“Squish” is what her loving family calls her. But this little bundle-of-joy with the huge personality was born Iman-Joelle Ndiaye on April 15, 2017, and right now she and her family are preparing for her ONEkanda-themed birthday — a salute to the Marvel blockbuster film, ‘Black Panther’ — to celebrate turning 1-years-old. But Iman (pronounced Emon) has already made a name for herself in the modeling world. To date she has worked in four print ads for LilleBaby, the company known for its beautiful quality baby carriers. LilleBaby recently celebrated a major coup: its partnership with Disney.
…and guess who helped them celebrate?
Iman! PEOPLE magazine did a feature on the partnership roll-out (See “Related” below) and little Iman, under the headline, “The Happiest Tot on Earth,” appeared in the debut showcasing some of the beautiful products under the new line, The Disney Baby Collection by LÍLLÉbaby.
Iman can be seen wearing the new black and ruby-red Mickey Mouse ears, and a huge smile, as she sits in the carrier called Mickey Embossed All-Seasons Carrier (You can carry babies in 6 different positions!). It features a Mickey print against a black-and-gray mesh background, with Mickey Embossed in a refined red pattern with gold and black detailing. Other Disney characters will be introduced as the company offers more designs.
Below, Iman (who now has a 4th tooth growing in) is pictured with her dad, health coach and model, Cherif Ndiaye.
As an Ambassador for the LilleBaby Brand, Iman, her mother Azja Pryor, along with her dad, Cherif Ndiaye, are shown in several of the company’s ads, which are posted on the LilleBaby website.
In a press release LÍLLÉbaby’s Chief Marketing Officer, Erin Dwyer, said, “It’s a dream to work with Disney because its beloved characters truly transcend generations, and through the years their popularity has made them not only animated classics, but also iconic features in today’s fashion.”
“For us, there’s something very special about giving a parent, who grew up with Disney, the chance to bring all of the fun and whimsy of the brand into their everyday interactions with their little one,” Dwyer adds.
In her days off, Iman, who, in the tradition of her Senegalese father, who truly appreciates family, had a gorgeous NGENTE (a naming ceremony) spends much of her time making her family happy. And each stage of her growth has been captured by her entrepreneur mom, including a party to acknowledge her first solid foods.
With a slew of cousins, two big brothers, a big sister, and a live-in grandma (this writer, her “Nani,” if you haven’t guessed by now!) Iman enjoys watching her favorite shows on Baby First TV, going to Gymboree and Zumbini classes and doing a host of Mama & Me activities.
The girl’s got a calendar, y’all!
Now learning to walk, “Squish,” aptly named by big brother, Ajmal, because of her cuddliness, recently became even more independent when she was gifted with one of those baby walkers. Now she zooms through the house threatening to roll over ‘Pebbles’ and ‘Bam Bam,’ the two family dogs, and anything else in her way!
But having no wheels never stopped the little fashionista from getting around. And although she oftentimes looks like she’s going on a football field; wearing her pink head gear and knee-pads as she moves strategically throughout the house, singing at the top of her lungs, playing with her toys and occasionally, even checking herself out in the huge wall mirror of her family’s workout room, she keeps all of us on our toes!
A true Aries!
Iman has, to date, traveled on a plane nearly a dozen times visiting her older brother, Destin, a freshman at Morehouse College, and other Atlanta family. She loves giving hugs, and is often seen greeting the other tots at the park or elsewhere with a hug.
Of course, the other children, being children, are not always crazy about this move!
She has always been a fearless little one. Just watch here to see her pride as she STANDS by herself, for several seconds, in her papa’s open hand, when she was younger.
Pictured above, little Iman plays dress up, wearing one of her grandmother’s kufe hats. Below, she looks comfortable relaxing in her Traditional Mickey Mouse carrier.
If you’d like to order any of these beautiful products, its easy to do! In fact, you can order them directly from Iman-Joelle herself, right here.
About the writer:
DeBorah B. Pryor is the proud grandmother of Iman-Joelle. She is a senior editor at Lee Bailey’s Electronic Urban Report (EURweb) and the managing editor of EURThisNthat, the site’s daily news blog. She has worked with the publication since 2003. Her new book, ‘AREN’T YOU SCARED? Lessons from a Lady Rideshare Driver’ — a book for riders, drivers and those who want to be — will be released on Friday, April 13. For more information visit the Facebook page: Lessons from a Lady Rideshare Driver. You can always reach out to DeBorah via email at [email protected]
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