Nancy Isime brought cultural royalty to the NLNG Grand Award Night 2026, stepping out as a Kalabari Princess in honour of the evening’s special guest, His Majesty, the Amanyanabo of Bonny Kingdom.
The event took place on Friday, 9 October 2026, in Lagos. It was organised by Nigeria LNG Limited under the theme “Heritage” and drew high-profile dignitaries, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka, who gathered to honour outstanding achievements in Nigerian literature and arts.
Isime hosted the night, and her look matched the occasion.
“HOST WITH THE MOST for NLNG Grand Award Night 2026 👑 The theme was Cultural Elegance/Heritage, and I decided to show up as a Kalabari Princess in honour of our special guest, His Majesty, the Amanayabo of Bonny Kingdom. Safe to say I made all the Kalabari indigenes in attendance very proud! Imete!” she wrote.
She also credited her stylist: “Big shoutout to the one and only @medlinboss for styling this look to perfection.”
The Look
Isime wore a traditional Kalabari beaded crown known as an Adiba or Onunu-Etu style — a full cap covered in intricate gold beads with long gold beaded fringes falling over her forehead.
Her jewellery was heavy and royal. Multi-layered large gold coral beads — big round textured gold balls — wrapped around her neck. A prominent gold cylinder pendant, a traditional status piece, hung from her neckline, with a matching one on a long gold chain held in her hands.
She wore gold ball earrings, gold bangles on both wrists, a gold ring and gold arm cuffs on her upper arms.
Her blouse was an off-shoulder, sheer corset-style piece heavily embellished with gold embroidery, sequins and crystals. Dramatic structured fan-like off-shoulder sleeves in champagne and gold velvet were trimmed with gold beads.
The skirt was a vibrant red George wrapper in Isiagu style, featuring elaborate gold and red floral embroidery, gold threadwork, mirror embellishments and sequins in large traditional Kalabari patterns.
She posed against a warm, textured brown studio backdrop, hands gently clasped in front, smiling with bold red lipstick and flawless glam makeup. The mood was royal, celebratory and deeply cultural.
The Team Behind the Look
The outfit was crafted by Medlin Couture, the luxury fashion brand led by stylist and personal shopper Mimi Yina, widely known as @medlinboss. The brand is celebrated for its precise tailoring, dramatic couture sets and custom gowns for celebrities.
The fabric was sourced from Lekrystal George Place, a luxury textile store known as Nigeria’s leading Indian George seller, specialising in premium fabrics for brides and high-profile events.
Makeup was done by Peace Ibadin, a certified bridal makeup artist based in Lagos. The photos were shot by Photofreak Studios, the commercial photography studio led by Emem.
