Let's go back to 1988, I was just a year old and had been given my very first taste of the ocean thanks to my father, an avid waterman. I would become hooked.

"Yeye jump wata!" Translation? "Yeye (my nickname) wants to jump or has jumped in the water". These words would be screamed at the top of my lungs for all to hear whenever I sensed a body of water or had been dragged out of one.

Over the years, this enthusiasm and fearless approach to water surprised many and not without reason. In most African communities, there were and still are many myths, superstitions, and fears around large bodies of water which, sadly, has kept many from basking in their wonders and discovering other dimensions our sacred world has to offer.

Fast forward to the age of 5. With the help of my mother, I drew my very first Victoria's Secret fashion model, and this "magical" ability to create what I saw but more importantly what I wanted to see blew me away and would stay with me all my life.

Today, working as an illustrator and living minutes away from the sea, I combine these two passions of mine to create art that celebrates and inspires black women and girls in aquatic spaces. I firmly believe there is a need for a healthy shift in the way we interact with water and my art seeks to be a part of that change, after all, seeing what is possible is the first step!