BN Exclusive: Goodbye, True Love – Hello, FLAIR Magazine. New Era, New Mag, Covergirl Steph Okereke
Posted on Tuesday, May 11th, 2010 at 8:57 PMBy BellaNaija.com
It’s the end of an era.
Without a doubt, True Love WA changed the game and left an indelible mark in the Nigerian media industry especially in the women’s magazine segment.
FLAIR was actually originally launched by Bola Atta over a decade ago and was the first women’s lifestyle magazine in Nigeria. It is great to see the brand coming back and its satisfying that its a wholly Nigerian brand lead by an inspiring Nigerian woman. The magazine business globally is floundering and in Nigeria, the business is totally cut throat so it’s really commendable to keep publishing. On the global level, publishing powerhouse Condé Nast has closed down over 6 magazines in the last 18 months, in Africa – True Love Magazine shut down in East Africa and in Nigeria, lots of magazines start and are crushed in less than 3 issues.
The first issue of FLAIR features the beautiful Stephanie Okereke on the cover. Pick up your copy and let us know what you think of the new magazine.
BN Editor’s Comments
Personally, appearing on the cover of True Love West Africa was an inspiring honour. It was one of the major factors that inspired certain decisions that have changed my life.
It was great while it lasted and am expecting even greater things from FLAIR.
Below we have republished the Editor’s Note by Bola Atta as she provides us with insight on the big change and the new magazine.
FLAIR – Relaunch Issue 1 – Editor’s Note by Bola Atta
Welcome to the launch of Flair West Africa – a fresh and exciting new women’s publication that promises to become your best friend.
In case you are wondering why you are seeing me on the pages of Flair West Africa and not TRUE LOVE West Africa: We have decided to discontinue TRUE LOVE West Africa. Our last edition was in March 2010. Launching TRUE LOVE and bringing a fashion-forward and entertainment-savvy magazine to West Africa has been an amazing experience. Together, with valuable input from you, our readers, we built something of which we are fiercely proud. Most of all, in connecting with so many loyal readers and getting to know some of you personally, we learned that you welcome change and evolvement, especially in the fashion industry that inspires us.
FLAIR West Africa will continue to bring you the latest from the fashion and entertainment industries, but we will also bring you inspirational and newsworthy topics on subjects that you, in your feedback, have told us interest you. The world is constantly changing and progressing at an amazing pace. Our country is moving forward rapidly with changing world trends and our fashion and entertainment industry is growing in leaps and bounds. FLAIR West Africa, like an inquisitive, beautiful butterfly, aims to be at the forefront of these developments to bring you the relevant, informative and entertaining stories that you want every month.
The first edition is really special. As we celebrate Children’s Day this month, we focus on our most treasured assets: our children. They, like this magazine, are symbols of renewal, hope and a bright future. Read about mothers of twins and triplets who are filled with joy and gratitude for their multiple blessings. Just as Ete Ayida and women like her have gone the extra mile to better the lives of children, so shall we go the extra mile to bring you the best West Africa and the world have to offer. I hope our stories of inspirational women will make you want to dedicate some of your time and resources to putting smiles on little faces.
If you are reading this right now, you have bought or borrowed your first edition of FLAIR West Africa. I hope you like what you see and enjoy flipping through these pages that we have worked so hard to bring to you. We intend to stay connected with you, our readers, and your feedback and letters will go a long way in letting us know how to please you.
Tags: Bola Atta, Flair Magazine, Stephanie Okereke
OMG!! I love the name FLAIR!! Huge congrats to Bola Atta and really wishing you much sucess with Flair.
Steph is looking fierce!
the cover of the mag. doesn’t seem that diff. from true love & am happy about that! i truelly loved True love and i hope this is just as good…
i meant truly…lol…
True love has also pulled out of Nigeria,.??/
so they only changed the name se?
What a mess!! i won’t even bothe looking at what’s inside the magazine, this is toooooooooo wrong, ahn han!!
Hollywood bound (:lol:) she doesnt even need accent class once she is in Hollywood – cos she has been practicing her american accent for 2 decades now.
she will fit right in 
Accent Woman
Okay this looks like True Love photocopied. What has that lip color got to do
with the blue???? where is the “Flair” on this cover?? I need to see some
sought of enhancement. The lightening is too harsh on her complexion.
I expect and demand more… Make up, Photographer, styling need to
step up!!! Please Bola! Flair readers deserve more….and oh stephanie
is beautiful.
More grease to your elbows guys……..
just read d mag an hour ago and i must say dt d make up on her face wasnt properly blended wt her neck
I looooooooove True Love.Definitely going to miss it
Hope FLAIR performs well o..Fingers crossed!!!
