Nothing
sharpens the determination of an entrepreneur as much as acceptance,
appreciation and recognition of his or her efforts. Imagine the shock and
finally the excitement that flowed through every part of her when a few days
after the just concluded African Fashion Week, she was named Designer of the
Year, 2016, by House of Qhue.
Maryam Elisha is a business woman with numerous
interests of which fashion takes the lead. Young, beautiful, determined,
persistent, smart and hardworking, she has the ingredients success requires.
Her Rikaoto by ME fashion brand was established in
2009. The name Rikaoto is her middle name, which means fruitful in her Hausa
language and ME is simply Maryam Elisha.
Though Rikaoto designs regular outfit, the brand is
famous for red carpet dresses and official outfits. Coming from her modeling
and pageantry background, this dynamic CEO understands how important it is to
nail the right outfit at shows that call for glam and beauty. She knew exactly
the type of outfits that was demanded and immediately went to work to provide
this highly demanded service. It is therefore not a surprise that the accolades
find a home with her for the success of her work.
The Fashion Designer of the Year, 2016, aside, she was
also named Pageant Couturier of Year 2016. Her dresses are also winning awards at
different beauty pageants.
The reality is this, whether others like it or not,
Maryam Elisha is not an ex-beauty queen who is just having fun in the fashion
industry. She is a talented and serious business woman, who is always thinking
of the next step in the game and what she has to do to ensure the solidity and
lifespan of her brand. Also, while many
other beauty queens exit the stage at the end of their reign, Miss Elisha has
made the centre stage her home because of Rikaoto.
