Breaking Bias with Queen Charlotte Collection

Queen Charlotte is the name of one of our collections. A name we decided to give in the wake of George Floyd's death and Nigeria's End SARS protest, it was evident that we needed to be proactive in calling out BIAS in our society.

The topic of bias is gaining momentum in the world and rightly so…. With the positive use of social media giving rise to one's ability to democratically air or record the ills in society; we are becoming better sensitised to change, act and use our commercial platforms to trend these issues and topics. Mine was seeing George Floyd and watching the End SARS protest in Nigeria. It became evident that lives continue to be lost or threatened as a result of bias, prejudice, racism, and discrimination, but thankfully, social media and smartphones have become protective tools that can capture these ills and used to more democratically address the plight of many.

As a brand owner, I am on the Advisory Committee of a movement/organisation named Bias in African Fashion (BAF), a platform that includes many in Fashion and Beauty who have joined forces to facilitate dialogue and highlight the issues of bias both on the Continent and in the Diaspora. Naming my collection after an 'alleged' story addresses bias because if true that would mean that love reigned. Nevertheless, we went on and named each style after a woman of African descent or origin who has been married into royalty, (not an alleged story!!) This collection celebrates Love and our Allies; our allies are those who stood up and supported Blacks and People of Colour around the world; they are the ones who asked how to help, what they could do; the ones who were able to empathise. The ones called our 'Allies'… Thank you!!

This collection also celebrates the Aristocrats and Royal men who choose love over stigma, prejudice, bias, discrimination, and racism, the men who married non-royal black women and made them the modern-day 'Queen Charlotte' Grateful, for the theme for International Women's Day (IWD) 2022 which is 'Break The Bias' We hope you can continue to support Victoria Grace as we continue to use our platform to promote love, unity, equality, and equity.

Meet our Black Royals Angela, Megan, Leigh, Cécile, Ariana, Keisha, Mary, and Emma They are wives, busy women who juggle many roles. They are Victoria Grace Women.

This is our celebration for Break the Bias #IWD2022

Meet Angela married to Prince Maximilian of Liechtenstein

Royal Title: Princess Angela of Liechtenstein (Her Serene Highness)
Formerly named: Angela Gisela Brown
Ruling House: Liechtenstein
Husband: Prince Maximilian of Liechtenstein
DOB: 3 February 1958
Born: Bocas del Toro, Panama
 
The first woman of primarily African descent to marry into a reigning European dynasty. Her marriage to the prince had been authorised by his Father, the reigning monarch of Liechtenstein. This demonstrates no Bias.

Our Dress: Angela

Simplicity with grace. The chance to slip into other worlds with this simple blend of cultures. A timeless flared dress in various designs and prints adding a bold stripe along with the back zip in a striking African print.

Meet Ariana married to Prince Joel Dawit Makonnen Haile Selassie of Ethopia

Royal Title: Princess Ariana Austin Makonnen of Ethiopia
Formerly named: Ariana Joy Lalita Austin Ruling
House: Ethiopian Imperial House of Solomon
Husband: Prince Joel Dawit Makonnen
DOB: 6 January 1984
Born: USA, Washington, D.C.

Princess Ariana is an American writer, arts, manager and philanthropist.. She is a member of the Ethiopian imperial family through her marriage to Prince Joel Dawit Makonnen, the great-grandson of Emperor Haile Selassie I, the last Emperor of Ethiopia.

Our Blouse: Ariana

A timeless blouse with African cotton subdued neatly under black sheer fabric setting off a midnight luxurious feel. It has a short necktie that can also double as a pussy bow.

Meet Cécile who was married to Baron Christian Louis de Massy

Royal Title: Baroness Cécile de Massy
Formerly named: Cécile Irène Gelabale
Ruling House: House of Grimaldi
Ex-Husband: Baron Christian Louis de Massy
DOB: 1968
Born: Guadelope

Baroness Cécile de Massy is from Guadeloupe,she was the wife of Baron Christian de Massy, first cousin of HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco, son of Princess Antoinette and nephew of Prince Rainier III. She founded the Ladies Lunch Monte-Carlo, a charitable organisation focussed on improving the quality of life for children and adolescents in Monaco.

