A Split-Second Changed The Life Of This Poor Bread Seller Forever

A Split-Second Changed The Life Of This Poor Bread Seller Forever

TY Bello

It seems like a fairy tale, a dream come true that could only be explained by perfect timing.

You often hear about destiny taking the reigns of a single, person's life and whisking them along into a life that is completely foreign to the one they were living mere moments before. This is exactly what happened to Olajumoke (Jumoke) Orisaguna, a humble bread seller living in Lagos, Nigeria.

The 28-year-old mother of two had moved to Lagos with one of her children to better provide for her family. Before selling bread in the streets of Lagos, she had trained as a hairdresser. She met her husband, Sunday Orisaguna and married in 2010.

One day, she was walking through the streets, selling her wares. Little did she know, the flash of renowned photographer, Ty Bello's camera changed Jumoke's fortunes forever...

At the time of that fateful photograph, Bello was shooting images of UK popstar Tinie Tempah when Jumoke wandered into the frame.

"She seemed a little confused," Bello told CNN. "Some people were asking her to walk past really quickly, others were asking her to stay, she was just in limbo. I said 'is it ok to take your photograph?' And she nodded ok."

Bello was sure that the image wouldn't get much attention, but after the images were posted on social media, she was overwhelmed by the response.

"No one believed she just walked past. It occurred to me that if everyone thought she should be a model then maybe she should be one, then the search for her began."

After appealing to followers on social media, Jumoke was finally tracked down and offered a modeling contract. Bello arranged for Orisaguna's portrait to be featured on the cover of Style magazine.

Within months, Jumoke was featured in a high fashion photoshoot with her youngest child, 14-month-old Grace.

The mother of two was certainly born under a lucky star. Since gaining her modeling contract, she has been given a scholarship to complete her education and a bank will pay for her children's schooling until university age.

"I never expected this would ever happen to me," Jumoke told CNN, "My friends have told me they saw me on the TV and they are really happy. My parents cannot believe their own child can become such a success. They are all so happy."

"Everyone connected with the story because everybody has dreams," says Bello. "... I think this is definitely divine because the way people have connected with it is just phenomenal. It's a phenomenal story."

[h/t CNN / Metro / SoShareThis]