Seated on a wooden chair in the middle of a field, decked in layers of vibrant clothes and shiny jewellery, Margret Chola is a sight that cannot be missed. This grandmother based in rural Zambia is making heads turn as she redefines what it means to be timelessly stylish. Aptly known as 'Legendary Glamma' (catch the pun), she has become an internet sensation in her mid-80s for her striking, bold style and the confidence with which she wears it.
How Legendary Glamma Is Redefining Fashion Norms
An outfit swap with her granddaughter turned Margret Chola into a global fashion icon with over 59 thousand Instagram followers. Her granddaughter, Diana Kaumba, is a New York-based stylist. She was inspired by her father, who was always well-dressed and drove her to pursue her dream career in fashion.
The idea to turn her 'mbuya' (grandmother in Bemba language) into a fashionista came to her in 2023 when she was visiting Zambia for her father's death anniversary. Kaumba decided to dress her grandmother in her high-end clothes and post the pictures on Instagram for fun, not anticipating the phenomenal response.
Speaking to the BBC, Chola recounted her reaction to her granddaughter's unusual request. "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? You will miss me when I die and at least this way you will remember me.'" Her first outfit was Kaumba's silver pantsuit.
"I thought it would be nice to dress up mbuya in high fashion and then take photographs of her in her natural habitat," Kaumba told the BBC.
Most of Chola's glamourous fashion photographs are clicked against classic rural Zambian settings and often feature props that are dear to their culture and lifestyle.
In one iconic photo, mbuya dons a crown, pineapple-shaped sunglasses, and layers of fashionable jewellery as she poses next to a goat. The shoot is titled GOAT (greatest of all time). In another photo, she holds her trusty ibende-- a long wooden stick that is used to pound millet, cassava, or maize.
In another profound photo, Chola holds a mbaula, a charcoal brazier that Zambians often use for cooking - especially now that the country is plagued by severe power cuts. In many other of her colourful photos, she is 'serving looks' while smoking a pipe or holding a metal cup full of tea or a radio.
For Kaumba and her mbuya, these fashion photo shoots are more than just for Instagram fame; they are a way for the duo to bond. Chola also hopes that her page will inspire people "to live their lives and not worry about being judged by society". Meanwhile, Kaumba hopes that it will "leave footprints for the next generation."