THEWILL DOWNTOWN MAY 25, 2025 by THEWILL NEWSPAPER

DR. MAYMUNAH KADIRI

Your Friendly Neighbourhood Celebrity Shrink

EDITOR’S NOTE

MPhoto: Kola Oshalusi @insignamedia Makeup: Zaron

ay is Mental Health Awareness Month, with this year’s theme being “Community.”

There is a stigma and guilt around mental health, but thankfully, the stigma has given way to transparency and support over time. People are now more than ever able to talk about depression, anxiety, trauma and emotional well-being. But this shift didn’t happen overnight; it took effort from passionate advocates spreading knowledge, establishing safe spaces and eliminating the stigma to get to a place where people can now talk about mental health openly.

Dr. Maymunah Kadiri is a prominent voice in this space. She is a neuropsychiatrist, psychotherapist and mental health coach with almost two decades of experience at her practice, Pinnacle Medical Services. Dr. Kadiri has continued to educate people about mental health through her writings, community service, the telemedicine app HOW BODI, films like Little Drops of Happy and Pepper Soup, and, more recently, the Mental Health Conference.

Read Dr. Maymunah Kadiri’s inspiring story on pages 8 through 11.

Capri pants are a timeless staple that has been a popular choice for many years. The mid-calf bottoms are comfortable, fashionable, and ideal for casual outings. If you’ve been wondering how to style your capri pants, scroll on to pages 4 and 5, where we discuss the different ways to style them.

Stretch marks are fairly common and typically appear when the body undergoes changes, often due to weight fluctuations or other factors. But do not fear—there are ways to get rid of stretch marks, and we highlight some of them on page 12.

As always, our playlist is on page 16. Remember to download the songs. I promise your head will be bopping to the beat in no time.

Until next week, enjoy your read.

Onah

@onahluciaa + 2348033239132

AUSTYN OGANNAH

PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Executive Editor: Onah Nwachukwu @onahluciaa

Writer: Johnson Chukwueke

Design & Layout: Olaniyan John ‘Blake’

Digital Media: Oladimeji Balogun

Consulting Art Director: Sunny Hughes ‘SunZA’

www.thewilldowntown.com thewilldowntown thewilldowntown

DOWNTOWN ZODIAC 12

Everything You Need to Know About Stretch Marks N is for New Beginnings 07 6 Ways to Wear Capri Pants

Emotional First Aid Helping Kids Handle Big Feelings

Gemini Unlocked

Dr. Maymunah Kadiri Your Friendly Neighbourhood Celebrity Shrink Yearning in 4K

Final Destination Bloodlines

Adesina @bolugramm - Contributing Writer

Boluwatife Adesina is a media writer and the helmer of the Downtown Review page. He’s probably in a cinema near you.

Dorcas Akintoye @mila_dfa_ - Contributing Writer

Dorcas Akintoye is a dedicated writer with more than 2 years prolific experience in writing articles ranging from food, entertainment, fashion and beauty. She has a National Diploma in Mass Communication from Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin. She loves writing, listening to music and playing scrabble. She is a highly-skilled, enthusiastic, selfmotivated professional writer.

Sally Chiwuzie @unshakable.is.a.state.of.mind - Contributing Writer

Sally Chiwuzie is a non-practising barrister who owns the brand #Unshakable. She is the author of Silent Symphonies, a fictional love story, and the creator of the podcast Chronicles of #Unshakable Truths.

Boluwatife

CAPRI PANTS WAYS TO WEAR 6 FASHION

BY DORCAS AKINTOYE

apri pants are here to stay and have been a popular choice for some time. These mid-calf bottoms are comfortable, fashionable, and ideal for casual outings or hot days, as they fall perfectly between shorts and full-length pants. However, the secret to wearing capri pants well is to know how to style them without making them appear too simple or out of trend. Here are six chic ways to wear capri pants, whether you’re dressing up for brunch or keeping it casual for a market run.

PAIR WITH A FITTED TOP AND FLAT SANDALS 1 2 STYLE WITH A BUTTON-DOWN SHIRT AND LOAFERS

For a casual yet fashionable look, pair capri pants with a fitted blouse. It might be a tank top, a sleeveless blouse, or a basic tee. This combination is straightforward but always appears neat. To define your waist, either tuck the top in slightly or tie a front knot. Then complete the ensemble with flat sandals or soft slides.

Wearing capri pants with a button- down shirt will help you look both polished and casual. You can roll up your sleeves to achieve an effortless look. For added style, tuck the shirt in fully or half-tuck. This combination works well for casual Fridays at work or lunch meetings.

When worn correctly, capri pants can exude a strong sporting aura. If you like a more youthful, appearance,athletic pair them with a crop top, which can be tight, loose, or even an oversized shirt knotted at the front. Finish off the sporty, fresh look with a pair of white or colourful sneakers.

WEAR WITH A CROP TOP SNEAKERSAND MATCH WITH A BLAZER AND HEELS

You can dress up your capri pants. Choose a structured or slightly oversized blazer and wear it over a tank top or camisole. Pair it with heels, such as pumps, strappy sandals, or even wedges, and your capris will appear more mature, sexy, and confident. This look is great for events, dinners, or times when you want to look stylish without trying too hard. Neutral colours like black, white, or beige work well, but don’t be afraid to play with bold colours or prints if that’s your vibe.

