Ifeanyi Chijindu

, Ca.Ethnicity/Nationality: Nigerian-American Active Years: 1993-present]

Ifeanyi also credited as Ifeanyi Chijindu is a Nigerian-American author/writer, entrepreneur, artist, model, actress and screenwriter.

Early life

Ifeanyi was born in Los Angeles, Ca. to Nigerian parents who immigrated to the United States in the late 1970s. She is a first generation Nigerian-American and is the eldest of five children. [cite web|url=http://womenentrepreneur.com/column/2146.html |title=To Heck With Superwoman - WomenEntrepreneur.com |publisher=Womenentrepreneur.com |author=Aliza Sherman |date=11/26/2007 |accessdate=2008-09-06] Ifeanyi spent most of her childhood living throughout various cities within southern California's Inland Empire.

Career

Ifeanyi showed a childhood interest in literature when she had her first poem published at eight, ["The Voice" newspaper 1987.] completed a 90-page novella at eleven and at 15, Ifeanyi sold her first short story and won 2nd place for it in a contest hosted by "Superior Communications and Publications." ["Superior Publications & Communications" poetry & short story anthology; 1993-94]

By 17, Ifeanyi regularly performed her poetry at paid venues. Around this same time, Ifeanyi also deepened her interest in acting and won the part of Maya Angelou in a local play called "Women In Love".

In 2004, she published her first book, "A Girl's Life...the Song that Never Ends", a themed poetry collection centered on her experiences about love, hatred, family, spirituality, racism, sexuality, individual and ethnic identity throughout her childhood, adolescence and early adulthood. [cite web|url=http://ww.bbotw.com/resource.aspx?id=1592 |title=Author Detail |publisher=Ww.bbotw.com |date= |accessdate=2008-09-06] [cite web|url=http://www.amazon.com/Girls-Life-Song-That-Never/dp/0741418649/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1201637675&sr=8-1 |title=Amazon.com: A Girl's Life: The Song That Never Ends: Ifeanyi Chijindu: Books |publisher=Amazon.com |date= |accessdate=2008-09-06] [cite web|url=http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/results.asp?ATH=Ifeanyi+Chijindu&z=y |title=Barnes & Noble.com - Book Search: Ifeanyi Chijindu |publisher=Search.barnesandnoble.com |date= |accessdate=2008-09-06] [cite web|url=http://www.target.com/Girls-Life-Song-That-Never/dp/0741418649/sr=1-1/qid=1201638145/ref=sr_1_1/602-4069336-6576651?ie=UTF8&index=books&field-original-keywords=ifeanyi%20chijindu&rh=k%3Aivan&page=1 |title=A Girl's Life: The Song That Never Ends : Books |publisher=Target.com |date= |accessdate=2008-09-06] Cal Poly Pomona presented her with the Golden Leaves Award in recognition for her literary achievement and for being the youngest person at the university to receive this award. [cite web|url=http://www.csupomona.edu/~library/specialcollections/goldenleaves/2004_2005/2004_2005.html |title=Golden Leaves Program |publisher=Csupomona.edu |date= |accessdate=2008-09-06]

In 2005, "Black Diaspora Magazine" published "Healing from Within," Ifeanyi's feature article about Djehuty Maat-Ra, creator of DHERBS and celebrity herbalist who counts celebrities like R & B singer Brandy and actor Blair Underwood as part of his clientele. ["Black Diaspora Magazine": May/June 2005, pg.31-36]

