Nigerian raised Beautician Maryam Moma talks about her Yamerra skin care line in an Interview with AfricanStyleDaily

Nigerian raised Maryam Moma is a striking beauty. Born to Nigerian and Tanzanian parents, the entrepreneur traveled extensively while modeling before fully transitioning to her passion: skin care.  Moma launched, Yamerra, an organic line of products for hair, face and body. In the five years since it’s inception, the line has grown extensively, attracting a following of fashionistas who care just as much about their wardrobe as they do their bodies. We sat down with Moma to talk about her career as a model, studies as an architect and how both impacted the launch of her luxe skin care line….

The 5-foot-10-inch Nigerian-Tanzanian model, better known as “Bibi” to her colleagues, friends and family, is a stunner

AFRICA STYLE DAILY: Tell us a little bit about your career in modeling prior to starting Yamerra?
MARYAM MOMA: I am a 26-year-old Tanzanian-Nigerian from a family of seven: mother and father, three older sisters, and a twin brother. I grew up mostly in Nigeria and made several stops along the way (Ethiopia, Nairobi, Tanzania, Paris, and Philadelphia) to where I am now: New York City. I am extremely well-traveled, and started modeling at the age of 17. I have been immersed in the world of fashion, beauty and skincare since then. Some of my notable work include being on the cover of HAUTE Magazine a Nigerian Fashion magazine released on London and New York, Ambassador and Face of Selara Faces Make Up Studio and Spa, now known as Selara Beauty Lounge, a major beauty house and brand in Abuja, Nigeria, and most recently, “See Something, Say Something” 911 Safety print campaign found major US Airports, and Billboards on the East Coast. I am very blessed and thankful for all the opportunities I have taken advantage of till now. My current goal is geared towards reinforcing the bridge between fashion and skincare. Being Eco-conscious is Ultra Fashionable. Yamerra has become that platform to remind individuals and the societies at large that there are earth friendly, toxic-free skin and hair options that promote a sustainable environment.

ASD: What inspired you to launch this company?
MM: Yamerra was originally created out of personal need. As a student studying architecture, I simply did not have the funds to shell out for good products for skin and hair.  After much suffering from the use of paraben-filled personal care products, I decided to turn to something natural. As a child in Nigeria,  growing up in my mothers Tanzanian household, I remembered using Limes to bathe, olive oil and Shea as moisturizer.  So revisited these options and began experimenting with Shea butter and essential oils. The oils served to add healing properties and made the Shea butter more malleable and pleasant to use.
Thus, Yamerra is a 100% Organic Skincare line designed for the earth conscious, fashionable trendsetters, young children (ages 4-16), men and women of all skin types. Yamerra is built on Organic Shea butter, infused with herbs and pure essential oils and botanical extracts to enhance the Shea butters healing, rejuvenating and restorative powers.

ASD: Was the process of formulating a natural skin and hair line especially challenging?
MM: Absolutely. I am trained in a completely different field; architecture. In the beginning, during the first season of founding Yamerra, I trained myself and studied about natural herbs and remedies for the skin and hair. I would mix pure Shea and essential oils, having done personal research on restorative herbs and essential oils, for my personal use. I was very reluctant to sell my blends for years, until I was able to get a chemist and formulator on board. With this experienced, licensed, individual on Yamerra’s in-house team and with their knowledge and guidance of how to blend potent natural ingredients, I was much more comfortable making my products available for sale. Now five years old, Yamerra is available in the US, Dubai, Japan, Africa and of course New York City – for me, a nation itself!
ASD: What was the response once it hit the market?
MM: Yamerra, having passed the birth stage, is growing. Our clients, men, women and children are excited about Yamerra products, a primary reason being that the products are nutrient-rich and long lasting.  Yamerra offers a variety of scents (7), within its product palette, and this paired with the fact that each product provides a different function, is highly attractive to its users.
ASD: With so many natural focused products on the market, from Carol’s Daughter to Miss Jessie’s,etc what do you think sets Yamerra apart?
MM: Yamerra intends to create its own niche, by producing luxurious earth friendly products made affordable. Additionally, our products provide dual functionality, each product for the skin and hair makes it significantly more enticing to its users in this pressured economy. Yamerra is designed for children, men and women; the product is designed for all because it contains extremely high levels of pure Vitamin E and A that is restorative for the hair and skin. It aids in several skin conditions, including acne, blemishes, scars, shaving bumps and razor burns, eczema, stretch marks and dermatitis. Additionally, Yamerra offers an Eco friendly product that serves different healing and restorative purposes within the products palette and attracts different types of users. The system of using all natural products, specificallyYamerra’s products, can be easily incorporated into client’s daily lives.
Long-term goals include developing secondary products for specific use, and we are well on our way. Yamerra just released a new product September 1st, 2011 our Natural Facial Serum, specifically for the face, at Georgia Beauty Salon in New York.
ASD: Does your heritage as a Tanzanian-Nigerian influence the products in any way?
MM: Yes. I grew up in Nigeria, however in a Tanzanian household and a lot of my personal care products for every day use were natural remedies. Most notable ones were Shea (which was used on the skin, in the hair, and even to cook with), Olive oil and Limes.  Influences of my heritage can be seen in the choices of natural ingredients chosen for each blend.
ASD: Where can we find your products?
MM: You can find my products at: www.yamerrastore.com and on our blog: www.yamerra.blogspot.com as well. The Store locations page on the online store is also helpful if one would like to visit a retail location that carries Yamerra products.

culled from AFRICA STYLE DAILY