GO MONO FOR A SLEEK, TRENDY LOOK

Wearing the same shade from head to toe is a foolproof fashion technique. If you have capri pants in a specific hue, pair them with a blouse in the same or a comparable tone. For example, pair beige capris with a beige top and navy with navy. This style gives you a neat, put-together appearance and might even make you look taller.

ADD A KIMONO OR LONG CARDIGAN FOR A LAYERED LOOK

Layering can help your outfit stand out, especially when wearing simple capri pants. Put on a long kimono, cardigan, or maybe a sleeveless dust jacket. This adds flow, movement, and drama to your outfit. Underneath, wear a simple top, either fitted or tucked in, and finish off with sandals, slides, or wedges.

Despite popular belief, capri pants have a wider range of uses. When styled properly, they can be stylish, sporty, casual, or even sophisticated. Everything depends on how you pair them. Make the most of your capri pants and turn heads with these six stylish ways to wear them, whether you’re dressing up or stepping out for a quick outing.

SALLY CHIWUZIE

@unshakable.is.a.state.of.mind

N IS FOR NEW BEGINNINGS

Nobody walks down the aisle expecting to walk away. Nobody says ‘forever,’ thinking it might end in courtrooms and quiet grief. We all begin with the best of intentions — a fairy tale, or at least a version of ‘forever’ shaped by hope, effort, and belief.

But life, as it does, interrupts. And love, especially when layered with years, unmet expectations, children, careers, or silence, can shift. Sometimes it breaks. Quietly. Without drama. One day, you are side by side; the next, you are strangers sharing a postcode.

We often hear about women navigating post-divorce life — learning to sleep alone, parent solo, reclaim parts of themselves they surrendered, but we rarely speak of the quiet devastation men carry — how starting over means rebuilding from nothing. He may no longer have the family home, but still pays the mortgage. He may no longer tuck the children in, but their school fees still land on his desk.

And then comes dating again.

In your 40s or 50s, it’s no longer whimsical. It’s complicated. Everyone is carrying something — regret, baggage, a broken heart, or a custody calendar. The dating pool feels less like a sea of options and more like a cluttered loft - some hidden gems, a lot of dust, and things that no longer quite work.

There is chaff in abundance — performers, pretenders, placeholders, and predators. Especially for women. The world knows a woman alone still has needs, and some sniff out vulnerability like blood in water. But now — older, wiser, wearier — you sift with discernment. Because you know what is fleeting and what is real. You know the cost of loving blindly.

Still, sometimes, you find someone who does not want to fix you or finish you — just meet you. Someone who has also lived, lost, and learnt. Someone who understands the gravity of time and the beauty of presence.

In L is for Liminal, we met a couple reconnecting decades later. Their story unfolded in that sacred in-between — after loss, before love. Their conversations weren’t smooth, but they were real. They weren’t rushing in; they were showing up. The next week brought M is for Manifestation — a reminder that healing is not passive. New realities are not stumbled upon; they are created. Manifestation starts where grief ends — with the decision to believe again.

That’s what new beginnings are — a sacred, scary kind of space-clearing.

And let’s be honest — it’s far easier to stay. To settle. To keep the peace. Leaving is the harder option. It destabilises everything — finances, identity, children’s routines, family dynamics. It is choosing chaos over comfort. Which is why the people who leave are not weak. They are brave. This is not encouraging separation, it is acknowledging that spending the rest of one’s life flogging a dead horse in the hope that it may just be deeply asleep is unfruitful and by intuition, wisdom and acceptance, most times one knows the difference. It takes strength to walk away from something familiar into the unknown. To trust that life can still offer meaning, even after devastation.

So yes, starting over is messy, but it is also bold and beautiful. Because you are done with the crying, you have packed the boxes, signed the forms, survived the birthdays and drop-offs and Sunday nights. You have poured your love into healing, therapy, growth.

And maybe…just maybe... you are ready.

Ready for something softer. Something real.

So here’s to new beginnings — not just romantic ones, but the ones where you show up to your own life with an open heart – where you manifest something better from everything you have survived, where you let go of who you thought you would grow old with… so you can meet who you are becoming. Here’s to the quiet hope that whispers, ‘maybe love still lives here.’

Because the truth is, new beginnings at any age are not only possible, they are powerful.

Before we close, one more glimpse into the couple from L is for Liminal. They met again the next week — this time, not in hushed uncertainty, but in a sunlit garden café. It felt lighter. There were no confessions. Just shared glances. Quiet laughter. A gentle leaning-in.

She reached for the bill. He stopped her.

‘You don’t have to pay,’ he said. ‘I know,’ she replied. ‘But I can.’ And in that simple moment was something extraordinary. They were not negotiating roles or

wounds. They were just being. Two whole people, choosing to explore what this could be. Again. Differently.

Next week, we will find out what happens when new beginnings start to deepen and the past resurfaces.

Will Openness sustain them? Or will overthinking get in the way?

Let’s see.

‘See’ you next week.

DR. MAYMUNAH KADIRI

Your Friendly Neighbourhood Celebrity Shrink

It’s Mental Health Awareness Month, and the theme for this year is Community. The stigma and guilt around mental health have given way to transparency and support over time. More people are now talking about depression, anxiety, trauma, and emotional well-being. However, this shift didn’t happen suddenly. It required a lot of effort from passionate advocates who have devoted their lives to spreading knowledge, establishing safe spaces, and eliminating stigma. These people serve as a reminder that mental health is equally vital to physical health and requires serious attention.

