Today we’d like to introduce you to Francisca.
Francisca, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
It all started during my undergraduate years when I got uninterested in my course of study ( I studied Biology Education at Lagos State University) and I could not drop out because it was not an option for (Education is highly revered in Nigeria) I started watching youtube videos about college life and hairstyle because at that time I transitioned into natural hair and I was deeply in love with haircair. I thought I would go into hair content, so I started watching Nigerian YouTube creators like “Chizi Duru”, Igbo curls (Chinwe Juliet), just because we had similar hair textures. My courses in school were somewhat difficult, but God being gracious, I excelled with them with minimal effort, so most times, I would spend time pretending to be a YouTube creator and record my hair care process and edit them. I opened a YouTube channel at that time and named it “PlantainMouth,” which was a nickname I got from my uncle because, as a child, I was told I loved plantains so much that I would not eat unless I had some along with my meal, and I was too blunt at such a tender age. I shared this idea with my mom, but she was not comfortable with the fact that I had an interest in that; she believed focusing on my undergraduate school work and getting back to medical school was of priority (my sister studied law , so she felt I should be a doctor). I just accepted my fate and focused on schoolwork.
Unfortunately, she passed, and that was a really hard time for me. I needed a means of escape while grieving, then my friend Ugo came in and reminded me of my content style since I enjoyed it.
I officially opened the YouTube channel in 2019/2020, I think, but I did not do hair content as I did not think I wanted to venture into that. I felt there was more to share than that, but hey, I just lost my mom, and I was struggling with a sense of direction. It was really difficult getting subscribers because the beginnings are always difficult and I wasn’t the popular type in school.
At that point in time, we had a Vice chancellor in the person of Professor Fagbohun SAN, NPOM, the best Vice Chanecollor the school ever had because he was student friendly and he paid attention to the needs of his people that was the first of its kind ) and I just thought to my self” how about having an interview with him for students to see how much of a human he is aside being the Vice Chancellor of the University. It was a nice idea but a very hard one to pull knowing how busy he was. Luckily for me I pulled it, he granted the interview, I edited it and I posted it on my youtube and September 2020, the month I posted it was when I got the most comments since I started posting. Someone told me ” its easier getting to have an interview with a celebrity than with a vice chancellor, how did you pulled this” and that was how I got noticed in school.
I became sad because I started losing passion for youtube, its so hard tbh and then I stopped and moved on to instagram. at that point in time there was something in trend called “Finsta” So I had my IG accoutntand I opened a finsta account and made it private so I can just be posting my stuff and no one would notice. But somehow I felt the nudge to change the name to my youtube name (PlantainmMouth) and started posting just stuff about myself, funny videos and just random stuff but still content related but little did I know something great was going to happen.
February 28, 2021, I was really frustrated about how my undergraduate research was going, and I just dumped it to get ice cream at a famous ice cream spot in Lagos, Nigeria. While standing in line to place my order, I could hear someone with a really deep voice behind me talking. I turned and then I noticed who I had behind me was Nigeria’s Biggest Food and Wine Critic- Opeyemi Famakin. I was going to say hi but I wasn’t sure if he would respond or snub me, but I tried, and he took pictures with me and followed me on ig. Then after some minutes, i went back to him and said, ” I understand you are a celebrity and you would charge for ypur services, but I just started out a YouTube channel and I want you to be part of it. And he agreed …for free!!!!(I never expected that because he his such a busy man and I was just some novice I would say, so I felt my chances were slim). Lesson I learned here: learn to ask the worst case is a no, but could be a yes, and could turn into something great
We shot the video in April 2021, and it felt so surreal. I posted the video and he even requested for a snippet and posted it on his page. I was going to pass out, maybe , just maybe content creation could work for me. Rounding up my semester in July I was praying to God, I mean was going to finish with a first class honors but I had no job insight, i was scared I wasn’t going to get support from people anymore, I didn’t how to go about getting a job because I was clearly not interested in teaching…. at least not in Nigeria. Right after those quiet moments with God, I got a dm on Instagram, guess who? The biggest food critic messaged me, requesting my service to be his video creator for his upcoming food series because he felt I had the skills based off the video I edited from the interview. (Meanwhile, I would downplay my editing skills because it was not perfect or rather because I felt I edited like a novice) He liked my style editing… more like he would bring his millennial ideas and I would bring in my Gen Z creativity in the edit, and the content would convey to all. Ladies and gentlemen, that was how I got a job. We worked together for 4 months before I had to leave for my mandatory NYSC (National Youth Service Corps)- a mandatory training in Nigeria for university graduates established to promote national unity and development( this was established after the civil war in 1973)
A requirement for this training is to serve at a place of primary assignment, and Ope suggested I work at a film company because I was better suited with my skills than teaching at that point. He connected me with his friend who worked in a film company with some affiliation with Netflix. And that was how my film journey started, While working as a post production intern, I assisted on a project that got on Netflix, its called Obara’m which means my blood in Igbo (One of the languages spoken in Nigeria) It was a proud moment for me seeing my name on the end credit and getting an invite to the movie premiere, i mean I was just a post production intern who had barely spent a year there. I was allowed to assist with the project. (That was a wholesome experience)
October 31st, 2022, I left the film company based on the comments made from the HR and boss as they made up their mind not to hire me as a full time staff because they felt “they were not sure what value I would bring to their company and also they felt my growth was static” (Lol, after interning there for a year I received such statement, I just felt they wasted my time for not being upfront tbh) . It was devastating but I didn’t know the such a statement would push me into a better opportunity. In two days, I got a job at one of the Best Pediatric hospitals in Lagos, Pediatric Partners Hospital as their social media coordinator and content lead for their online educational podcast (Pediatrics-To). Mind you, I had no clue I could get this job because I felt I had no skills, but I didn’t realise I gained content strategy skills from Ope Famakin, the food critic, and an extensive view on storytelling with video from the film company. Pediatric Partners Hospital gave me the room to grow and helped me build my confidence and valued my work (I kept doubting myself because of the statement from the film company, so it affected me mentally). Leson learned- every disappointment is truly a blessing! and God’s no is a redirection for something greater!
