LAGOS, Nigeria – When Omolabake Fatayo, popularly known as “Labby,” applied for the 2017 Miss Nigeria Republic pageant, she had no way of knowing that she was embarking on a lifetime vocation. “I just wanted something new and something impactful,” she remembers. “I applied without hope, but winning the title transformed everything.”
And indeed, it did.
Nowadays, Labby is more than just a beauty queen. She is a media entrepreneur, influencer marketing specialist, and the founder of Labby Media, a 360° media agency. From her Lagos home base to her expanding presence in Canada, Labby has revolutionized what it means to influence, build, and inspire today. Her new business venture, Stravigo, promises to make a splash as a global creative marketing giant.
A Life Built on Vision and Discipline
Labby’s journey started in Ijebu Ode, Nigeria, where she grew up in a family of teachers. “My dad was a professor of Microbiology, and my mom is a teacher,” she says. “We read a lot, prayed a lot, and were brought up to be focused and independent.”
Her father passed away only a year ago, but his presence still lingers, etched into the quiet corners of her life, especially in the rows of awards he left behind. Their shelves, once simply part of the family home, now feel like a kind of shrine to his ambition and brilliance. “Our shelves were full of his awards,” she reflects. “I always looked at them and thought: one day, I want to build something like that of my own.”
Growing up mostly with her parents and sister, Labby also has a respectful relationship with her six step-siblings. “That blend of discipline, love, and purposeful living defined the woman I am today.”
The Pageant That Ignited Purpose
Her crowning as Miss Nigeria Republic in 2017 was not just a title; it was a turning point. “Being crowned had kicked me into a new chapter. My voice had power, and my choices carried value. I had an idea that I could make a difference to other people – not only with beauty, but with purpose.”
It was that moment that fueled her interest in media and storytelling, and she started blending her working experience in Mass Communication with her increasing public stage. From red carpet hosting to anchoring for national television (NTA), Labby soon placed herself at the crossroads of media, branding, and impact.
Labby Media: A Brand Beyond Aesthetics
Established soon after her pageant victory, Labby Media has become one of Nigeria’s most vibrant media agencies. “I didn’t want to be defined merely as a beauty queen,” she says. “I saw myself as a media personality, and that vision led to the birth of Labby Media.”
She describes the agency as a “360° media powerhouse,” combining influencer marketing, branding, advertising, and content production. “From online services to billboards, newspapers, YouTube, and a strategy unit – we’re all about taking ideas from ideation to execution.”
Labby Media is now the default agency for brand storytelling in a structured way, with a focus on sustainability over hype. “Visibility is wonderful, but structure creates sustainability. That’s what I provide talents and brands.”
Influencing With Integrity
In an age of cyberspace in which visibility tends to take precedence over authenticity, Labby never wavers in her principles. “I don’t share simply for likes. I share to show actual growth and connection,” she says. “Whether I’m sharing original products or sharing real stories, I ensure my content is original and honest.”
Labby collaborates exclusively with brands that resonate with her lifestyle and values, positioning herself as a face beyond just that: she is a strategist, a curator, and a mentor. “My name comes up not just because I’m liked, but because I bring impact.”
Her efforts have not passed without notice. She was recognized in 2024 as Social Media Influencer of the Year, something she considers not a summit, but a beginning. “It reaffirmed my path and challenged me to reach higher,” she explains. “I honor it, but I see it too as a starting place for more.”
Motherhood as Motivation
Labby’s experience also became a personal one when she had her daughter in Canada, a triumph she proudly shares with her readers. “Motherhood is viewed as a limitation, but for me, it was not,” she explains. “My baby is not a limitation, she’s my inspiration.”
It’s not been easy juggling motherhood and business, but she’s unapologetic about her method. “I worked harder, was more active, and didn’t demand special treatment. I breastfeed, I work, I deliver. Motherhood has raised my game.”
She’s also become an inspiration to other working mothers. “People ask me, ‘How do you do it?’ My response is straightforward: planning, structure, and being hands-on.”
Meet Stravigo: A New Era in Strategy and Creativity
While Labby Media reflects her personal brand and journey, Labby’s latest venture, Stravigo, is her boldest move yet. “Labby Media will always be my personal platform,” she says. “But Stravigo is bigger than me.”
Stravigo is a full-spectrum strategic and creative marketing agency, created to “transform ideas, products, and people into high-impact brands through brilliant stories, data-driven strategy, disruptive creativity, and flawless execution.”
With its eye on an international audience, Stravigo is the next chapter in Labby’s vision to bring media, impact, and purpose together. “As CEO, I invite partners who support the vision of creating a global, tech-savvy agency that shares stories that matter.”
Starting, Even When It’s Hard
Asked what she hopes readers will feel when they read her story, Labby responds without hesitation: “I want them to feel brave enough to begin, even if they’re afraid, uncertain, or feel invisible.”
Her journey wasn’t laid with certainty; but with bravery. “Purpose may not always emerge fully formed. It begins with a vision and one step. I didn’t know it all, but I kept being present.”
Stay Connected
Want to follow her creative journey or explore ways to collaborate? You can find her at:
Instagram – @labbymedia
X (Twitter) – @labbymedia
Labby Media – @labbymediaagency
LinkedIn – Omolabake Fatayo
Labby Media Official Website – Coming Soon
Stravigo Agency Launch Info – Coming Soon