Oh dear, I waited two months to read my fav. TrueLove only to read this post. Dear Bola, atleast a formal “goodbye” would have sufficed. I just Segun Johnson has a column in the new Flair. I wish you all the best.
What kind of 419 move is this?
I just Love stephanie, she is fierce and on fire.
Nice nice nice! Would like to work with Bola Attah on this one, true!
Stephanie, you are one pretty lady, i love your guts!
omg…why is there a typo on the front cover?? focussing??
I am big TL fan so this feels a bit strange. But good luck, Bola Attah is a great editor.
I am so surprise about this new development. I am a big fan of TL and I think
readers should have been re-informed about this before now. Becos, I have been
searching for a copy of TL for the month of May, well congrats Bola Attah. I hope
Flair would be as good as TL or even better.
na wa for typo o!Haba on their first edition???why does the font style look so
old school and like it was done in windows paint!!damn this na down grade o
was wondering what would happen to Bola Atta, happy to hear she’s still in the game.
This is just the beginning of greatness for FLAIR, very soon we’ll be narvelling at how great.
Congrats on the big move!
i will only say, with TRUE LOVE, you came, you saw and you conquered n i’m
very sure FLAIR won’t be an exception. you’ve always been a very good and humble person that i respected and appreciated your intelligence in journalism so much. wishing you success in yur new ventur
Hello, it’s me ITK again LOL. “focussing” is NOT wrong. Neither is “focusing”. They are both correct. On another note, I prefer the name ‘Flair’ to ‘True Love’. Bola Atta is doing a great job.
@ Titi, its a Nigerian Magazine right?people spell it as “Focusing” in Nigeria.abegggg
Men, i dont like the font..damn!!Looks like a word perfect production!!I like the name flair better tho
Steph looks hot not feeling the matching blush and lipstick tho
@buks, I had to check the magazine on the typo, that would be a huge error on a publication and it says FOCUSING and not FOCUSSING, kindly check again and revert.
FirstIWantToDanceWithYouPere, your name is long o!
But how are you so sure that “focusing” is the only acceptable version in Nigeria? Any proofs? You can’t just go with what “people” spell it as. Who are these people? Flair Magazine, carry go jo!
the name of the mag:flair.the mag:truelove.guess there’s really no difference in the two mags.stephenie is beautiful but i dont think the make up came out so well.cant wait to see the mag though.
The magazine doesn’t look polished at all..the font, the colour, Steph’s makeup. Not good..not good. And which one come be evolvement? It’s evolution my dear Bola.
The make up on steph is a big No No. I trust Bola atta will fly high on flair.atta girl!
Re first women’s lifestyle magazine in Nigeria, actually there was an amazing women’s lifestyle mag called Emotan, published in the 80s out of Ibadan
Picked up a copy today half-expecting something new…only thing that’s changed is the name. Oh, and my copy had “focusing”, not “focussing”.
Thanks, Anon 30. Emotan lived from 1977-1985. A heck of a run.
I used to read TRUE LOVE occasionally. A good job. Considering the
resources at our disposal bk in the 70s, EMOTAN garnered raves for depth and
seriousness. It was no trail blazer: followed DAILY TIMES’ Woman’s World and
late Chief Onabanjo’s Modern Woman ed. by Toun, his late daughter but I was y ow
my own financier. I started it after editing THE DAILY SKETCH Women Affair
pages as publisher/ed-in-chief. Congrats, Bola, and here’s wishing you tons
of success. Read me in the NATION on Sunday. Was in COMET on Sunday
before THE NATION.
PS. I was 31 when EMOTAN was presented to the public at U.I.
Trenchard Hall in 1977.
I’m not really feeling steph’s picture at all. and to think this is is a major magazine in Nigeria. they shouldn’t even let things like that fly. COME ON!
i have a copy of the mag. Quite impressive. However, the makeup artist did not do Steph any justice
@Jonno: Evolvement is correct – means the act of evolving.
Ok, I think this was a bad photo shoot and the make up artist worsened it by making steph look horrible. She looks stressed. I think there was not enough publicity for the change of name. what inspires the name “Flair” . we should have been told, why the change???? Whats the brand manager thinking? All the best though
I have looked and looked the makeup was HORRIBLE, who did that? didn’t the editor see it, Step is gorgeous u guys made her ugly, the pose looked masculine. Everytin about the photo shoot is not just it
Wao.. it’s nice having a replacement for Truelove,I almost miss June edition of flair thinking it was a sport magazine and i hope fans will not bypass it.