I had to pleasure of meeting Rellani in the hallway of my office building.  I had to introduce myself and that followed by the longest “Woooow”!  I have to be honest, these pictures do not do her rizos any justice- they are absolutely BEAUTIFUL!  Folks, meet Rellani!

1.     Name and where you are from?

Tirow (Hello)! I’m Rellani Ogumoro, born in Honolulu but raised on the beautiful island of Saipan, a tiny island in the northwestern pacific.

2.     How would you describe yourself?

I am a bit shy if not out of my shell; I love to laugh, cook, shop and always enjoy good company!

3.     Tell us something about you that will make us say WHOA!

My hair has always been my shield and I usually tend to hide behind it in new situations. While a group of colleagues were networking at the United Nations, I found a corner to sneak away from the crowd. There, a woman started speaking Arabic to me, once I told her I couldn’t understand, she repeated in English and said ‘Alah has blessed you with beautiful hair’ and we began conversing about advocating for social justice and change. I then learned she was the first female judge of Iraq, Judge Zakia Hakki, a profound advocate for women’s rights and social justice in the Middle East. I’ve been forever blessed to have met such a figure whose short encounter reminds me to do my part to improve our world. Who would’ve thought curly hair could connect you with amazing world leaders!  

4.     How long have you been rockin’ yo rizos? What is your hair routine (including staple hair products and home made recipes)?

I’ve always rocked the curls, but after meeting Mel, I am not afraid to take it to another level! I shampoo on Sundays and use conditioner throughout the week. Creams and mousse bring out my curls while holding it together. As an island girl, I am in love with Coconut Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie by Shea Moisture- staying true to my roots! I’ll add in TRESemme’ flawless curls extra hold mousse to add some control and if I don’t trust the weather, a spritz of Aussie mega hair spray does the trick. But let’s be honest, even on those no wash or no product days, natural curly hair remains beautiful-even when we feel like it’s a ‘bad hair day’!

5.     Where can we find you on social media?

Instagram: @lan_zoni  

6.     Any last thoughts? Anything you would love for us to know?

Broken brushes, bobby pins getting lost in my hair and shattered clips do not bring me down- it reminds me of how lucky I am to have such powerful curly hair. I’ve always wondered how much ‘easier’ it could be but would not change it for the world. I am so glad Mel is getting us all on the same page, sharing curly hair tips and tricks as well as spreading lots of love for that mane attraction!

Rock yo Rizos! 

Until next time,

Rellani