As the Sub-Saharan Africa ambassador for L’Oréal Paris, the actress is moving with intention in the new year: softer, surer and beautifully aligned. Elevating the conversation around beauty with purpose, she is choosing projects and partnerships that reflect the woman she’s becoming - embracing her power, growth, and the lessons that shaped her.
How would Ama describe her 2026 energy in one word? “Resilient,” she says. “I think I’ve had a lot of hard things happen to me in 2025, and I feel like I’ve been able to push through it.” When I catch up with her on set it is just after she has shared a heartwarming moment with her mother, who was there to support her. “I know my mom is not someone who does these kinds of things, so for her to show up for me this way really means a lot,” she says. “I lost my dad in August but I think the fact that I’m able to be here, and even have this moment with my mom, means a lot.” Ama seems a lot lighter since she last graced our cover in 2024; there’s a renewed, almost luminous energy about her.
I’m curious, so I ask what she’s let go of in the time between who she was when she entered the industry and the woman she’s becoming now. “Perfection,” she says without hesitation. “I’ve learnt that a lot of the magic, a lot of the discovery, happens in the mistakes and the failings. That’s when you actually learn something about yourself.” Ama’s ethos, “never a failure, always a lesson”, has helped her let go of trying to be perfect or to excel at everything. Speaking with a calm honesty, she affirms that it’s okay to fall sometimes. “They say if you’re down, the only way is up. There are moments where I realise, oh, I can do this, I can do that.” One such moment was her standout runway debut with L’Oréal Paris in Paris. Walking with a confidence that filled the room, she embodied the iconic “You’re Worth It” brand mission with an ease and conviction that signalled not just growth, but alignment. “It was just incredible! I think I was so focused, like, okay, I’m working ! I go into this mode where I don’t really take in everything that’s happening around me.
Leaning towards a purpose-driven life, Ama relies on her intuition to choose the right opportunities. “Does it feel aligned to who I am, what I’m trying o build? I also think about having goals and knowing what I want and where I want to go.” What does that look like when she has a script in front of her? What does it need to feel like for her to know that it’s purpose-led? “It’s so crazy. I’ve read some good scripts and I’ve read scripts I was sceptical about. But then I have a conversation with the director and I understand the vision.” As she embraces her evolution, Ama is determined to continue telling meaningful stories. That might take a different form than what we’re used to seeing: “I think the trajectory of what I’m trying to do with my career is definitely behind the camera,” she says. Does this mean we’ll no longer be seeing her on our screens? “I’ll still be in front of the camera but I’d like to have more autonomy in my work. So, I’ll be producing and writing. I’ve definitely stepped into that chapter in my life.” Considering that she’s constantly improving and growing, what genres or characters does she believe could stretch and challenge her next, in ways that feel aligned with who she’s becoming? “There’s this character I’m working on right now. It’s been very interesting because she’s so different to me; that scared me in the beginning, but the more I research, the more I embody her. It’s exciting because I’m tapping into different elements of myself.” “I’m embracing even imperfections because this character is so imperfect,” she continues. “I think, it’s sometimes so “I think, it’s sometimes so easy for us to embrace the good qualities of ourselves but then we see the negative ones as ‘bad’ and try to push them away. But, no, that’s part of who you are and that’s okay. Make room for it”
For many artists, legacy is a significant aspect of how they move through their careers. At 27 years old, Ama thinks more about the impact and purpose she can have — especially for women in Africa and its diaspora. “I hope that, in whatever I do, I will make women from this continent proud. I hope they feel seen through me,” she says, further commenting on the incredible surge of African talent that’s being recognised worldwide. For her, stepping into the global beauty family of L’Oréal Paris has been a pivotal opportunity. “Wow! It’s been great,” Ama enthuses. “It’s been really great that I get to join such an impactful brand. What I love about them is that it’s not just about beauty, it’s focusing on purpose and redefining what beauty means. It’s not just about how you look but how you show up in the world and what values you carry.” Weighing in further on L’Oréal Paris’ brand mission, she asserts that it’s powerful in today’s beauty landscape. “It’s in everything I do. As a person, to know that I’m worth it is powerful.” Representing African women on a global stage as the Sub-Saharan Africa ambassador for L’Oréal Paris is not only a remarkable achievement, it’s also a responsibility she doesn’t take lightly. “Growing up, a woman who looked like me wasn’t necessarily considered the beauty standard. To be able to carry this title is special for me. It’s about redefining what beauty means and also who gets to be seen."
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