Dr. May Ikeora

Dr May Ikeora is an academic researcher, Author, an ex-beauty queen cum entrepreneur. Having worked across Africa and Europe at various levels, she is a specialist in Human Rights, Gender and Peacebuilding, consulting for organisations like the United Nations, African Union and the Kofi Annan Peacekeeping Institute. She gained a PhD in Law from the University of Hull, UK and has received numerous awards including with regards to her work within the African diaspora communities in the UK. May is the founder of Raising Women Initiative (RWI) famous for its Raising Girls Project and Summit. She remains committed to increasing the voices of girls towards becoming leading women in Africa and the diaspora. 

As an entrepreneur, May founded an organic & natural cosmetics company called L’Avyanna Skin Naturals, which is based in the UK and Nigeria. She possesses numerous beauty licenses from the U.K. including being a certified skincare formulator & tutor by Formula Botanica. She aims to grow L’Avyanna into a global brand for people of colour. Combining her experiences in beauty and the third-sector, she continues to advocate for the empowerment of young African women (through her Raising Girls Project) as well as improve the existing ethics in the beauty industry through her campaign “#My Colour My Heritage”