Dr. Maymunah Yusuf Kadiri, also known as Dr. May or The Celebrity Shrink, is one of the most influential voices in this space. With almost two decades of experience, she is a Nigerian neuropsychiatrist, psychotherapist, and mental health coach. She has facilitated the healing of thousands of people as the Medical Director of Pinnacle Medical Services, the leading mental health and psychology clinic in Nigeria. Through her writings, community service, telemedicine app HOW BODI, and films like Little Drops of Happy and Pepper Soup, Dr. Kadiri has continued to educate people about mental health in ways that truly connect. Her efforts go beyond the clinic; she employs public platforms, art, and technology to raise awareness, create communities that promote mental health, and support those in need. Pinnacle Medical Services has evolved into a trusted brand, setting the standard for how mental healthcare should be delivered in Nigeria and across Africa.

In this interview with THEWILL DOWNTOWN’s Dorcas Akintoye, Dr. Maymunah Kadiri discusses her journey as a psychiatrist, her passion for mental wellness, the impact of her work, the role of community in mental health, and why finding inner peace matters now more than ever.

COVER STORY IMAGE: AYO ALASI

You’ve often been described as a trailblazer in Nigeria’s mental health space. What first sparked your interest in psychiatry and mental wellness? My interest in psychiatry was sparked by a deep drive to understand the unseen struggles behind the human face. The kind of emotional and psychological pain that often goes unnoticed, especially in clinical settings. Moreover, being in medical school, psychiatry is the first thing that you must go through. Depending on the medical school, between four to six weeks is your first encounter with psychiatry or what we call mental health. That was my very first interest in my encounter with mental health. And I just realised how in a room and in a sitting and in just one conversation, you could understand certain ways people behave, and what their personality would look like. But to further reinforce that, in my housemanship, one moment stood out for me. It was a traumatic experience of managing a young man who survived a brutal armed robbery attack. And he only passed away just before meeting his first son. So he dropped his wife off. She was in labour. And on his way back, he was attacked by armed robbers. And so the woman had given birth while we were operating on him. He woke up after the operation, and he was able to speak to his wife. And the wife said, “You have a beautiful son. I’m hoping that you’ll get to carry him one day”. But that never happened. That case didn’t just involve physical trauma. It exposed me to the raw emotional and mental toll of violence, loss, and unspoken suffering. So that powerful encounter from the medical school, of course, to this very encounter when I was doing my house job here in Lagos, and many other encounters revealed to me that healing is not just about sutures and surgery. It’s more about the stories, the scars, the silent cries that people go through. So psychiatry has offered me that path to treat not just the body, but the mind and the soul. So the empathy it brings, the curiosity, and the desire to advocate for those whose pain can’t be seen on X-rays or test results have made mental health my calling.

“The millennials are the therapy generation. Gen Zs are added to it. The alpha generation has even gone bizarre when it comes to mental health. Even though we understand that sometimes it may be about attention seeking, it may be about some of them using it to give excuses, but the conversations are ongoing.”

has gone without funding. But the truth is that it’s not just because of the scale of courage it has taken me to do this, but because of what happened during and after these conferences. I’ve seen people stepping forward to share their mental struggles for the first time. I’ve seen leaders, founders, Africans, because it’s not just in Nigeria; Ghanaians, people that are in Nigeria, they come around physically, and people joining online, finally permitting themselves to seek help. And of course, an entire room of Nigerians beginning to unlearn shame and embrace vulnerability. So this is not just about theory for me, it has been transformational, and I’ve turned, with time, private pain into public healing, helping individuals and institutions shift from silence to solution.

You wear many hats as a physician, coach, author, filmmaker, and speaker. How do you balance these roles, and how have they shaped your advocacy?

These are not just impressive, because when people hear, ‘Oh, you’re this, you’re that,’ they’re not just impressive; for me, they’re very intentional. I haven’t just collected these titles for prestige or for the name. I’ve worn these hats to create impact on every level where mental health is misunderstood, ignored, or stigmatised. As a physician, I’ve been able to bring scientific credibility. As a coach, I’ve been able to empower transformation one mind at a time. As an author, I’ve been able to make complex truths digestible and relatable. If you’ve ever listened to any of my webinars, I’m good with acronyms. People call me the Queen of acronyms, and I do this because our attention span is very short. So, what are you going away with if you encounter the person called Dr. May? As a speaker, I’ve given voice to the silent struggles of many millions.

And of course, as a filmmaker, I’ve defined truth visually, taking mental health out of the feelings and into the culture.

Looking back on almost 20 years in the field, what would you say has been your most rewarding experience as a neuropsychiatrist and mental health advocate?

It’s most likely seeing the stigma break right before my eyes, especially in spaces where silence used to reign. Stigma is still widely held towards mental health and people living with mental illnesses, but it’s not as bad as it used to be. The mental conversations are ongoing. People are willing to come out and talk about mental health. The millennials are the therapy generation. Gen Zs are added to it. The alpha generation has even gone bizarre when it comes to mental health. Even though we understand that sometimes it may be about attention seeking, it may be about some of them using it to give excuses, but the conversations are ongoing. And one standard moment would be the success of our Mental Health Conference. The third year is also going to happen by October 5th this year, and it

Nigerians. And this is proof that mental health isn’t just a one-size-fits-all. It’s everywhere and needs a voice in every room.

What has been the most challenging part of your journey as a psychiatrist in Nigeria, especially in an environment where mental health is still widely misunderstood?

