Hey everyone and welcome to our first #DarkHuesChats of 2022 🎉🎉
In today’s chapter, we had the chance to interview a very special individual. Not only do they have impeccable fashion taste but they are also a super talented writer who has even been featured on Teen Vogue!
So without further ado, may we present to you Timinepre Cole.
1. First things first, can we just take a moment to appreciate your fashion! You definitely know how to dress! With that being said, how would you describe your style? And who are your style inspirations?
Thank you! I always prioritize comfort when I pick my clothes. I want to look chill but still stylish. My style inspirations are Jojo T. Gibbs, Tanya Compass and of course my personal shopper Olamide.
2. So, apart from having a fabulous wardrobe, you are also a talented writer!
When did you discover your passion for writing? And what prompted you to start writing for platforms such as Al Jazeera?
I started out writing creative fiction as a teenager in secondary school. I was in my school’s drama club, and I was in charge of writing the plays. It has been a while since I wrote fiction; my interest shifted to documenting the everyday experiences of regular people like me. So I started pitching my ideas to publications that were interested in stories like that.
3. We had to chance to read your articles ‘Lesbian is Not A Dirty Word’ and ‘”I feel invisible”: The Challenges of Being Trans in Nigeria’. Both of these articles are beautifully written and provide awareness to important discussions.
What encouraged you to write about these two topics?
I am a gender nonconforming lesbian from Nigeria. I know how underrepresented and oppressed minority identities are in every facet of Nigerian society. So every topic I write about is aimed at exploring how public policies affect people like me at the intersection of so many oppressions. Whether it is homophobia or transphobia.
4. Following from the previous question. What do you wish for readers to gain from reading your two articles?
I want folks – especially young queer Nigerians who read my articles (not just the two mentioned above) to get a little understanding of what it is to be queer and Nigerian now. To know they are not alone, queer Nigerians are everywhere existing, fighting and living.
5. Lastly, what advice would you give to our Dark Skin readers who aspire to become writers?
You are still a writer even when you are not putting out work. Trust yourself, trust the process and tell the stories that are important to you.
Dark Hues 