Brief background
My full name is Soliat Bada. I’ve been a dancer since I was 16. I’ve been with the C.EO dancers for about 7 or 8 years. I enrolled myself in a dance course in college; I got trained in ballet, jazz, all that good stuff. When I met the rest of the girls that’s when I actually started doing African dancing. Prior to that I was really into street dancing and hip hop.
What is your skin type?
Dry skin
When did you start taking care of your skin, and why?
I’ll be honest with you, I only started consciously taking care of my skin end of last year. Prior to that it was pretty much cleanser , water and shea butter. Now my skin routine is still pretty simple; I still use cleanser , water and shea butter (*laughs*) but there are times when I’m in Nigeria I always breakout in heat rashes and use Skineal to clear it up in 2 – 3 days and I’m good again. I also started toning as well, so I use this Tea tree toner to wash off my makeup, put on some Skineal, and that’s it. Why dance? So I’ve always known I could dance, as cocky as that might sound (*laughs*). I was that child putting on shows for the family. I used to make up routines with my cousins. Family functions I would the child in the middle of the dance floor dancing. So, I’ve always had a passion for dance but I really didn’t know how to go about making a career out of it. In high school I did my A levels in performing arts. And, of course, in high school it’s very diluted; you had to do other things as well as dance, so it wasn’t as concentrated and intense. So, I decided to enroll myself in a dance school and that’s where it all began for me. I started hanging out with dancers. I started going to auditions. I got my first professional job when I was 18, as a backup dancer for a British artist. It just snowballed from then on. Then I went on to University and enrolled myself in a dance course, which I didn’t finish. I actually dropped out of Uni; a lot of people don’t know that (*laughs*). You know, honestly, I wish I finished. Not for the knowledge or anything, but just so I can say I was able to finish it even though I wasn’t passionate about that course, and I didn’t feel like I was learning much. But God has a mysterious way of working because as soon as I dropped out of University I met Nobile and Ezine; I actually met them in a club. I had seen a video of them before; back then there were 4 of them and they were called Coco dancers. I went up to Ezine and told her “oh my gosh, you ladies are amazing!” and we exchanged details, we hooked up, she invited me to do a show with them, and after the show she said “I’d love you to be a part of the group”. I said “well we’ll have to change the name” because, being the diva that I am, I didn’t want to be part of something old (*laughs*). So, we went through a bunch of ridiculous names; from fire breathers to dancing divas. But for some reason CEO dancers stuck.
Take me through your skincare routine AM and PM
AM
In the morning when I get out of the shower, if I wore makeup the night before, I cleanse. If I’m wearing a hat I put on a little bit of skineal. If I’m not wearing a hat I’ll leave my skin bare because Nigeria is hot.
PM
When I get back, I wash my face , facial scrub, followed by tea tree toner and finally I would put on a serum before I go to bed.
If you had to run out of a burning building and you could only grab one skincare product, what would that be?
I’d take my shea butter
What kind of work would you do for free?
When it comes to dance, it depends on the vibe or the kind of artist they are; if I like their music or what they stand for I don’t mind doing that for free.
Where did your love for cooking start?
My mom and my sister taught me how to cook. It didn’t really start off as a love for cooking, it started off as a chore. Then it evolved into a passion; I became intrigued by how ingredients come together to make an amazing meal. I didn’t start taking it seriously until like to or 3 years ago when I was going through a rough patch in my career. I decided that I needed other creative means of expressing myself outside of dancing, and that’s how I discovered my new passion and I’m glad I’m on this journey that I’m on right now.
Food I'm not ashamed to admit I love
Amala, ewedu with pomo. I would eat that anytime.
Beauty is ....
Confidence.
Which African woman embodies African beauty to you?
I’d say Lupita Nyongo. She’s absolutely stunning. She doesn’t understand how much impact she’s making on dark skin girls or people who are not confident in their skin.
What advice you would give your 18-year-old self?
I would tell her your glow up is coming real soon honey (*laughs*).