Catching Up with Lupita Nyong'o No 1 : De Beers, Chanel, Selema Masekela, Meeting Alek Wek AOC Art of Living

Update January 2024: After sharing the news that Lupita had found her man, the star took to Instagram in late October, writing "At this moment, it is necessary for me to share a personal truth and publicly dissociate myself from someone I can no longer trust." C’est tout!

On March 2, 2014 rising star Lupita Nyong’o stepped onto the stage of the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles to accept her first Oscar, Best Supporting Actress for "12 Years a Slave". Since then Lupita Nyong'o has captivated the hearts of audiences worldwide with her extraordinary acting abilities and unwavering dedication to telling compelling stories.

As part of Anne of Carversville’s ongoing years-long renewal of our deep, pre 2020 archives, this ‘Catching Up With . . . ‘ series will take people we love and issues we care about into the ‘now’ world.

Today Lupita Nyong’o is an ambassador for both De Beers and also Chanel. She also has a relationship with Lancome, not discussed today.

Lupita Nyong’o and Chanel

Lupita Nyong’o and Selema Masekela

In these images Lupita Nyong’o wears Look 44 from Chanel’s resort 2024 collection. For one quick moment, I hoped it was from Chanel’s first-ever show in Africa: Chanel Métiers d’Art [pre-fall 2023] in Dakar, Senegal, a historic event that Anne of Carversville covered in-depth.

August 28: A Key Day in Lupita’s Life

Take note of the two lovebirds sitting in the salon of Coco Chanel’s apartment, in a series of images from the actor’s IG. Dear Lupita is in a deep-love relationship with Selema Masekela, born on my birthday August 28.

It’s also the day of Lupita’s ‘Black Panther’ co-star Chadwick Boseman’s passing: August 28, 2020.

Boseman’s passing was shattering for Lupita, but as she noted, when one door closes in our life journey, another frequently opens. In her case, that was meeting Selema Masekela, born August 28, 1971. If the name sounds familiar, Selema is the American-born son of Hugh Masekela, often described as "the father of South African jazz".

Masekela had carried a quiet torch for Lupita since 2016, when he found himself sitting behind her on an airplane. Not knowing what to do, but figuring that he had one shot, he began tweeting.

"Hypothetically speaking of course...let's say you're seated behind Lupita Nyong'o on an airplane, what would be your opening line," Masekela tweeted. "Anyone comes up with a good opener for me with Lupita Nyong'o, send em. "Cause I'm really sittin' right behind her on this flight.”
He eventually retweeted the suggestion, “Say hello, wait for her to respond. Tell her [your] dad shouted her out at a performance & freestyle from there.”
Masekela responded, “Yes!!! Well played. I will use this one. #playthedadcard @Lupita_Nyongo.”

Lupita Nyong'o Vogue US October 2016 Cover Story

AOC’s inspo to make Lupita Nyong’o our first ‘Catching Up with . . . ‘ focus came from our refresh of the Vogue US October 2016 fashion story lensed by Mario Testino. Lupita was at home with her family in Kenya.

See It and Be It

One of the most important topics in the Vogue interview is her role model position as a voice for Black skin and other women of color.

Among communities of color, there’s a saying “If you can’t see it, you can’t be it.”

Knowing Lupita Nyong’o to be such a precious person on every level, it’s the story of her meeting the celebrated model Alek Wek that makes my heart very tight with grief and empathy, every time I revisit it.

Lupita has shared with frequency her recollection of making a pact with God that she'd stop stealing sugar cubes, if she could wake up with lighter skin.

We revisit the story in ‘Catching Up with Lupita Nyong’o No 1 — and also her video with Alek Wek.

We need one more — if not two more — ‘Catching Up with Lupita Nyong’o’ posts to get fully up-to-date with her. This is one content brainstorm I’m so glad to have had. ~ Anne

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