This 85-Year-Old Zambian Grandma Let Her Granddaughter Dress Her In High Fashion Outfits And Now She’s An Icon
“I’m now able to wake up with a purpose knowing that people around the world love to see me,” Margret Chola, who is in her mid-eighties, said.
Margret Chola, a Zambian grandmother in her mid-eighties, has captivated people around the world with her daring high fashion photography in the “Granny Series,” a bi-weekly project led by her granddaughter.
Chola's fashion career began in 2023, when her granddaughter, New York-based stylist Diana Kaumba, styled her in a silver pantsuit for photos set in 10 Miles, a rural village north of Zambia's capital, Lusaka.
The blend of high fashion and Zambia's natural landscapes quickly gained attention on Instagram.
In 2024, the series officially took off, with Chola modeling a variety of bold, maximalist looks, including a red skirt inspired by the Zambian flag, a golden snake bracelet, graphic T-shirts and colorful wigs.
She is often photographed against rustic backdrops of brick buildings and iron roofs, incorporating personal items like her beloved radio and a traditional mbaula stove, a type of charcoal stove, an essential to Zambian cooking due to frequent power cuts.
Raised by her grandparents, Chola left school at 12 years old as her family wasn’t able to afford it and was forced into marriage, having three children before eventually escaping.
“I’m now able to wake up with a purpose knowing that people around the world love to see me,” Chola said after her rise to fame.
To Kaumba, the series has deepened her connection with her grandmother and demonstrated the importance of self-love.
"Always forgive yourself for whatever mistakes you made. You can never change your past – but you can change your future," Kaumba said.
Additionally, Kaumba said she hopes to highlight to the world that the older generations have more to offer.
"Do not write them off, love them just the same till the end because remember we will be just like them one day," she said.
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