In Conversation with: Delyse Gimani

Delyse Gimani, aka The Style Artist, aka The Meatball Shnack. I am a 29 year old (30 this year) Zimbabwean woman who is firstly a lover of God. I am a funny, caring, confident, quirky, crazy, loving person who loves to make people laugh, a hypeman and I generally enjoy sharing my energy. Oh I love to talk.  Not forgeting, an Afrobloggers Awards 2020 nominee. Voting is open until Friday the 5th, if you havent voted yet, my blog is in the lifestyle category, you can vote here.

I am a creative through and through. Studied International Relations at uni, but my heart has always been in events, fashion and the creative industry. I have worked for companies like Unplugged that molded me into who I am today as a creative.

What inspired you to get into blogging?

Blogging came about mainly from my older sister’s encouragement. For years she had been telling me to start a blog and I was so scared. I also had friends who thought it was a good idea and I needed to put my love for fashion and body positivity out there. So after a rocky 2019, a crazy heartbreak and to be honest, anger, I decided to take the leap of faith and start blogging.

How did the name, Thick’N’Stylish come to be?

Thick’N’Stylish came to be after days of brainstorming and asking my friends if certain names worked. I wanted to fuse my love for fashion and my size together so it would be easier to identify my brand. So as a name it describes who I am but it also is there to describe other woman who are just like me or want to become plus size and stylish.

Why did you choose to focus on fashion and body positivity?

I’m extremely passionate about these two subjects. From my experiences growing up and as a young adult, I felt the need to spread some confidence to people who needed it. I’m a hypeman and so I want everyone around me or who reads my blog to be influenced to become confident in their bodies as well as themselves. I was always the bigger or darker one growing up either in my family or group of friends and it affected my self esteem for so many years, until I decided to start loving myself. Gosh the stories I have about being embarrassed about my body. So, that’s why body positivity is so important to me. As Zimbabweans and Africans, we need to learn to accept all bodies, to stop body and fat shaming, to appreciate and love our own bodies and to challenge society’s views on the perfect bodies.

Fashion has always been my first love. I love dressing up and looking good. It was my armour when I had confidence issues. Fashion is therapy, it is a way of expressing who you are without even saying a word and it goes hand in hand with confidence. A perfect combination I believe.

What do you want people to feel after reading your blog?

I want them to laugh, to feel important and special.

My aim is for people to gain confidence in their bodies, no matter their size. I also want them to feel like they can wear whatever they and slay!

If they also feel informed about the truths of body issues, then I have truly won.

Which content creators Inspire you the most and why them?

1. I love Thick Leeyonce, I might just be a groupie, lol. She is the epitome of body positivity. I love her style and how she is such a brand. So influential.
2. I also love Cneshuga. Her brand is amazing and she knows how to create content effortlessly.

What opportunities have come your because of your blog?

1. My blog has gotten me a freelance job as a content and social media manager for an online magazine
2. I have also been interviewed by Zimboson
3. An Afrobloggers Award nomination for the best Lifestyle blog category.

Tell us more about your style artist work, what does that entail?

So, The Style Artist is all about how I can create different looks with the clothes I already have. Someone actually saw my posts and said that I was an artist and I thought, “Well yes, I actually am The Style Artist”.

In the near future, this will be a big part of my brand where I will be a personal stylist, shopper and consultant.

Where do you see your brand in the next 5 years?

Whoo shem. My brand is going to explode. I see myself having a team because it would have grown so much, impacting the lives of many Zimbabweans.

Part of my long-term plan is to become a body positivity coach and so my brand will definitely be known in Africa and the world. I see myself being a part of conferences or even holding them myself.

I also see Thick’N’Stylish becoming a parent Company to a fashion line and styling business.

One big goal is to have paid partnerships with big brands from across the world.

What is the most important thing you have learnt from being a content creator?

Patience. Allow the process. You may create content and love it and hope it becomes viral or for your brand to grow fast, BUT I have learnt to allow myself to grow organically. Even if 2 people comment on a blog or like a picture, it’s ok, it’s being seeing at the end of the day and it is changing lives. Allow yourself to learn and grow in your time.

What is the best advice you have ever been given?

Do what makes you happy and don’t give up.

What are the top 5 songs that mean the most to you and why them?

This is tough because I’m a major lover of music.

1. My boo by Usher and Alicia Keys – I’ve loved that song since I was in Form 1 because it always touches my heart.
2. Footsteps by Kehlani and Musiq Soul Child – Kehlani is my favourite singer and this song got me through a major heartbreak.
3. He’s Able by Deitrick Haddon – This song is about Ephesians 3:20. “God is able to do far more abundantly than all we can ask for, according to the power that works within us.” Need I say more?
4. Imagine me by Kirk Franklin – Every time I fall, this song always encourages me to get up and continue.
5. Twisted by Keith Sweat – This is a song I love because it reminds me of my childhood. From family road trips to singing with my siblings and parents, it’s always held good memories.

Where can people get in touch with you?

I can be found on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

This is the link to all of my social media accounts: Thick N Stylish

You can email me here: thicknstylish19@gmail.com

How would you like to be remembered?

As The woman who changed the face of body issues in Zimbabwe. A game changer and lover of life. Someone who pushed the boundaries for everything she loved.