Meet fashionista grandmother Margaret Chola, became an overnight fashion icon because…, was married at the age of…

Margaret Chola, who goes by the name ‘Legendary Glamma’, is a grandmother who became an accidental fahsion and here is her story.

Poised in her wooden chair, she sits poised with her legs crossed, chunky glasses on her nose and a vibrant couture elegantly contrasting with her grey hair. This is the story a grandmother from Zambia whose chance with fashion turned her to be a global talk. Margaret Chola, is a lady who resides in her quaint home in Zambia. In her mid 80s, she probably has more Instagram followers than most us reading this. Her handle goes by the name ‘legendary_glamma’ and boats of 113K followers on her account.

Chola slays the vibrancy of the colours and carries confidence up her sleeve like a pro. In a conversation with BBC, she says, “I feel different, I feel new and alive in these clothes, in a way that I’ve never felt before.”

The Story of Margaret Chola, An Accidental Fashion Icon

Grandparents are among the biggest cheerleaders who will go above and beyond to fulfill their grandchildren wishes. Similar, with Margaret, it was all about just playing dress up wit her grand daughter Diana Kaumba, a New York based stylist, in 2023. The duo started a fortnightly Granny Series. The brainchild was developed when Dianna was visiting Zambia for her father’s second death anniversary.

During this time, Kaumba did not get a chance to wear all her stylish clothes, hence she asked her “Mbuya” (grandmother in Bemna language) to try. “I wasn’t doing anything at the time, so I just said: ‘OK. If that’s what you want to do let’s do it – why not?” Chola said.

That one silver pantsuit became the first of many iconic fashion moments the duo cherishes between themselves. “I thought it would be nice to dress up Mbuya in high fashion and then take photographs of her in her natural habitat,”Kaumba tells the BBC.

After dropping the first photo of her grandmother, her phone was buzzing with over 1000 likes and comments. “My mind was blown. The comments were flying in and people were asking for more.”

These photoshoot brought the grand daughter closer to her Margaret’s past. According to BBC report, she was educated till the age of 12 or 13 and soon was married of to a 30 years old man by her grandparents due to financial restrain. Later, she had three children, ended up drinking heavily and eventually escaped the marriage.

But these colourful dresses have given her a new purpose to wake up everyday for.And Mbuya’s personal favourite – jeans, a graphic T-shirt with her image on the front and a blonde wig.

“I had never worn jeans or a wig before – so I was happy, and I was dancing.” Celebrating the excess eclectic combination, Chola and Kaumbe have reached the hearts of everyone globally.