Hello and welcome to the weekend.
Our guest today is Ebunolowa, and ours is one of those funny sliding-doors moments. I walked away from a role, and she came in to replace me. If you work in marketing, you know the feeling: you leave something behind and quietly wonder what the person coming after you will do with it. Thankfully, I had nothing to worry about. All I ever heard were good things, and from everything I have seen, Ebun has continued to prove them right.
Beyond that story, Ebun is simply an outstanding and consistent human. In this episode, we get into her world — her perspective on content, fashion and skincare for men, her marriage, the incredible support system she has found in family, and the hopes she has for what comes next.
This is Proof of Life.
Enjoy.
What does Proof of Life mean to you? What makes you feel most alive?
Discovering colorful, quirky things makes me feel super alive. Colour tickles my brain; whimsical pieces tickle my brain; mind-blowing inventions that make my jaw drop get me going.
For anyone meeting you for the first time, who is Ebun? Tell us a little about yourself and what you do.
Ebun is a 30-year-old teenager, navigating life one day at a time. She’s a marketer who loves fashion, skincare, thrifting, music, and also shopping. She’s really just a girl.
What do you enjoy most about working in content and marketing? And if you could change one thing about the industry, what would it be?
I love the power that content and marketing has. Content has proved beneficial in educating people, informing them, keeping them entertained, and helping them make better choices. Content has also expanded marketing opportunities, and that’s why content marketing is an entire field on its own.
I wish marketers were more respected and valued and paid their worth. Everybody believes they can do marketing because they have a smartphone and can record videos or write a think piece. The age of Artificial Intelligence has indeed aggravated the situation; however, the marketers who evolve and move with the tide will always win.
What’s a project you’ve worked on recently that genuinely excited you? What made it special?
I recently made the switch from the agency side of marketing to the brand side, which means I have a more streamlined focus. I have been saddled with two amazing FMCG brands which we are literally building from scratch. There’s a Juicy Italian Wine brand called Amabile Di Rosa and a food brand called Mangrove Quality Foods.
I started working on these two projects over a year ago, and the growth has been tremendous. We’re a relatively small team putting in the work, and it’s great that our efforts are paying off. When I do social listening, I love seeing the reviews and feedback, and when we go out for events and brand activations, it’s exciting to see people recognize the brand and say they have tried our products and genuinely love them. It’s one thing for your product to be great; it’s another thing to have a great marketing approach. So shout out to our team. If you are reading this and haven’t tried any of our products, please do so.
You’re gonna love eeettt!
You’re clearly very interested in skincare. Where did that interest come from, and what does skincare mean to you beyond just looking good?
Omo! The skincare story is long. Just follow me on my social media @Wanshygirl (on all platforms) for the gist. However, what I will say is that my personal struggles led me here. I had acne for quite some time and wanted to improve my skin health, so I went down a rabbit hole. Of course, as I was testing and experimenting, I was also sharing on my blog (www.wanshygirl.wordpress.com) and social media platforms. I finally unlocked my journey to healthy skin, decided to get professionally certified, and started offering consultations to also help others take their skin health seriously.
When it comes to skincare, it’s not just about looking good; it’s about taking care of your organs. Yes, the skin is the largest organ of the human body, and the same way you take care of your teeth, kidneys, liver, eyes, ears, and heart, you also need to care for your skin. It’s a non-negotiable and not restricted to one gender. Men have skin too!
What’s your best skincare advice for women, especially with all the noise and pressure around beauty online?
Best advice for both men and women: don’t chase trends, always seek professional help, be proud of your God-given skin tone, and just love yourself.
How would you describe your content style? And we have to say, we love your Week in My Life series. What made you start it?
My content approach is a mix of structured vibes, structured because I have certain topics I post about (skincare, fashion, thrifting, lifestyle). Vibes because I don’t overthink the execution; I just do it. I don’t create with a fancy camera or light setup. I do not have a strict content calendar; I just go with the flow.
