Veteran Nigerian entertainer Charly Boy has shared insights into how living with gay and transgender individuals has shaped his personal style and artistic expression. During a recent appearance on the With Chude podcast, hosted by Chude Jideonwo, he discussed his early fashion choices and the speculations they sparked.
In response to Jideonwo’s question about the effeminate nature of his early looks, Charly Boy recalled his fashion from the 80s and 90s, explaining that his feminine aesthetic led to widespread speculation about his sexuality. “I used to have a girly girl look back in the day; I used to wear a lot of rouge, makeup, lipstick and whatever, and that’s where the gay speculations started. People thought that I was that-way inclined until my friend Tina looked at me and was like, ‘nah, you need something more macho, more masculine,'” he shared.
Charly Boy also revealed that during his last years in America, he was surrounded by friends who were transvestites, individuals who dress in clothing typically associated with the opposite sex. “I wasn’t one but I just loved them; I loved how they switched, so I used to study them,” he clarified.
He went on to discuss his alter ego, Linda, from the Charly Boy Show, stating, “That was easy for me to do because I had been around bi, gay and transgender people, so I picked all the nuances from that.”
While acknowledging the impact of his diverse social circle on his personality, Charly Boy emphasized that he has always viewed himself as a trendsetter. “I love being myself, I love to stand out, I don’t want to follow trends; I prefer to start my own trends; and do my own thing. That’s how I felt right from the day I was born, wanting to go through another way,” he concluded.
