“Legendary Glamma” Margret Chola has become a treasure for internet users. The Zambian grandmother rose to fame after consenting to dress up and trade clothes with her fashionista granddaughter.
The octogenarian has amassed over 200,000 followers, all of whom eagerly await her next eye-catching photo. Chola told BBC, “I feel different; I feel new and alive in these clothes, in a way that I’ve never felt before. I feel like I can conquer the world!”
Raised by her grandparents, the famous grandmother attended school until she was 12 or 13 years old. Due to financial constraints, she was compelled to marry a man in his 30s. She ended up drinking excessively, had three kids, and eventually left the marriage.
Though the pain remains with her, her unexpected global popularity has given her a new outlook on living.
“I’m now able to wake up with a purpose knowing that people around the world love to see me,” Chola said.
Her granddaughter, New York City-based stylist Diana Kaumba, started the weekly Granny Series in 2023. Kaumba came up with the concept while she was in Zambia to commemorate the second anniversary of her father’s passing. She said that her father, who always wore fashionable clothing, sparked her interest in design.
Not having worn any of her carefully chosen clothes at the time, Kaumba asked her grandmother, known as “Mbuya” in Bemba, if she would like to try them on. Since Chola had nothing else to do, she consented. She added that she wanted to do something memorable for her granddaughter.
From that time on, Kaumba has dressed up her grandmother and taken pictures of her in dramatic settings, usually on a farm in the village of 10 Miles, which is located just north of Lusaka, the capital of Zambia.
Kaumba recounted, “I was so nervous when I posted that first photo. I left my phone for 10 minutes and in those 10 minutes there were 1,000 likes. My mind was blown. The comments were flying in and people were asking for more.”
The Granny Series actually took off in April 2024 after Kaumba shared a number of pictures of her grandma wearing a beautiful jewelled crown, a red Adidas outfit, and several thick, golden necklaces.
Chola remarked, “It surprised me to hear that so many people around the world love me. I didn’t know I could make such an impact at this age.”
Because she lacks a birth document, she is unsure of her precise age.
According to Kaumba, a stylist since 2012, her grandmother possesses “courage, grace – and nails every look.”
She, too, has earned some recognition as four granddaughters have invited her to style their grandmothers, who are aged between 70 and 96.
The Granny Series, she believes, will show that older people still have a lot to offer and that creating experiences with others is a vital part of leaving “footprints for the next generation.”
“Do not write them off, love them just the same till the end because remember we will be just like them one day.”
The photo sessions have strengthened the relationship between the grandma and granddaughter, and Kaumba has gained a great deal of knowledge about her Mbuya’s frequently challenging life as a result of their unique bond.
Chola expressed her optimism that the Granny Series will inspire people “to live their lives and not worry about being judged by society”.
She encourages everyone to “always forgive yourself for whatever mistakes you made. You can never change your past – but you can change your future”.