“I’ve

worn these hats to

Because we know what filmmaking is all about and how we are engrossed with Nollywood and Bollywood. So for me, these are the things that I’ve been able to bring up. And balancing these roles hasn’t always been very easy, I must tell you. But it has made my advocacy multidimensional. And I don’t just talk about mental health, I humanise it, live it, and storytell it across platforms where it matters the most. And this approach, with time, you know, has made my impact resonate across generations. My analytics online spans people between the ages of 25 and 34. And not only across generations, but also from the corporate leaders to everyday

The most challenging part of my journey being a psychiatrist is breaking through deeply rooted cultural stigma and systemic silence. Stigma is still so huge, and culturally, we know how it is. So in a society where emotional distress is often spiritualised, silenced, or even dismissed because if you complain that you are dealing with depression, people will say go and sit down, everybody in Nigeria is depressed, they easily dismiss such things. So as a witness, we also have to understand that there’s a lot of work that needs to be done. And work that needs to be done to create awareness, to make people speak up, to let people understand that speaking up is a strength, not a weakness. And over time, I’ve sat in rooms where people just came back from the prayer homes, because that is where the relatives knew they could go, and in those prayer homes they were ashamed, and the time it took them before they eventually were able to speak to a doctor. For some people, it took weeks, months, and some people even took years. So you find out that talking about mental health has to be constantly done. So I’ve been able to educate, re-educate, and advocate in spaces where mental illness is treated as taboo. And yet, I’ve stayed in those places and I’ve chosen this hard path. The reason is that, you know, building platforms, doing conferences without funding, entering boardrooms, schools, media, even filmmaking is a push that this message needs to be heard, and this message needs to be not just heard, but experienced. So, waiting for systems to change, I have to become a change agent, and I have to make sure that I’ve moved a whole ecosystem to talk about this mental health and let people understand that speaking about mental health is as important as our physical health. Sometimes, if not all the time, more important. And that persistence has helped to normalise therapy, bring mental health into public discourse, and empower thousands to seek help openly.

create impact on every level where mental health is misunderstood, ignored, or stigmatised. As a physician, I’ve been able to bring scientific credibility. As a coach, I’ve been able to empower transformation one mind at a time.”

Pinnacle Medical Services is now seen as a leading mental health clinic in Nigeria. What inspired its creation, and how has it evolved over the years?

So, Pinnacle Medical Services, let me take you back to my residency days. I did my residency in the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Yaba. That place is over 110 years old now. And as you are doing residency, there are other people. I think we came in as 16 young doctors who wanted to do residency. Residency is six years, by the way. We were two females and 14 males. At the end of the six years, I think we were not up to 10 who finished the residency program. But aside

from that, when I say finishing a residency program it means you become a consultant at the end. Not everybody becomes a consultant. Some people drop off. There’s an exam every two years, and you can fail out. So it’s not so easy that you just go in and then you are done. So that period brought two things to the forefront. Number one, I saw people who had done six years in medical school. That’s if there was no strike. In our days, there was always strike. So some of us spent eight or 10 years. So let’s put that aside. They did a one-year housemanship. They did one year in service. So it’s about 10 to 12 years we’ve done. Then you come back and do residency, which is mandatory for six years. So some people do about 18 to 20 years, and then they don’t have a job. That took me aback. I’m like, you spend how many of these years? What do we do? And then somebody’s telling you that there’s an embargo on employment. Because most people were always looking for public institutions to do their thing. They’re not looking at the private sector because it’s a comfort zone. You finish, you’re there, and you’re a consultant. You do the minimum, barest minimum, and then just move on. So I needed to set up a private practice. The second reason was that while there, people would come and say they don’t want to be here we’ll say very highly stigmatised. And it’s public, right? It’s a government institution. Anybody can walk in. So that’s okay. Not only a private institution, or a mental health facility, but also where people can have options, have options where they can come to. And then we give them several other reasons why they can step into a place like ours and build an ecosystem. But during the early years in the emergency room, you know, I kept meeting patients who weren’t on the x-ray, you know, survivors of armed robbery, like I said earlier, women with postpartum depression, founders on the brink of burnout, and people patched up medically, but discharged with bleeding minds. So for us at Pinnacle, we

created that gap between physical survivor and psychological healing. And that place was Pinnacle Medical Service, where mental health is as urgent and dignified as any surgical theatre. The second reason was to break the stigma and stigma that silenced too many stories. Why? Because I was just tired of seeing families with relatives to pray at homes or change them at home, because therapy is for crazy people. Because that’s what people were saying initially. So creating that hospital that will feel warm, science-driven, and of course, culturally fluent, because it became

