stuff. I like the stores at the Junction plus whenever I travel out of the country I try and pick some things up as well.

Describe you look and style?

Edgy, street, glam chic but I am a strong believer in comfort as well.

Size 8, Singer/actress

What do you do to keep up with your celebrity image?

I am not a gym person so I try to walk as much as I can especially when I am home. I do my own house chores. I do not hire any help, it helps to keep me fit. Finally I love to have my nieces over, they keep me busy running around. I also try to watch what I eat and to drink lots of water.

Beauty treatments:

Apart from doing a facial once a week, I wash, scrub and cleanse my skin daily. On top of that, thrice a week I put a Liwa mask. It is cheaper to do a Liwa mask at home than at the salon. I also drink a lot of water and try to avoid the sun.

I love to do my hair and spend a lot of money on it. I change my hair every two weeks and go to the salon for touch ups before shows. Hair is my weakness, I once spent Sh15,000 on a weave. I have a manicure and pedicure twice a month

Where do you shop?

I do not shop anymore but instead have a guy who shops for me. He has no specific place he shops everywhere from Ngara to town. The thing about being a public figure is everyone thinks you have a lot of money so whenever I would go for shopping personally they would hike the prices.

Beauty is... is accepting and loving who you are as an individual.

Amani, singer

How do you maintain your look?

I try to swim thrice a week and I also love yoga. I also watch what I eat and drink a lot of water.

Beauty treatments

I enjoy a pedicure and manicure at least once a month.

Do you feel pressure to look a certain way?

There is a lot of pressure but I have reached a point where I am happy with the way I look if I am comfortable with it.

Where do you shop?

I like to shop everywhere I never limit myself.

Beauty is...Your character and confidence. You can be very beautiful but if you are not confident then your beauty will not shine through.