How being in the right place at the right time launched Nigerian bread-seller's modelling career

They say luck prevails if you're in the right place at the right time. 

That was how a Nigerian street bread-seller was propelled into stardom when she was photographed in the background of English rapper Tinie Tempah's photoshoot early last year (2016) in Lagos, Nigeria. 

Enchanted by the mysterious woman's beauty and modelling potential, TY Bello, Tempah's photographer, posted the photo on Instagram and appealed for more information about her. 

Tempah himself also posted a photo of the humble bread-seller who photobombed him.

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At last, Olajumoke Orisaguna, 27 and a mother of two, was tracked down, and the rest is history.

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According to Bello in another Instagram post, Orisaguna was a hairstylist from Iree, a town in the Osun state of Nigeria.

Not earning enough between her and her husband to care for their two children (then 14-months old and 5-years old), she decided to move to Lagos, Nigeria's largest city, to try out bread-hawking on an invitation from a distant relative.

Inspired by her story and mesmerised by her eyes and "perfectly chiseled features", Bello decided to do a photoshoot with the beauty the same day she met her.

Within an hour, she gathered one of Nigeria's leading makeup artist Bimpe Onakoya and hairstylist Zubby to give the soon-to-be model a magical makeover.

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The photoshoot eventually landed Orisaguna on the cover of the February issue of ThisDay Style magazine in 2016, thanks to Bello's connections.

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Despite not speaking English, Orisaguna was offered a modelling contract with Few Models.

And that was not all - the model also received a scholarship to complete her education from Sujimoto Group and Poise Nigeria, the first and most prestigious finishing school in Nigeria.

A bank in Nigeria had also offered to pay for her children's education until university, according to CNN.

"I never expected this would ever happen to me," Orisaguna said. "My friends have told me they saw me on the TV and they are really happy. My parents cannot believe their own child can become such a success. They are all so happy."

Since then, the model has now secured a vlog and reality show for herself. 

Earlier this month (June 2017), she announced the launch of her vlog and reality show starting June 25 on a CruiseNChillz boat party event.

Orisaguna's story certainly proved to be a fairytale come true, raising our hopes for our 'right place, right time' moment to come.

ongymm@sph.com.sg