counter-narrative. This is just to make sure that we prove professionals can help with compassion, confidentiality, and, of course, it is normal. Another reason for Pinnacle is the fact that I wanted not just a city-centred consulting room that only executives could afford, but a place where anybody could come in, teenagers, the entire community, you know. And this was a place that was a one-stop centre. And that is how we talk about Pinnacle, the preventive end-to-end of prevention for treatment, because we have a co-embedded in-patient admission right now. We have the psychiatrist, we have the psychologist, we have the psychotherapist, we have the psychiatric nurses, the coaches, the occupational therapists, like a one-stop centre. And Pinnacle has been built to meet people at their needs. So the first time we started Pinnacle, it was as a one-room facility, but then, as it is now, we’re in two duplexes, occupying several rooms and 12-bedded in-patient admissions. And it has evolved from managing over 30 corporate organisations and, that gave us over 3 million Nigerians we are managing with their families as it is. So we have a service called the Employee Assistance Program, and Pinnacle is leading that path, not just for prevention, but for treatment. Why? Because the call centre will receive calls anywhere you are in the world, and it’s also WhatsApp-enabled. We also have the in-patient, if you need help and you need admission, that is integrated. The other part is the fact that we developed the telemedicine hub or the platform, which is, you know, helping to bridge the mental health gap that’s affordable, accessible, and available to Nigerians to use. And several other things like the movies, Little Drops of Happy, Pepper Soup, and of course, our new baby, The Mental Health Conference that we launched two years ago and is still ongoing. The How Bodi app, we are also deploying it into mobile counselling booths. I’m hoping that with the project we have on people can walk into any of our counselling booths anywhere, in the malls, in the parks, and just receive therapy in those cute little cubicles, and people can just be safe anywhere they are around the world. And so this has created a ripple effect with over 100,000 hours of therapy that we’ve delivered in-person and virtually serving over 30 corporate organisations with over 3 million Nigerians, and also collaborating with universities for research and development. Because truly that’s the only way we can move forward when we are data-driven and working on data. We want to be able to give, when they say the business outlook of Nigeria in 2025, we also want to give Nigerians the emotional outlook of Nigeria in that same year. So our roadmap for 2030 is to make sure we triple this community mental health penetration all through with what we are doing and then bringing VRs, extended reality, virtual realities to help Nigerians. Because it’s going to be fun. We are doing a lot of training for teachers now, teachers with regards to helping our children in schools. It was just very unfortunate that I was tagged in a story about a young 19-year-old who killed himself, because of his low JAMB score. So if teachers are aware of the emotional issues of students, they’ll be able to help them before their parents can even get the whole story. So those

are some of the things Pinnacle has evolved over the years. Pinnacle’s story is more proof that when expertise meets empathy, we refuse to wait for perfect conditions, and mental health care can transcend stigma and transform a nation.

You created the ‘HOW BODI’ app as an innovative solution to mental health. How has technology helped expand your reach in mental health education and care?

The How Bodi App came during COVID. We all remember what happened during COVID. There was a lockdown, re-isolation, and everything that went wrong. And then the exodus. Then secondly, the exodus that we are experiencing now, not only health workers, narrowed down to the mental health professionals, we are needed outside the country than any other person because of a whole lot of the isolation, the loneliness, and all the things that are happening globally. So with this, How Bodi is not only a strategic, it is tech-powered response. So let me just narrow it down to three critical challenges, breaking the barrier of location and stigma. So with How Bodi, we have seen that it has really helped technologically. Why? Because understanding people, especially in Africa, walking into clinics due to fear, they are afraid that they’ll be judged, they’ll be shamed, they’ll be misunderstood. But they can pick up the phone. So that is one way How Bodi is meeting people where they are, anywhere they are, whether in traffic, whether at home, whether in the diaspora, whether in silence, in giving 24-hour access to confidential, culturally relevant mental health support. I must emphasise that. So, for us, our unique selling point in How Bodi is giving cultural relevance. So even the nonNigerians and Africans who are boarding, we want to make sure that if you are on board therapy that is in Uganda, when a Ugandan logs in, it may be easier for the Ugandan to talk to the Ugandan therapist. Why? Because they feel that this person will give me a better culturally appropriate session than any other person. The second opinion is scaling mental health education. Through tech, we’ve been able to psycho-educate with our webinars, our seminars, and we have a daily assessment on How Bodi. How Bodi has wellness trackers. It has a menstrual tracker. It has a sleep tracker. It has a mood tracker. They are AI-powered that you can actually sit and say, I want to know what my mood is in the next one week. And at the end of that week, it will tell you what it is and how it is. How Bodi also has free assessments. And you can go and check it. It will deliver the results to you immediately. If you have anxiety, go and check. It will deliver the results immediately. The Google Play Store has a better version of How Bodi. We still have some challenges with The Apple Store from time to time but the Google Play Store is well elaborated and more robust. We have now added a venting room because some people don’t just want anybody to talk to. They want to vent. So you can get into How Bodi, vent, and the therapist will analyse all that you have said and send you a response on what it is. So there are free assessments there. There are free trackers there. And we do understand that it’s not a onesize-fits-all. If you want to even get inspired, some audios will just give you those sounds that will calm you down, manage your stressors. We’ve turned Mentality

into something as normal as checking your weather app. That’s revolutionary. The third thing about this tech platform I want to talk about is building a first-aidaccessible pathway to professional care. So this app has been able to bridge users like the licensed therapists, the psychiatrists, the coaches, via chat and video. And so it’s reducing wait time and transportation costs and, of course, appointment anxiety. Because there’s still what we call whitewater hypertension. Not everybody likes the hospital setting. So this is helping to do that. And because it can be anywhere you are, those who are migrating, there’s a serious link with migration and breakdown of your mental health. And that can easily cause a challenge. So that is also helping those who are relocating. You need help. You need support to talk to somebody professional. How Bodi is doing that. That’s helped to triage emergencies and, of course, guide users on whether they need therapy, coaching, or psychiatric support. And so this smart integration has saved lives. And it’s saving lives. It’s helping to catch disorders early. It’s also empowering people to take charge of their mental well-being without confusion or fear. And so what we want to do with How Bodi is to make sure we recognise the

most innovative mental health in Africa. We’re positioning it as that. But also to help normalise tech therapy culture among young Nigerians, Gen Z, and generally everybody. So this is just letting us know that tech isn’t just about convenience. It’s about dignity, access, and saving lives. And with my medical background and the advocacy that I’ve been doing over time, I’m just trying to make sure that we are having more healing spaces where people can get culturally appropriate therapy.

