Omawumi recounts how she was body-shamed as a child

Omawumi Megbele, the Nigerian singer, has recounted how she was body-shamed throughout her childhood.

In an Instagram post on Monday, the 39-year-old said she was called several names at the time due to the size of her head.

Omawumi disclosed that the derogatory remarks eventually took a toll on her as she started seeing herself as imperfect.

“I was one of those kids they used to call ‘hammer headed’, ‘Ogorstina’ and ‘Ekpengbe forehead’… In fact one of my aunts used to call me ‘Beauty’, she said she was using it to prophecy into my life that I will be pretty someday,” she wrote.

“Well, there was a time I allowed it get to me, there was a time that I couldn’t step out without being heavily decked up in makeup. I would do all manners of things to hide my flaws because I felt imperfect.”

The ‘Bottom Belle’ crooner said she, however, managed to overcome the trauma.

Omawumi also said she is now in love with her herself and remains unperturbed by people’s perceptions about her.

“Now the only thing that has changed is that I’m madly in love with my imperfect me, with my ekpengbe forehead, with my knock knees, with my cellulites and stretch marks like map of Africa!” she added.

“I’m in love with my skin and everything within… And guess what? I can still decide to change or hide a flaw because that too is ok!

“What I won’t do is allow anybody’s perception of me direct the decisions I make for myself. I am Beautiful…You are beautiful too!”