Chinenye Otakpor is known for her captivating, colourful outfits — often inspired by her mood of the moment. “As soon as you put on a good outfit, you feel a lot better, like you can take on the world,” she says.
A rehabilitation specialist who has worked in mental health for 10 years, Otakpor is also the founder of the fashion blog Queen’s Playground, which she uses as a platform to advocate for mental health and amplify businesses owned by visible minorities. One of her favourite brands is Fumi The Label. “Regardless of how much people may think there is a lot of visibility, there is never enough,” she says.
Expressing herself through fashion is a positive outlet for Otakpor’s own mental health. Describing her style as “feminine with an edge,” she is drawn to exaggerated shoulders, puffed sleeves and billowing pants that accentuate an hourglass silhouette.
Followers of Queen’s Playground know that Otakpor also loves a monochromatic look. “Play around with layering lighter and darker tones of the same colour,” she says. “They always mesh together.”