"I feel like I'm pretty honest with myself and with what I want and with who I am now and I feel way more confident in myself and who I am now than who I was in like sixth form or something."
Tuesday 4 June 2024, Canterbury High Street, United Kingdom
Who are we talking to? Zoe
Who is the interviewer? Sean
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SEAN: Hello, introduce yourself.
ZOE: Hi, my name's Zoe and I'm 20 years old, and I'm currently in my second year, I guess, of psychology or clinical psychology at Kent. So yeah, that's me, and then I'm Nigerian as well.
SEAN: So the first question is what are you passionate about?
ZOE: Baking. It's like weird, I guess, because baking and art—they do come together in flavours and as well as like design. So I guess I focus on both aspects. First and second is obviously the taste of everything. Do different combinations of things from different cultures so you can just kind of infuse it and it just kind of tastes really good, as well as design, create things with like just different materials, so then I can just make a really cool cake or like cupcakes and give that to people. It's fun, I enjoy it and like having those two sides of food—which I love—as well as art combining that together.
SEAN: Is there anything in particular that you like to bake?
ZOE: Right now tiramisu especially because it's hot right now and like I'm making it again this week.
SEAN: Oh, so, yeah, that sounds good. That sounds good. I'm jealous. So was there someone or something that happened to spark your passion?
ZOE: I would say my oldest sister, definitely both of my older sisters, but my oldest definitely because she was the one who pushed me into doing passionate things or to doing creative things. But she just didn't want me to only be athletic or she wanted me to just try different things and see what I liked, and because she has her own baking business and that kind of like helped me want to do the same thing she did. So I got inspired by her because then she took me to classes, took me to different cake conventions and then it just helped me develop my skills and overall made me want to do baking more. So that was something that solidified the reason why I just love it. So much.
SEAN: What do you do sports-wise?
ZOE: I just used to do running, just everything. I used to do athletics in general back in like primary school, secondary. Now you know my knees are giving out. I'm getting older now. (Laughs)
SEAN: How does it feel to think about your future?
ZOE: Honestly scary, I think it's more scary because next year I graduate now. So last year, like even this summer, it's the last official summer before we can, before we really basically enter the real world and everything. So I think it's scary like not having like a plan I guess and set, or like not having something just solidified already. I think that's probably the most scary bit because, like, obviously uni like as much as you may not go to all your lectures. That little routine there and if you don't want to go, it's something that helps you like go out and do things and having societies having like a small confinement that you can do different things in.
SEAN: Like a macrocosm?
ZOE: Yeah, it helps.
SEAN: I hear it. So what's something that you're excited about that's happening in the near future?
ZOE: Well in the near future I've said, like something just recently, I'm going to a festival for the first time.
SEAN: Yeah, what festival is it?
ZOE: All Points East, so I'm really excited for that. I get to see KAYTRANADA and a couple of artists. I'm also going back to Nigeria for the first time, or like second time. So I'm like, okay, it'd be really fun to kind of connect with my roots more, because I feel like I've only gone to Nigeria once, born and raised in london. So this is like my second time going and I feel like, as much as I'm proud to be where I'm from, I think kind of getting to interact with my cousins more and interact with my culture and understanding more about it is something I'm really excited for. So I'll be going for a while just to see how you know, how life will be like in a way, but also just how my family are back home. So I'm excited for that.
SEAN: So is there any reason for this visit?
ZOE: I think for me it's kind of a “why not?”, also because my whole family is going. So it's just like it's a “why not”, but also for me to not lose my roots. So I kind of always remember where I'm from, because I don't speak my language as much as I understand it. I don't speak it, so I need to like—
SEAN: I'm the same.
ZOE: Yeah, I need to embrace myself in the culture more and be there and I learn more about it, because as much as I learn things here, it's not the same as being there.
SEAN: So your identity, trying to connect with your roots, that's beautiful. So what's your average wake-up time? Slash bedtime? (Laughing) Right, you can split into two because you have "summer you" and then you know, “lock in” you like okay
ZOE: “Lock in” me, I'm gonna say 10. I feel like that's a 10. 10 is a good, 10am for waking up.
SEAN: Okay, I don't think it's bad. What about 9:30 lectures? What happened there?
ZOE: 9:30, if it wants to see me, I'll try, okay, but like, if it doesn't, I'm going to say 10. Okay but going to bed now, 3 AM. Maybe 6 AM, which is really bad. Like me and my housemates were literally playing monopoly up until 6am. So we all ended up watching the sunrise.
SEAN: I mean, nothing better to do, and that's beautiful connecting with people. Well, you wake up early, going to bed at six.
ZOE: I just woke up at like 11.
SEAN: Oh wow.
ZOE: It’s still early, it's before afternoon.
SEAN: It counts, it counts, So, what was your dream job as a child?