The week in my life series is actually an interesting one; in the past I had content pillars for my skincare content, Texture Tuesdays, Pink Wednesdays, Throwback Thursdays, etc. However, my 9-to-5 life got so serious I could no longer keep up with skincare content. Also, Instagram Reels and TikToks became a big deal, and there was a shift from static content to video content. As someone who loved to document anyways, I decided to film snippets of my life and share an end-of-the-week recap.
This gave my followers a glimpse into my life and also ensured I had one consistent post weekly regardless of my busy schedule. Ever since, it’s just become a recurring content piece, and people always enjoy and look forward to watching them.
You have a very expressive relationship with fashion, especially colour. Why flashy colours? What do you love about dressing that way?
I kinda answered this in the first question, colours tickle my brain and boost my mood. If I walk into a dull grey minimalist space, it just might dampen my mood. But if I walked into a space with bright colours, art and greenery, it does magic for my brain. It’s a mental thing and it translates to every part of my life, not just fashion. Even my home is colorful and filled with quirky pieces.
Let’s talk about marriage. What were those early days actually like, beyond the wedding photos and excitement?
Well, people say the first year is always the hardest, but for us it wasn’t. It did have its challenges. I fell sick immediately after my wedding and had to have emergency surgery. Imagine how hard that must have been as newlyweds.
I also had a super demanding job while dealing with my mental and physical health, but we keep adjusting and navigating. I also never went into marriage with the expectation that it was going to be a bed of roses.
You’re now over a year into marriage. What has surprised you most about it, and what has changed about you since you got married?
Nothing has surprised me to be honest; again, I have always lowered my expectations. Also, nothing has drastically changed to be fair, but one thing I’ll say is the dating phase will always be different from the marriage phase. Dating na play, marriage is the real deal. You will keep adjusting, making sacrifices where necessary, learning new things about each other. You also need to constantly communicate and always resolve conflicts as soon as they arise. Very very very key!
What’s one real story or lesson from your first year of marriage that you think could genuinely prepare or guide someone who is about to get married?
Omo lol I no get story ooo. Just marry a good man with a good family. And if the family no like you, please park and go ooo no be by force. My husband’s family really came through when I fell sick, and for them I am super grateful. Of course, my family was involved, but it was sweet to be cared for on both sides.
Let’s talk about money and Nigeria. How has your relationship with money evolved as you’ve grown older and built your career, and what frustrates or excites you about building a life in Nigeria?
Omooooooooo!!!! Where do I start?
Let’s just say the more you earn the more Nigeria makes it feel like it’s not enough. But what I will say is, regardless of how much you earn, prioritize financial literacy, save and invest when you can, and start building for your future.
Building could be upskilling, could be relocation, could be investing, could be starting a business. Just keep moving. Nigeria is not set-up for your success, honestly but keep pushing.
If people are winning legitimately, I can win too.
When you think about the next few years, what are you hoping your life looks like? What goals are you working towards?
Honestly, I just want to be mentally okay, financially stable, content with what I have and thriving with my family.
What are you listening to right now? Give us the song, artist, or album currently on repeat.
It’s a mix, but presently Davido’s entire Discography. OBO is too good, no shade to FC!
Share your random thought.
DO YOU, THE WORLD WILL ADJUST!
Call for questions.
Proof of Life is approaching its 50th episode.
To mark the milestone, I’m turning the tables. For the first time, I’ll be the guest.
Over the past 49 conversations, I’ve had the privilege of listening to people share their lives with remarkable honesty. It only feels right to celebrate this moment by opening up and sharing my own story.
So, I’d love your help.
If there’s anything you’ve ever wanted to ask me about my life, work, creative journey, failures, wins, or the person behind the questions, leave a comment or send me a message. I’ll be gathering your questions for the episode.
See you on Episode 50.
If you enjoyed Ebun’s Proof of Life, you should meet Timothee and Ufak!
What Happens When You Stop Running?
There is a version of men’s mental health we do not talk about enough.
The Girl Who Runs Through Lagos Before Sunrise
“Sometimes the proof is simply that you’re still moving, still learning, still trying to become better than who you were yesterday.”
Hi guys I’m shy 🙈 thanks for the feature TBB! I enjoyed cooking this.