Read the full interview on www.thewilldowntown.com

Made from vitamin A, retinoid creams are well-known for their capacity to promote the creation of new skin and enhance the texture of existing skin. Applying retinoids to stretch mark areas helps the skin produce more collagen, the protein that maintains the skin’s firmness and smoothness. By raising collagen levels, retinoids can help stretch marks disappear and become less noticeable over time.

STRETCH MARKS TO KNOW ABOUT EVERYTHING YOU NEED

BY DORCAS AKINTOYE

Many people see stretch marks as something to be ashamed of, but it shouldn’t be that way. Stretch marks are normal, natural, and a part of many people’s lives. They are simply a sign that your body has grown or changed; it doesn’t matter whether they appear during pregnancy, puberty, after sudden weight changes, or from muscle gain. Even though they are not harmful or painful, many people prefer to reduce the appearance of it in their body. If that’s you, this article is for you. Here, we explain everything you need to know about stretch marks, including effective ways to treat them.

WHAT ARE STRETCH MARKS?

Stretch marks, sometimes called striae, are lines or streaks that develop on the skin when it stretches or shrinks too quickly. This abrupt change causes the dermis, the skin’s middle layer, to tear slightly, allowing the deeper layers of skin to show through and leave visible marks.

4. RETINOL CREAMS 4 EFFECTIVE WAYS TO TREAT STRETCH MARKS NATURAL

OILS AND BUTTERS

Rosehip oil, cocoa butter, shea butter, almond oil, and other natural body butters can help maintain the skin’s suppleness and elasticity. These products nourish the skin because they are high in vitamins and good fats. Even though they might not be able to eliminate stretch marks, they can help make them look less noticeable, especially if you start using them early.

Applying hyaluronic acid to the areas with stretch marks every day, ideally after a shower when your skin is still slightly damp, will increase the skin’s elasticity and reduce the visibility of new stretch marks. Hyaluronic acid is a potent ingredient that helps the skin stay hydrated and retain moisture.

HYALURONIC ACID PRODUCTS LASER THERAPY

Laser therapy is one of the most effective options for reducing the appearance of stretch marks, especially older or deeper ones. This treatment uses focused beams of light to target the stretch marks, encouraging the skin to produce more collagen and elastin. As the skin repairs itself, the marks begin to fade and blend more with the rest of your skin.

There are ways to treat and reduce the appearance of stretch marks on your body, from using skincare products like retinoids and hyaluronic acid to trying natural oils and even professional treatments like laser therapy. All you have to do is be patient and consistent with whatever method you choose.

EMOTIONAL FIRST AID

Helping Kids Handle Big Feelings

BY JOHNSON CHUKWUEKE

The world can often be too loud, too fast, and too confusing, even for adults—it’s no surprise that kids sometimes feel overwhelmed by their emotions. Spilt juice can lead to full-blown tears; a missed party or playtime can trigger what feels like a meltdown. But what we see as “overreacting” is often a child’s genuine attempt to process big feelings with tools they’re still learning to use. That’s where emotional first aid comes in.

Just like you’d treat a scraped knee with a bandage and tender love and care, emotional wounds—disappointment, frustration, fear, or sadness—deserve gentle care and attention. The earlier children learn to recognise, name, and navigate their emotions, the more emotionally intelligent, resilient, and confident they will grow to be.

Create a Safe Space For Expression

Kids need to know it’s okay to feel what they’re feeling. Encourage open conversations about emotions—name them, normalise them. When a child says, “I’m angry,” resist the urge to fix it immediately. Instead, try “Tell me why” or “That sounds tough.” These phrases validate their feelings and teach them emotional vocabulary, the first step in emotional regulation.

Use Tools They Understand

Visuals, such as feeling charts or emotion flashcards, can help younger children identify how they feel. You can also use creative activities, such as drawing, storytelling, or playing, to help them express themselves in ways that words may not yet allow. The goal is to help them connect the dots between feelings and actions.

Model Calm, Even in Chaos

Children are always watching. If you lose your cool every time traffic hits or your phone rings off the hook, they’re more likely to mirror that stress response. Practising deep breaths, pausing before reacting, and talking through your emotions in age-appropriate ways (“I’m frustrated, so I’m going to take five deep breaths”) shows them how to manage feelings without suppressing them.

Know When to Get Support

If a child is consistently withdrawn, acting out in extreme ways, or struggling to manage daily life, it may be time to consult a child therapist or counsellor. Emotional wellness is just as important as physical health, and there’s strength in asking for help.

Give them a go-to emotional first aid kit. This could include a short breathing exercise, squeezing a stress ball, colouring, journaling for older kids, or even having a comfort object nearby. Let them know it’s okay to take breaks when things feel overwhelming—and show them how.

Teaching emotional first aid isn’t about stopping tears or tantrums—it’s about equipping children with the skills to process life in healthy, compassionate ways. The earlier they learn that big feelings aren’t scary or shameful, the better they’ll be at handling life’s ups and downs. With the right support, every child can grow into an emotionally aware, confident adult—and that’s a gift that keeps giving.