Our Dress:  Cécile

They say that the first impression counts and I agree. Making a good one goes a long way and that is what this dress does. Practical, impressive, confident and classy. Tie the bow for a formal affair, and for an informal affair leave it as a scarf.

Meet Emma married to Ceawlin Thynn, 8th Marquess of Bath

Royal Title: Emma Clare Thynn, Marchioness of Bath
Formerly named: Emma Clare McQuiston
Peerage of Great Britain: The Marquess of Bath
Husband: Ceawlin Thynn, 8th Marquess of Bath
DOB: 26 March 1986
Born: London, England

Lady Bath was born Emma Clare McQuiston, in London, the daughter of a Nigerian father and an English mother. She is married to Ceawlin Thynn, 8th Marquess of Bath. In 2020, she became the first Black marchioness in British history.

Our Dress:  Emma

Our 50's classic and elegant 'Twiggy-style’ dress made with a selected African print line distinct for its tight designs and unique colours with a ruffled printed colour adding a black velvet trim to give it that splash of uniqueness.

Meet Mary married to Count Ferdinand Leopold von Habsburg-Lothringen

Royal Title: Countess Mary von Habsburg-Lothringen
Formerly named: Mary Nyanut Ring Machar
Ruling House: Habsburg-Lorraine
Husband: Count Ferdinand Leopold von Habsburg-Lothringen
DOB: 1 July 1969
Born: Wau, Sudan (present day South-Sudan)

Countess Mary is married to Ferdinand Leopold Joseph Count von Habsburg of Austria. Their marriage was seen as controversial due to her socio-economic class and race. Otto von Habsburg then head of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine, gave the couple his blessing. Her husband is a son of Archduke Géza of Austria and maternal grandsom of Frederick Augustus III of Saxony The royal family of von Habsburg are descendants of William the Conquerer.

Meet Lei married to Archduke Franz Ferdinand von Habsburg-Lothringen

Born: New York City, United States

Archduchess Lei von Habsburg is an attorney and enterprenuer from South Carolina and the wife of Franz Ferdinand von Habsburg son of Archduke Geza of Austria.

Named after both Ladies the Kaftan Dress: Mary & Lei

Kaftan dress in bold beautiful colours with an African cotton line along the long sleeves to lift off the dress and give it the Whoa!! factor.

Meet Meghan married to Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex

Royal Title: Meghan, Duchess of Sussex
Formerly named: Rachel Meghan Markle
Ruling House: Windsor
Husband: Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex
DOB: 4 August 1981
Born: Los Angeles, California, U.S.

Duchess of Sussex is an American member of the British royal family and former actress married to Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex. Harry and Meghan stepped back from royal duties in March 2020 and now reside in Montecito in the US

Our Dress: Meghan

Meghan famed for making the ‘men’ oversize shirt trendy, we have named our shirtdress which is one half African print and the other half in English classical prints such as pinstripes, after her.

Meet Keisha married to Omoba Adekunle Adebayo Omilana of Ipetu-Ijesha, Nigeria

Royal Title: Princess Keisha Omilana
Formerly named: Oloori Keisha Omilana
Ruling House: Yoruba House of Arigbabuowo
Husband: Omoba Adekunle Adebayo Omilana of Ipetu-Ijesha
DOB: 8 March 1986
Born: Inglewood, California

Oloori Keisha Omilana of Ipetu-Ijesha, commonly known as Princess Keisha Omilana, is an American model, media executive and beauty entrepreneur. As the wife of Omoba Adekunle Adebayo Omilana of Ipetu-Ijesha, she is a princess of the Yoruba House of Arigbabuowo. Omilana graduated with a degree in fashion design from an institution in Chicago.

Our Dress: Keisha

A 3/4 length fitted dress with empire line using Tweed, Plaid and Tartan impression blended with African handwoven (Asoke) around the neckline and sleeves.

 Imagine a gender equal world. A world free of bias, stereotypes and discrimination. A world that’s diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated. Together we can forge women equality. Collectively we can all #BreakTheBias - Excerpt from International Women’s Day #IWD2022