ZOE: My dream job was a policewoman for like a couple years and then I was like I didn't realise the concept of death. And then you had to like, defend people with everything that you have in you, and I was like I don't think, I want to do that anymore so it wasn't something that I wanted to do anymore. And then an actor randomly because I watched High School Musical and like just weird different things. But then I think one thing that solidified, which I still want to do to this day is becoming a therapist. Helping people with their mental health. Been wanting to do that since like Year 6/Year 7. Thank God I'm still sticking with that part: Clinical psychology.
SEAN: So, with the acting thing, would you pursue that now?
ZOE: No, (Laughing) I wouldn't.
SEAN: Is that what you gave up on? Do you know what it is?
ZOE: Yeah, I think it's like oh, you think you can do better than the actor, I think at the moment, "Do you think I could do that?" But the thing is I just burst out laughing.
SEAN: So you've tried?
ZOE: I've tried. I did do school plays and stuff like that. Did those, did my thing. Most terrifying thing ever, but I did it. So that was my moment of trying and I was like this is not for me.
"I like when my friends have a nickname for me... It feels very wholesome."
SEAN: Amen, at least you tried. So what is something you've dreamed of doing for a long time, but haven't done so already?
ZOE: Something so silly, but like learning how to ride a bike (laughing). Until this day, like I had a bike as a kid and I think it's literally because you know, being able to swim, ride a bike, certain things in life yeah, there's certain life skills I want to just have. I guess doing that. But also I think another thing recently I've even been thinking about is maybe doing remixes of songs, because like I guess me and my friends have like aux battles and things like that in our houses and like between our house and it's been really fun. So me and my friends are thinking, “Oh, we could do maybe something with music or something.” So I guess, something with music.
SEAN: What songs have you been listening to lately?
ZOE: It's been a few. It's been a few on my list.
SEAN: It's summer so I'm expecting a hot beat.
ZOE: Okay, okay. One of them is an artist called Hailey Knox “11th Hour,” and then another one is “Not Like Us” by Kendrick.
SEAN: Okay, fair enough, it's been a bop. I hear it, I understand it's the track season.
ZOE: Then like Knucks just his albums, anyone, to be honest. And then some like Korean artists BEBE, Hongdae and R&B.
SEAN: Okay, that's a good mix. Okay, so what's your proudest accomplishment?
ZOE: My proudest would probably be a cake competition. Like it was like back in school when they set up a whole cake competition for everyone to take part of, I think, like with 20 people. You're all kind of competing, like around Christmas time and like let's decorate a christmas cake, something like that, and everyone was pretty good because we all did Food Tech back in the day, so obviously everyone had some familiarity with cooking and baking. So like I didn't expect to win, but lucky enough, I won and it was something that I was just really proud about.
SEAN: What was it that you made?
ZOE: I just made like a sponge cake and then just decorated it with like a little Christmas themed thing. So I made flowers. Okay, or like made like just like Christmas things like a snowman, different models and things like that.
SEAN: That's hard. Anything else like baking-wise.
ZOE: No, because I haven't like participated properly.
SEAN: It's more of a hobby.
ZOE: It's more of like a hobby, but I mean I took a break from it for like two years, so now I'm getting back into it. I want to seriously get back into what I find passionate about. So I think that's what's made me want to do it and I have the space to now.
SEAN: Yeah, we're getting older. Yeah, try to expose something you like. So my next question is describe yourself in three words.
ZOE: Maybe “weird” is one. I feel like everyone's weird in their own way.
SEAN: I think you should be a bit weird, if you're not you’re not fun.
ZOE: Exactly. I'll tell you, like an “anomaly,” sometimes, like even though you're in a group of people, as much as I feel loved and like cared for, sometimes you feel a bit like out of place and even as much as you may have found your people, sometimes you still have that individualism about yourself. Sometimes you feel a bit out of place and I think that's pretty normal to have for everyone. Or when you go through phases or where you just feel a bit weird or out of place with people and I guess I would like to say “genuine.” I feel like I'm pretty honest with myself and with what I want and with who I am now and I feel way more confident in myself and who I am now than who I was in like sixth form or something.
"I lacked consistency in the things I was passionate about like I would do it and then just not do it. So I think [my family] holding me accountable for things really helped me just strive and just do better."
SEAN: As you should be. Beautiful stuff. So do you have a nickname and what's the story behind it?
ZOE: A nickname. Oh, my mom calls me “mama,” but like I think it's literally, because like we only have each other here, so it's like we're all just, you know, taking care of each other. I guess that's my mom and then “Zo,” but it's literally just two letters out of the three letters of my name, like just a short one, but I guess there's no really story.
I think it's just like my house. We all just shorten our names really really short. So I guess, like that's mine. All my friends call me “Zoella” because of the YouTube channel. So they're like “Oh okay, let's just make it work.” But I think it's literally because it's just nice to have a nickname for everyone.
SEAN: I think it's endearing.
ZOE: Yeah, it's endearing and it feels very family-oriented, like I like when my friends have a nickname for me.
SEAN: It’s wholesome.
ZOE: It feels very wholesome. It's nice to have one.