After spending two years working at the hospital, God felt it was time for me to leave to the US for my graduate school. Initially, I gained admission to the University of Georgia for a master’s in social work program. Still, I was not funded, this broke me because I thought this was the end (I have being trying to move to the US since I was 16 and the opportunity came but no funding) I spoke to my friend Mabadaje, who’s currently studing in Iowa for her Phd about the situation, she advised me to apply for teaching positions in the sciences since I have a background in Biology Education, Lo and behold I took her advice. With God’s Help, I was funded, and I went to the US.
Mind you, during undergrad, I always thought, “I wanted to be a doctor, how did I find myself settling for biology education, what can this degree do for me? These were the questions that probed my mind, because honestly, it felt like I was wasting my time, but regardless, I still maintain good grades. Fast forward, that degree I was not even proud of brought me to the US. Truly, no skill or anything you venture into is a waste. I am doing my Master’s in social work and working as a 90% Instructor of Record in Biology at the University of Georgia. Honestly, God moving me to the US is more like him giving me a second chance to live fully, without fear,, and in HIs purpose, and that is exactly what I am trying to do.
Sometimes I do not know how I manage to go through life amidst the hardship, I mean, losing my dad at age 10 and losing my mom at age 21 was devastating enough to quit. But the one thing I do not know how to do is give up, except that my path is not God’s will.
A friend of mine asked me what I would like to be. I responded that I would like to be a public speaker. Not some aspire to Maguire type, but someone who has been through fire and has been refined to stand to help and motivate those in situations like mine, Someone who been through several mistakes and have learned from it and would love to share to the audience so they do not fall in the same pit like I did.
I guess my public speaking journey has started, thanks to Voyage ATL magazine for giving me an audience to share my story publicly in writing. I have not attained my goals or have them big brands reach out, but the little steps I have taken to build myself are the results you see.
While in school, I still create content, that regardless of how tedious school work can be, showing up and trying to be consistent can be possible and to also those who desire to come to the US, that it is possible, it could be hard but it is possible, they are dilligent, hardworking and strategic.
My life is a sum of many good and bad events, but I have decided to attach purpose to my pain. I have found strength, and that same purpose is what I am living for.
I sincerely want to say a big thank you to my friends, families and even strangers I do not know that believe and have pushed me into greatness because it can be so hard trying to stay strong you know- it just shows I am human I guess.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
That’s actually a very great question!
Life itself is filled with challenges, now trying to discover one’s path would be even more difficult.
Confidence was a big issue for me, trying to pivot from being a straight A student into the creative world was not something I thought would be difficult but apparently, I found it hard. That was because I tried applying school principles to the creative space – following rules, playing it safe, keeping to what I know …. The creative world is entirely different from the academic world. I found it hard to be flexible and open to new ideas. That cost me a lot of opportunities, mainly because I was afraid of “what if it doesn’t work out?” I was scared I was leaving my comfort zone- the academic world
Perfectionist- It took me working with the food critic to realize that I was a perfectionist. I would overthink my content, look for faults, and seek validation from people if my content is worth posting. Ope Famakin (Food Critic) would randomly make videos and post them. Still, somehow I did not have that courage which I somehwat regret because this perfectionist act cost me a lot of opportunities (if you are reading this, ensure you be bold and daring and do what’s in your heart without overthinking like me) I actually do regret most times I did not use the time I had with him efficiently to actualize my goals bcause I was busy waiting for the right time.
He said something profound while we were creating content, ” You don’t wait for the right time, you seize it” I guess I wasn’t so bold to actualize that statement then, but I guess it wasn’t for that moment but for now and I am re writing my life my seizing every opportunity to get to where I have to be.
Fear- You know, for someone who is extremely intelligent and skillful, I would believe that I get scared of even succeeding? Not even fear of if I would fail but what if everything works out, how would I handle it? so most times I just hide and I second guess and I just downplay myself. Crazy right? but I guess I am in a different light now in the US and just taking chances.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a content creator and media host (I co-hosted a medical podcast, Pediatrics To Go, an online educational tool that serves Pediatric information accessible globally). Can I add a soon-to-be public speaker? Since I have started my journey, I think ..lol
I am into community building, content strategy, video editing, and content creation/ storytelling (anything that brings your ideation to life). I am known for my unique storytelling skills, which I gained from interning at a film company in Nigeria. I am most proud of how creative I tend to be in my storytelling for my content, it’s very different, and my audiences know!
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Authenticity—One thing that has contributed to my success overall is my authenticity to my audience. I am incredibly true to myself and trustworthy. The truth about content creation is that nobody cares about you. People resonate with you when your content is a reflection of themselves, i.e., they see themselves in you. Growth will come slowly when you stay true to yourself and do not copy others.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/plantainmouth/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/francisca-allename-661350146/
- Youtube: https://youtu.be/NgYYU8wqBKk
- Other: allenamefranca@gmail.com
Image Credits
blacklenzgraphy (Picture taken of me in white)
uzordinma_visuals (FIrst Photo)
