The Zambian Mbuya Who Became A Global Fashion Sensation

A grandmother from rural Zambia has transformed playful dress-up sessions with her granddaughter into an international fashion phenomenon, earning admiration for her bold style, confidence and joyful approach to life.

Margret Chola, popularly known as “Legendary Glamma”, captured global attention in 2024 through the Granny Series, a fashion photography project created by her granddaughter, Diana Kaumba, a New York-based stylist.

The idea began in 2023 when Kaumba visited Zambia and invited her grandmother, affectionately known as Mbuya, to try on some of her outfits. What started as a family moment soon developed into a striking collection of photographs featuring Chola in colourful outfits, statement jewellery, oversized sunglasses, crowns and wigs, set against the familiar backdrop of rural life.

The series gained major attention in April 2024 after Chola appeared in a red Adidas dress, chunky gold necklaces and a sparkling crown. Her confidence and unconventional looks helped turn her into an internet sensation.

“I feel different, I feel new and alive in these clothes,” Chola told the BBC in a November 2024 feature. “I feel like I can conquer the world!”

Her photographs blend high fashion with everyday Zambian life, sometimes featuring familiar objects such as a radio, a wooden pounding stick or a charcoal brazier. The contrast between glamorous styling and her rural surroundings has become part of the series’ distinctive appeal.

Chola’s story has since attracted international media attention, including coverage by The Guardian and ABC News, extending her reach beyond social media and making her a widely recognised example of fashion transcending age and geography.

But the project carries a message beyond clothes and photographs. Kaumba has said she hopes it will remind people that older generations still have much to offer, while encouraging families to spend time together and preserve memories.

For Chola, the transformation has been personal as well as public. She told the BBC that the attention has given her a renewed sense of purpose, with people around the world eager to see her next look.

From a farm near Lusaka to audiences across the world, “Legendary Glamma” has shown that style has no age limit, and sometimes a global phenomenon begins with nothing more than a granddaughter asking her grandmother to try on an outfit.

Based in part on reporting by BBC News, which featured Margret Chola in November 2024.

Photo Source: Luxury Media