Keisha Omilana
Quick Facts
Biography
Oloori Keisha Omilana of Ipetu-Ijesha (born Keisha Bolden; March 8, 1986), commonly known as Princess Keisha Omilana, is an American model and entrepreneur. She is the owner of SAXS Magazine.
She was the first African-American to be featured in three consecutive commercials for Pantene, and later became the face of an international advertisement campaign for the company. Omilana has also modeled in campaigns for the French luxury brand L'Oréal, the British clothing brand Boden, and the American CoverGirl, Maybelline, and Revlon.
As the wife of Omoba Adekunle Adebayo Omilana of Ipetu-Ijesha, she is an Oloori (or princess consort) of the Yoruba House of Arigbabuowo in Nigeria. She and her family were the focus of an episode of the second season of the British reality television series Stacey Dooley Sleeps Over in 2021.
Early life and education
Omilana was born and raised in Inglewood, California. She studied fashion at a school in Chicago.
Career
Omilana moved to New York City to work as a model. She worked with L'Oreal, Maybelline, Boden, Revlon, CoverGirl, and Pantene. She was cast in three consecutive commercials for Pantene, becoming the first African-American woman to do so. Omilana was also featured in an international advertisement campaign for the company. She has walked in New York Fashion Week.
In 2010, she and Sarah Bradford were dressed by Maggie Norris as part of her co-presentation exhibition An Evening of New York Couture, in collaboration with Verdura and Aman & Carson Interiors.
After moving to London, she continued to model and was featured, along with her daughter, in an editorial for Mocha Magazine.
In 2017, Omilana launched A Crown of Curls, a hair care business geared towards families with mixed-race children. She also co-launched a body oil business, De La Ke, with her mother and sister, Debbie Bolden and Missy Bolden.
In 2021, Omilana and her family were featured in the second season of Stacey Dooley's reality television series Stacey Dooley Sleeps Over, as the focus of the second episode of the season. In 2023, she founded SAXS Magazine, an online publication that focuses on royalty, fashion and entertainment.
Personal life
In 2004, while living in New York City, she met Omoba Adekunle Adebayo Omilana, a member of the Arigbabuowo ruling house of Yorubas in Nigeria, outside of The W. They married on January 28, 2006. She wasn't aware that her husband was a prince until after they were engaged. They have two children, Omoba Adediran King Omilana and Omoba Adediora Isabella Nicole Omilana, and have lived in New York City, Cyprus, Dubai, and London. They currently reside in Valencia, Spain.
Prior to, and after, the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, media outlets listed Omilana, along with Princess Ariana Austin Makonnen of Ethiopia, Princess Angela of Liechtenstein, Princess Sarah Culberson of Bumpe, Princess Sikhanyiso Dlamini of eSwatini, Monica von Neumann, Cécile de Massy, and Emma Thynn, Marchioness of Bath as other examples of black royal and noble women.
In 2023, Omilana served on a panel with Princess Sarah Culberson to talk about diversity and inclusion, racial representation, African royalty, and the role of monarchy in the modern day. She also talked about the Duchess of Sussex stepping down from royal duties. She compared her own situation to that of Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.