I knew I had to turn a new leaf. There were so many things I had mapped out as my plans in 2023, including learning how to swim, but never for once did I think I was going to become a fashionista.
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I had never imagined ditching my baggy jeans and worn-out tees for tight-fitting dresses and flay skirts. I would have also chosen a pair of sneakers over heels any day, any time, but with the way things were going, I had to get used to the girly lifestyle, my new job depended on it.
It was a sunny Sunday afternoon, and as was the custom in my house, I was preparing rice, stew, and fried beef when my phone rang.
“Hey, are you free on Saturday? There's something I need you for” It was Aunty Benita, one of the young, newlywed ladies in my church. She always remembered to call me when she needed a helping hand, especially with chores.
“No ma. I have stuff to do for my mom,” I lied. I didn't like going to help Aunty Benita out. She had a habit of leaving all the chores for me and going to gist with her husband. If she needed house help, she would have to employ one.
“Are you sure? There's a pay o; 20,000 naira. And you only have to wear a smile and serve food”
“What kind of job pays 20k for wearing a smile and serving food?” I asked her. I was soon to find out.
On Friday evening, she asked me to come to her house to get my uniform. I was still wondering what kind of job gave free uniforms and paid just to serve and smile. When I arrived at her place, I saw about 6 ladies all trying to get uniforms that would fit their different body sizes.
“Treasure! Welcome. Check for any uniform of your size then come, I'll tell you what to do”.
There were short skirts that stood somewhere in between our thighs and white, short-sleeved shirts. All the skirts were short and we were certain we would need leggings under them.
“I think these fit,” I said, showing her the pair I had tried on.
“Well then, you'll get a packet of leggings from my neighbor, it's just a thousand naira. This is your outfit for tomorrow”
I watched the other girls go away excitedly then walked up quickly to Aunty Benita before she went in to begin gisting with her husband again.
“Aunty, please can I wear trousers instead? I'm not always comfortable in skirts”
“That's true, but there is no way you can be in trousers alone, okay? The team needs to appear in one outfit. Plus you're going to be on heels the entire time”
My jaw dropped.
There was nothing I dreaded as much as I dreaded heels. They were the most discomforting items to put on my body. That entire evening, I ran around looking for the most comfortable heels I could use among my girlfriends. Eventually, I settled for a pair of black pumps and practiced walking in them throughout the evening.
That was how my journey as a ‘Pearl Usher’ began.
At first, adjusting to the perks of the job was a real problem for me. I had to walk for almost 6 hours in heels, when I got lucky, it was only 4. I didn't own a pair of heels myself so I had to get a new pair and decided to start wearing it often so I could get used to it.
That was not all. I also had to start putting on skirts more often. I wasn't a cross-dresser, or who people would call a Tomboy, I simply loved to be in free outfits like joggers and cargo pants with big t-shirts and sneakers.
I felt more comfortable in those than having to force my figure into a tight-fitting dress or a short skirt, especially because they had to be complemented with heels most of the time.
Eventually, my wardrobe metamorphosed from being filled with big jeans and t-shirts, to being filled with dresses. Because of taking up that unexpected ushering job, I started to learn how to look more feminine, I even had to sit down for almost 2 hours to have my face made up for a particular wedding ceremony where we had to serve.
I was trying to observe my siesta one afternoon when my mom came to thrust her phone under my nose.
“Who would have believed you would look like this one of these days?”
I gave a soft laugh and shook my head in wonder, “This job has really made me turn over a new leaf”
“I hope you don't go back to your big clothes when school resumes,” she said. I knew for sure that her hopes would be dashed because I was planning that once I resumed school, I was going back to the initial Treasure look.