SEAN: And then, what is something that has been on your mind recently?
ZOE: Right now, I think I've been just stressing about how exams will go, like my results. As well as like maybe just how I want to maybe go about life once I graduate, I've just been trying to organize my life out a little bit now, even though, like I, haven't graduated yet or anything, or we're nowhere near, we are near to third year, but we're not knocking on the door yet for it.
SEAN: I think that's been a common theme with everyone I've interviewed, Because everyone I've interviewed has been in second year and it's starting to all hit us now. The last person I interviewed said something like oh, this is our last summer.
ZOE: In first year, you experimented with different things, you were going through things, you were learning things about yourself, interacting with different people. Second year, you had to obviously be locked in, you had to find yourself and you found your people. So I think you were able to be more locked in with people around you and just with school in general. So I guess just my future right now, I think, just thinking about that and thinking oh, if life doesn't work out, have a backup, and then have a backup for the backup, type of thing. So, yeah, just be prepared.
SEAN: Yeah, so going back to the creative like, like aspects is what's your inspiration process or source?
ZOE: I think I go from Pinterest. I feel like Pinterest is like a nice starting point because I just create. I feel like you have different aspects of Pinterest you could go through and like, sometimes even going looking from it may not be in like the field you're in, but looking at clothes can help you with your art designs or looking at food can help you how you're going to create a dress or something like that. So I guess Pinterest is like good stuff. I think also just sometimes just walking around places, like local bakeries, or even just outside, like when I'm back in London, like going into Soho, like those types of places, like the creative places.
I'm just thinking, okay, this is really nice, like, oh, it'd be nice to get into fashion, or it'd be nice to do this. Also, going to like creative events or going to like different events help with, I guess, my creativity with baking, specifically with baking probably specifically, I would say, trying new things, like things I wouldn't like ever try before. Like a dragon fruit or something like that or like things like that, just trying different tastes and what I'm used to tasting different ingredients and like trying different cultures. I think that helps a lot. I think the most recent one I tried was Filipino food. That was yeah, like it tasted really really good.
SEAN: That’s my people! What was it?
ZOE: It was like adobo, I think. Yeah, I was like, let me try something that I feel like I would most likely like, and I think trying different culture foods really helps. But I think also going to like the food stalls and things like that, like independent shops, which help a lot as well, and so back home also I help out with like in the cake shops occasionally. Yeah, just going to local businesses.
SEAN: Okay, so was there anyone who encouraged you to nurture your creativity? So I think you talked about your sisters.
ZOE: Definitely my sister still I think a little bit of my mom too, like I think my older sisters didn't have as much of the opportunity as much as I did–because I'm the youngest–to like go out and like experience as many things I did, so they pushed my mum to push me, to do different things, so I say my middle sister helped me.
She's a dancer, so she helped me, like continue on. I think the issue I had was consistency. I lacked consistency in the things I was passionate about like I would do it and then just not do it. So I think them holding me accountable for things really helped me just strive and just do better.
SEAN: Yeah I mean it's good that they kept you on the path. So describe the moment you fell in love with your passion or realized your passion.
ZOE: Well, I think the moment I probably fell in love with it was when. I think it was like lockdown.
ZOE: Yeah, lockdown was probably the most time, I think, because I had the time to do everything I wanted. I wasn't doing anything, so it was like might as well go back on things that I used to like or used to love or just learning new things about myself, and I think that was probably the time period where I was like most proud about the things that I was doing, like I was doing it for such a long time. But it started making me question whether was it something I like to do or was it something that my sister just pushed onto me which I just kind of just took from her, and then I realised that it was something that I like to do myself.
SEAN: You think that's anything to do with your cultural heritage?
ZOE: Like a little bit.
SEAN: When you come from like an ethnic background, cooking is such a big part of your like identity, so that makes sense. So is there any specific food or drink you like to consume whilst you're being cooked which is kind of crazy because you're baking.
ZOE: It’s crazy because I tend to not eat as much of the things I bake. I think I don't have the biggest sweet tooth, I'm a more savoury person, but I'll make sweet or savoury things. I think I like kind of giving things to others and seeing their expression, seeing how I could improve on that, as well as seeing how it just puts a smile on people's faces. I think seeing people happy with what I've given them makes me happy, so it doesn't want to make me eat as much. But I think something that I probably eat a lot is like Popworks, which is basically like a crisp popcorn, but without kernels.
SEAN: What do you mean?
ZOE: It's like a popcorn shaped like a crisp. So it's like sweet salty.
SEAN: Is that what you eat while baking?
ZOE: Yes, when I'm baking, I just like to snack on it. So I guess that's like something I eat a lot when I'm baking.
SEAN: I hear it. Well, that was my last question. Thank you for your time. Hope you enjoy the photo shoot.
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Photographers: Dante Richardson & Paolo
Photo editor: Dante Richardson
Photoshoot assistants: Hyla Etame, Vanessa Mbeko, & Jolanda Oruni
Interview editor: Hyla Etame
