1. BB&H 29
you to a young Grace Jones. Is
that a good likeness?
She’s great and was fearless in what
she did. She broke down so many
barriers with her French career. I’m
humbled to be compared to her.
Do you have a beauty routine?
I prefer baths to showers. I think it’s
good to nourish skin in water and
steam. I don’t have a particular
moisturising product, but I find that
shea butter mixed with Astral works
pretty well on my skin.
Your name comes from Japan,
known for fierce fashion and
chic technology; do you think
you would have a different style
if your name was Sharon?
Most definitely! I wish I could have
loved my name earlier in my life. I feel
silly for not embracing it as a kid and
I’m sorry to my mum for not seeing it
earlier on.
You always look so effortlessly
glam, where do you get your
inspiration from?
My mum and grandma are my biggest
inspiration as they showed me how to
appreciate colour. I went to school in
Africa and was influenced by
flamboyant African traditions, cloth and
headwraps. When I returned to the
UK, I had the confidence to stand out,
so I will never be in to all that
mainstream stuff.
Any plans in the pipeline to
expand into a clothing range?
It’s on the cards. I would love to do a
collaboration line with Amechi
Ihenacho (fashion editor of Flux
magazine). I’ve worn loads of his
pieces for TV shows and for London’s
Fashion Week. He’s really respectable,
tall, good looking and always dresses
like a real gent.
You’ve had international
success with the band. How do
you remain humble and
grounded?
I’m from a big extended African family
and this is part of who I am. Once you
respect your family it’s not hard. I’m a
real mummy’s girl. My mum had breast
cancer and it made me appreciate her
and life even more.
How do you keep your natural
tresses in check?
I go to Lilly who runs the Braids Centre
on Walworth Road (London). You’d be
surprised how many celebs go to her.
I’ve had natural tresses now for 10
years and sometimes get natural
weave [tracks] for volume.
Have you faced difficulties
looking after your natural hair?
I’ve walked into salons and been told,
‘we’ve got to charge you extra for a
steam’ or ‘we don’t do natural hair,’
and it really bothers me. As black girls
we shouldn’t feel dishevelled or
embarrassed about what we’ve got.
Natural hair is flexible, healthier and we
can really make our stamp. I urge
salons to encourage natural hair(styles)
and know how to groom (afro) hair in
its most natural state.
What make-up do you use?
Sensual Skin Enhancer by Kevyn
Aucoin is amazing. It’s a fluffy
foundation like a mousse. Kevyn was
legendary, ask any make-up artist and
they’ll know about him.
Manicure or pedicure?
Manicure, I use my hands a lot and my
nails get chipped when I play the bass.
I’m terrible at doing my own nails but
you can’t go wrong with Sally Hansen’s
Hard as Nails.
Is there a Mr Right?
I would love to be in a relationship but
he’d need to go through my family
first. He’d have to make me laugh too,
as my family makes me laugh a lot.
Sweet or savoury ?
Sweet. I love anything with custard,
treacle cake, rum cake; you can
seduce me with it. Friends and family
know me as the custard queen.
Rock chicks tend to travel light,
what’s in your handbag?
Safety pins and a book by Zadie Smith
called On Beauty. ■
‘I urge salons to encourage
natural hair and know how to
groom (afro) hair in its natural state’
Funky dresser
André 3000 and
alternative
rapper Mos
Def are on the
top of
Shingai’s
collabo list
Wild Young Hearts is out now at
HMV, iTunes, Play and Amazon
Travelling light with
these essentials
Fashion mag
Flux is a
must-have
read
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