It takes Fatima Bio only a moment to respond when asked what it was like to be an asylum seeker in London. 'Better than being married to an old pervert,' she says deadpan, before laughing - a reference to her father's plans to marry her off as a teenager.
A lot has changed since then. After becoming an actress, she met Julius Bio while interviewing him about influential Sierra Leoneans in the diaspora. He is now Sierra Leone's president.
As Sierra Leone's First Lady, Fatima Bio is seen as both a compelling and divisive figure. Young people view her as a refreshing voice for women and girls, while others criticize her involvement in politics. She has been booed and jeered at by MPs and faced backlash over a social media post featuring a notorious drug dealer, whom she claims to not know.
Fatima Bio's advocacy against child marriage stems from her own experience. By the age of 13, her father had arranged for her to marry a man in his 30s. However, with the onset of Sierra Leone's civil war, she escaped just before the wedding, seeking asylum in the UK. 'England was my amazing grace. I got my voice, my independence, and now I can fight for as many young people as possible,' she explains.
Living in a council flat in London, she has maintained her tenancy despite her prominent position, earning criticism given the long waiting lists for housing in the borough. However, she defends her situation, stating that she pays for her council house and is not committing any crime.
She passionately addresses women's issues, including period poverty, advocating for free sanitary products in schools and distributing free towels across Sierra Leone. Despite her energetic public persona, she faces scrutiny for overstepping the traditional, ceremonial role of a First Lady.
Fatima Bio's story represents a broader narrative of women's empowerment against a backdrop of Sierra Leone's complex socio-political landscape. As scrutiny regarding her wealth and power continues, analysts speculate about her potential political ambitions in the future.
A lot has changed since then. After becoming an actress, she met Julius Bio while interviewing him about influential Sierra Leoneans in the diaspora. He is now Sierra Leone's president.
As Sierra Leone's First Lady, Fatima Bio is seen as both a compelling and divisive figure. Young people view her as a refreshing voice for women and girls, while others criticize her involvement in politics. She has been booed and jeered at by MPs and faced backlash over a social media post featuring a notorious drug dealer, whom she claims to not know.
Fatima Bio's advocacy against child marriage stems from her own experience. By the age of 13, her father had arranged for her to marry a man in his 30s. However, with the onset of Sierra Leone's civil war, she escaped just before the wedding, seeking asylum in the UK. 'England was my amazing grace. I got my voice, my independence, and now I can fight for as many young people as possible,' she explains.
Living in a council flat in London, she has maintained her tenancy despite her prominent position, earning criticism given the long waiting lists for housing in the borough. However, she defends her situation, stating that she pays for her council house and is not committing any crime.
She passionately addresses women's issues, including period poverty, advocating for free sanitary products in schools and distributing free towels across Sierra Leone. Despite her energetic public persona, she faces scrutiny for overstepping the traditional, ceremonial role of a First Lady.
Fatima Bio's story represents a broader narrative of women's empowerment against a backdrop of Sierra Leone's complex socio-political landscape. As scrutiny regarding her wealth and power continues, analysts speculate about her potential political ambitions in the future.