GEMINI UNLOCKED

BY JOHNSON CHUKWUEKE

ELEMENT: AIR

RULING PLANET: MERCURY

SYMBOL: TWINS

FLOWER: LAVENDER

BIRTHSTONES: PEARL

DATE: MAY 21ST - JUNE 20TH

Born between May 21 and June 20, Gemini is ruled by Mercury, the planet of communication, intellect, and movement. Represented by the twins, Gemini-borns are often seen as having “two sides”—but not in a deceptive way. In fact, this dynamic duality makes Geminis some of the most intriguing people in any room. Whether you’re a fellow Gemini or just trying to figure one out, three standout traits define this air sign.

Masters of Communication

Geminis were practically born with the gift of gab. Witty, curious, and often the life of the party, they know how to keep conversations flowing. From

cracking jokes to diving into deep debates, their minds move quickly, and so do their words. This makes them great storytellers, journalists, and even content creators.

Adaptable And Versatile

Change doesn’t scare a Gemini—it excites them. These individuals thrive in dynamic environments, whether switching careers, travelling on a whim, or juggling multiple passions. Their curiosity drives them to explore many sides of life, often picking up new hobbies, skills, and friendships with ease.

Tems, June 11th

Morgan Freeman, June 1st

Energetic And Youthful

There’s something eternally youthful about a Gemini. They approach life with a childlike wonder and a thirst for new experiences. This vibrant energy keeps them fun to be around, but it can also mean they get bored easily. Keeping things fresh is their sweet spot. In essence, Geminis are social butterflies with minds that never stop fluttering. If you can keep up, you’re in for a wild, thought-provoking, and endlessly entertaining ride.

D’banj, June 9th

CASSY’S CHRONICLES YEARNING IN 4K

He had just texted me, “In a meeting, babe. I’ll call you later.” I stared at the message for a few seconds, heart sinking, body aching. The silence in the apartment was deafening. No laughs, no warmth. Just me, this restless feeling, and the heavy throb between my thighs. I tried to distract myself, flipping

through channels, scrolling mindlessly, but my body refused to ignore its need. I craved his touch, his fingers grazing my skin, his lips tracing the curves of my body, the way he’d whisper filthy promises in my ear just before delivering every single one of them. And then I remembered.

The video.

It was his idea, recorded during one of our wildest nights. At first, I was shy, but now I am grateful. I unlocked my phone with trembling fingers, found

the folder we kept hidden, and there it was. Just seeing the thumbnail made my stomach flutter.

I lay back on the bed, pillows propping me up, legs parted with anticipation, and hit play.

There we were, he behind the camera at first, his voice deep and teasing as I stood there naked, laughing nervously. Then the scene changed, and I was moaning, bent over the edge of the bed, his hands gripping my hips. The sound of skin against skin filled the room, syncing with the quickening of my breath.

My nipples hardened as I watched him thrust into me from behind, slow and deep. I can still remember how I felt, how full I was, and how he stretched me just right. My fingers slipped between my thighs, instinctively circling my lady bits as I followed along with the rhythm of the video. I moaned, soft at first, then louder, needing more.

He flipped me over in the video, pushed my knees to my chest, and slammed into me while kissing my neck. I gasped as if I could feel it all again, the burn, the pleasure, the overwhelming sweetness of being taken like that. I moaned in real time, matching the version of me on screen, gripping the sheets with one hand while the other played faster, wetter, needier.

Then came the part where he went down on me. I zoomed into the video, showing his tongue working slowly, expertly, circling me until I screamed his name. Watching it made my body clench, and my hips bucked as the orgasm crashed into me, waves of fire and light blinding my senses.

But it wasn’t enough.

The video ended, and I lay there panting, skin flushed. But my need hadn’t been sated.

I bit my lip and slid two fingers inside myself. I imagined it was him again, whispering to me, calling me his good girl, telling me how wet I was. I arched my back, crying out as the pressure built up again, faster, harder, no holding back. When I came this time, it felt like I was falling, trembling with every breath. My toes curled, my body went limp, and I finally let go.

Everything after that was a blur. The room smelled like sex and sweat and satisfaction. My breathing slowed; my heart was still racing, but my body felt light, as if I were floating. I pulled the covers over me, curling into the sheets that now held the scent of my release.

And for the first time that evening, I wasn’t lonely.

BY BOLUWATIFE ADESINA

MOVIE REVIEW:

Final Destination Bloodlines

There’sstill life in the old deathtraps.

Final Destination Bloodlines, the sixth horror movie about people who escape certain doom only for Death itself to come after them with painful ingenuity, is a terrifically well-made supernatural thriller.

Writers Guy Busick (Ready or Not, some recent Scream movies), Lori Evans Taylor and Jon Watts (director of the last three Spider-Man movies) and directors Zach Lipovsky and Adam B. Stein have crafted an elegantly sadistic entertainment. The pace here is deliberate as complicated, lethal traps are teased, faked out, then sprung with surprise-enhanced relish. Sound character interaction, with touches of both light and dark humour, makes us care about each soon-to-besplattered soul.

Like the writers and directors, the cast is all new to this entry—except for the late Tony Todd in his last appearance as series mainstay William Bludworth, the mortality expert, whose back story also gets explored in Bloodlines. That’s a franchise given, since few survive their first movie.

The somewhat genius wrinkle here is that all of the human targets are related to one another. Actors of different age ranges (don’t worry, most are still young and attractive) play out affections, frictions and generational trauma more effectively than the friends-andstrangers groupings that went before. This makes every individual death harder to nervously laugh off. There’s emotional depth behind the squirmy suspense.

