Fashion entrepreneur and style icon Nana Akua Addo has argued that she is the pacesetter of red carpet appearances among Ghanaian celebrities in the country.
Her argument comes in the wake of responding to a near decade remarks made by actress Yvonne Nelson about Ghanaian celebrities’ focus on red carpet appearances.
In an Instagram post shared on June 10, 2026, Nana Akua revisited comments Yvonne Nelson made in 2017, when the actress questioned why many Ghanaian celebrities seemed more concerned about making fashion statements on red carpets than promoting their professional work.
Referring to a July 24, 2017, article published by Modern Ghana under the headline, “Ghana celebrities only think of how to slay on red carpets,” Nana Akua claimed the criticism was largely aimed at her and others who invested significant effort into creating standout red carpet moments.
According to her, such efforts were often portrayed as superficial, attention-seeking, and lacking substance.
However, she argued that what was once criticised has now become an important part of the country’s creative economy.
“Interesting how perspectives evolve. On July 24, 2017, criticism was directed at me, red carpet fashion, and the effort creatives invested in ‘slaying’ and making bold statements on the carpet. It was framed as vanity, unnecessary attention-seeking, and misplaced priorities,” she wrote.
The fashion influencer observed that the same culture once frowned upon has now become widely accepted, with celebrities regularly arriving at events in elaborate designer outfits supported by stylists, photographers, makeup artists, and creative teams.
Nana Akua maintained that her commitment to creating memorable red carpet moments was never solely about fashion but about opening doors for professionals working behind the scenes in Ghana’s creative sector.
“When I boldly chose to show up differently, I wasn’t just dressing up; I was creating visibility for Ghanaian fashion, stylists, designers, makeup artists, photographers, creative directors, glam teams, and the broader creative and tourism economy,” she stated.
She explained that she recognised the commercial and branding potential of red carpet platforms long before many others did, describing them as valuable spaces for storytelling, marketing, and economic empowerment.
“I understood, long before many did, that the red carpet was more than appearances; it was business, branding, storytelling, economic opportunity, and job creation for young creatives,” she added.
Nana Akua also questioned why such initiatives attracted criticism in the past, only to gain widespread acceptance years later.
“Why was it dismissed then, only to be embraced now? Was it misunderstood? Was it easier to criticise someone else’s moment? Or perhaps the value simply wasn’t yet recognised,” she asked.
Despite her reflections, she welcomed the shift in attitude towards fashion and creative expression, suggesting that Ghana’s red carpet culture could have achieved even greater international recognition had industry players rallied behind it from the beginning.
“I walked so many could confidently run. Imagine how globally iconic Ghana’s red-carpet culture could have become if, instead of criticism, there had been collective support from the beginning,” she noted.
Nana Akua ended her message on a positive note by complimenting Yvonne Nelson and encouraging emerging creatives to remain confident in their talents.
“And yes, Yvonne, you looked beautiful. To the young creatives: stay inspired, believe in your craft, remain authentic, and dream boldly. Sometimes, the very thing people question today becomes the standard tomorrow,” she concluded.
