Phoina on being cast for Nai Rich

Kenyan beauty mogul Phoina, real name Lucy Maina, has grown through the ranks to an it girl-status after serving her fans up with the glamorous life they love to see.

Her hair, off her own premium human hair brand, is always sleeked down to perfection, and as a celebrity make-up artist and trainer, her professionally made-up face never disappoints.

She has amassed a sizable following on social media, and is often seen on the red carpet at exclusive events. Phoina is also linked to high profile personalities locally. Like her friendship with socialite Amber Ray, who is now a castmate on the show, and that with the renowned Reverend Lucy Natasha.

She just got cast for one of the latest Reality shows to premiere locally, Showmax’s NaiRich, which promises a cocktail of luxury and star-studded viewing.

And on the trailer of the series, the beauty entrepreneur makes a bold statement: that she is “the Kylie Jenner of Africa.”

“I always love looking the part. Nails on point, outfit on point, hair on fleek- like obviously this hair is from my collection,” she says on an introduction of the series.

“I believe I have set the bar high in the beauty industry … I’m really proud of myself for the far that I have come.”

It is a daring comparison to the ultra-successful American reality star and beauty entrepreneur who built a fortune of over $900 million dollars by the time she was just 20 years old.

“Joining Nai-Rich was a strategic decision for me. It offered a platform to showcase my journey in entrepreneurship and beauty innovation to a broader audience,” she says of her casting and joining the series.”

“I saw it as an opportunity to inspire others with my story, share insights into building a successful brand like Phoina Beauty, showcase the realities behind the glamour of entrepreneurship and to connect with viewers on a personal level. Even if I had reservations about opening my life to the cameras and the public like this, this was a very deliberate choice for me.”

Phoina says that she brings authenticity and ambition to the show, calling herself “the ultimate juggler.”

“Comparing myself to Kylie Jenner reflects my aspiration to revolutionise the beauty industry in Africa, similar to how Kylie has globally transformed cosmetics and personal branding with Kylie Cosmetics,” she says.