Unlike in previous Finals, (Destinations? What do we call these?) a franchise launched in 2000, the opening vision of Bloodlines is not a premonition but a vivid flashback. Or is it? Regardless, the destruction of a swanky 1960s restaurant perched atop a 500-foot spire is a deft mini-disaster movie in itself.

The sequence also boasts a bravura display of the directors’ abilities with big built sets, IMAX cameras, wraparound volume screens and visual effects — not to mention their skills at ratcheting up tension and human interest in a deceptive, leisurely way. With a tableside flambé here and hairline cracks in the inadvisable glass dance floor there, the horror to come is foreshadowed like appetisers at an unholy dinner party.

For the movie’s true heroine, contemporary college student Stefani Reyes (Kaitlyn Santa Juana), the Skyview calamity is a recurring nightmare that’s wrecking her sleep and grade-point average. She needs to figure out how to stop the dreams, but soon finds her real calling: trying to save her loved ones from Death’s sick sense of humour.

Math major Stefani’s sole advantage is that she can see the lethal elements lining up and figure out the equations for disaster. Usually too late and more often futile, but her ability adds misdirected hope and extra paranoia to the game.

After the initial scepticism, she’s got her cousins, little brother Charlie (Teo Briones), and estranged mom Darlene (Rya Kihlstedt) all worked up and scheming to cheat Death.

The likes of lawnmowers, body piercings, garbage trucks and MRI machines have other ideas about that.

I don’t want to oversell Bloodlines. It works with the same formula as all the other Final Destination instalments: turn collections of everyday objects into murder mechanisms like the cartoonist Rube Goldberg may have imagined if he’d been a horror writer.

Still, this particular package has a lived-in quality that doesn’t just counterpoint the set piece mutilations but complements the franchise’s premise that death — or here, the never-seen personification Death — can come from anywhere, anytime.

Rating: 7.5/10

Hits the spot

LOVE DEATH AND ROBOTS WATCH OF THE WEEK

Tim Miller and David Fincher’s animated anthology series Love, Death & Robots returns to Netflix for a fourth season, and it confirms something cat owners have suspected for a while: They are indeed trying to conquer humanity. The Emmy-winning series remains true to form with stunning creativity, fantastic black humour and genuine surprises that illustrate the series’ evolution. Not every segment is outstanding, but there are no stinkers in the bunch.

Close Encounters of the Mini Kind challenges viewers with a hilarious alien invasion told from a unique perspective: Imagine if Independence Day and War of the Worlds were fought by sped-up figurines. In this segment, creators Robert Bisi and Andy Lyon get big laughs through human stupidity in a knockdown-funny eight minutes. The animation is spectacular, unique, and perfect for the subject. (Let’s just say the alien probes do exactly what you’re thinking they will.)

Badass cats also take centre stage in The Other Large Thing as Sanchez, a cat hellbent on world domination, finally gets the missing piece of his diabolical plan. Sanchez’s mews and purrs mask his distaste for the grotesque and slovenly creatures who aren’t feeding him tuna for every meal, but their new robot servant can understand him — and isn’t fond of how he’s treated. What happens next isn’t pretty, and serves as a warning to every cat owner: Keep an eye on those kitties, because they’re up to no good.

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For He Can Creep is set in London, 1757, and also features an epic battle of furballs versus evil. Dan Stevens voices Jeoffrey the cat, whose distraught poet owner has caught Satan’s eye. But the Prince of Darkness did not expect such a formidable enemy. Director Emily Dean delivers

incredible animation in a sharp finale, as Satan and his cat nemeses change shape in a vicious battle. It’s a violent entry, but it also sneaks in a few good chuckles.

Humanity’s arrogance, foolishness and cruelty are repeatedly addressed in season four. Episode 6, Golgotha, has Miller directing Rhys Darby as a nervous priest who’s been chosen to address alien visitors who look like squids wearing mechanised suits. They’re deeply religious beings who are searching the galaxy for a messiah, and their chosen saviour isn’t fond of humanity, to put it mildly. Darby’s fear, bewilderment and eventual acceptance of fate mirror his character’s crisis of religious belief.

Miller has two other shorts in Love, Death & Robots Volume Four. They’re both well-made, but don’t have the impact or comedy of the best entries.

400 Boys features John Boyega, leading a voice cast of disparate teams facing their biggest threat ever in a postapocalyptic world. The 400 Boys are basically giant babies stomping rivals into goo, and the lighting and shading of the 2D animation are masterful. There are rich characterisations and bloody action, but the overall story doesn’t have much depth.

The same can be said about Miller’s The Screaming of the Tyrannosaur. The motion capture CGI episode stars YouTuber Mr. Beast in a futuristic “bread and circus” display, in which Miller transposes Roman classicism to a space station above Jupiter. Plebeians race to the death while riding dinosaurs, while wealthy patricians watch from hovering platforms without a care about the suffering and carnage below. This segment has the most cinematic production values of the season, especially in a climactic scene where gladiators ride a triceratops and a tyrannosaurus rex into bloody combat.

Finally, the penultimate Smart Appliances, Stupid Owners, adds to the laughs by telling its story from the perspective of our gadgets. Each appliance spouts a line or two of dialogue: The smart toilet isn’t happy after taco night, for example, and a vibrator is confounded by its purpose. The CGI animation mimics Claymation and achieves the effect while also being understated. This short is packed with celebrity voice-overs from the likes of Ronny Chieng, Amy Sedaris and Kevin Hart, but it needs more time to develop.