Ifeanyi wrote for "The Poly Post" newspaper from 2005–2007 where she displayed her incisive writing style with her cultural profiles on artists like Salvadoran painter Carlos Flores and in film reviews of movies such as Pirates of the Carribean 3, [cite web|url=http://media.www.thepolypost.com/media/storage/paper1127/news/2007/05/30/Entertainment/pirates.Of.The.Caribbean.3.Sinks.Beneath.Expectations-2909788.shtml |title='Pirates of the Caribbean 3' Sinks Beneath Expectations - Entertainment |publisher=Media.www.thepolypost.com |date= |accessdate=2008-09-06] The Reaping [cite web|url=http://www.thepolypost.com/home/index.cfm?event=displayArticlePrinterFriendly&uStory_id=a7309e32-8ed8-4c90-ad4e-856a64781123 |title=The Poly Post - 'The Reaping' Fulfills Promises of Suspense |publisher=Thepolypost.com |date= |accessdate=2008-09-06] and The Return. [cite web|url=http://www.thepolypost.com/media/paper1127/sections/20061114ArtsLiving.html |title=The Poly Post |publisher=Thepolypost.com |author=Ifeanyi Chijindu |date= |accessdate=2008-09-06]

In 2007, Ifeanyi's film critiques and social editorials allowed her to receive an award from the Society of Professional Journalists for "Best Editorial" for an article about how on-campus ethnic centers promote separatism and racism. [http://spj.inlandpro.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12]

In edition to writing, painting, modeling and acting throughout her adolescence and early adulthood, Ifeanyi worked as a freelance make up artist for aspiring actresses and models before creating Goddess Cosmetics, Accessories & Toiletries also known as Goddess C.A.T., a beauty line featuring cosmetics made with herbs and other natural ingredients in August 2006. [cite web|url=http://media.www.thepolypost.com/media/storage/paper1127/news/2007/04/03/News/Student.Fulfills.Dreams.Early-2820146.shtml |title=Student Fulfills Dreams Early - News |publisher=Media.www.thepolypost.com |date= |accessdate=2008-09-06]

Goddess C.A.T. became one of the few early companies who created healthy cosmetics for women of color before ethnic and herbal make up gained mainstream popularity with older cosmetic corporations. [cite web|url=http://www.goddesscat.com/intro |title=Goddess CAT Cosmetics, Accessories, Toiletries - Intro |publisher=Goddesscat.com |date= |accessdate=2008-09-06] "The Inland Valley Daily Bulletin" newspaper: U Entertainment; April 2007]

Goddess C.A.T., Ifeanyi's beauty advice and social commentaries on issues relating to women's roles and beauty ideals have been featured in various newspapers, websites, women's and beauty magazines such as "Glamour" Magazine, [cite web|url=http://www.glamour.com/lifestyle/slideshows/2007/12/thenandnow?slide=3 |title=Me: then and now: Sex, Love & Life: glamour.com |publisher=Glamour.com |date= |accessdate=2008-09-06] ["Glamour Magazine": January 2008, pg. 91] "The Inland Valley Daily Bulletin", Momlogic.com [ML Obsession for the Weekend http://www.momlogic.com/2008/06/ml_obsession_for_the_weekend_4.php,] "San Bernardino Sun", ["The San Bernardino Sun newspaper"; April 2007.] "The Whittier Daily News", ["The Whittier Daily Newspaper"; April 2007] "San Gabriel Valley News", ["San Gabriel Valley" newspaper; April 2007.] Sheknows.com, [cite web|url=http://www.sheknows.com/articles/1/100575.htm |title=Get the dream skin you've always wanted SheKnows.com |publisher=Sheknows.com |date= |accessdate=2008-09-06] Newsday.com [ [http://www.newsday.com/features/lifestyle/ny-ethnichair-photos,0,824909.photogallery] dead link|date=September 2008] and Feministing.com [cite web|url=http://feministing.com/beauty/ |title=Feministing: Beauty Archives |publisher=Feministing.com |date= |accessdate=2008-09-06]

References

External links

* [http://goddesscat.com/ Goddess C.A.T.]
* [http://womenentrepreneur.com/ Women Entrepreneur website]
* [http://glamour.com/ Glamour magazine]
* [http://www.sheknows.com She Knows Website]
* [http://www.momlogic.com Momlogic]