A Nigerian heiress, whose father is said to be one of the
world’s wealthiest men, has set her sights on becoming the next Rihana.
Ambimbola ‘Bim’ Fernandez, the
daughter of gemstone entrepreneur Antonio Deinde Fernandez, has celebrated the
release of her first single by sitting down for an interview with the New YorkPost.
The 24-year-old, who is based in
New York, told the paper that she has embarked on her career without the help
of her dad, who is reportedly worth a staggering $8.7 billion.
Speaking to the paper in her New
York City home, which is flanked by original artworks by Picasso and Dr Seuss,
Ms Fernandez explained: ‘I think that, unfortunately, everyone’s perception of
socialites has been pretty accurate so far, which is what I want to change.’ Continue...
Ms Fernandez’s first single ‘Let’s Take It Naked’ was
released today on SMH Records’ site, with an iTunes roll-out expected soon.
She cites Rihanna as one of her biggest musical
inspirations.
‘Money can’t buy a record deal,’ she said of her situation.
‘It can’t buy good music. You can either sing or you can’t.’
Her record label says that Ms Fernandez has not put any of
her own money into the music project.
Her father, 80, owns four residences: A mansion in
Larchmont, New York (where Ms Fernandez also resides), a home in Brussels, a
Palace in Nigeria, and a French chateau that was once owned by Napoleon.
He made his fortune by operating a series of diamond and
gold mines across the Central African Republic, and is notably reclusive for
fear of abduction and robbery.
He is so private that blog entries written about him across
the internet almost describe him as a mythical-type person. Figures regarding
his exact wealth, properties, and other assets appear to be widely rumored and
disputed.
Ms Fernandez’s starkly different outlook on publicity and
self-promotion has worried her father.
‘He’s terrified because I’m his baby - especially with [me]
revealing [my] wealth. And me being alone in the country, he’s terrified of
someone kidnapping me and holding me for ransom,’ she said.
‘He also just doesn’t want people taking advantage of me
because I have been sheltered my whole life.’
Last year, Ms Fernandez finally decided to see-out her
life-long dream of a singing career after her mother died of colon cancer.
Her only prior professional music experience was a vocal
cameo in Cobra Starship’s 2009 album Hot Mess – a feature she booked after
meeting the band’s lead singer Gabe Saporta backstage at a show.
In November, she signed her record deal with SMH and is now
topping off negotiations for her reality TV pilot to be picked up by a major
network.
Ms Fernandez herself sees its release as an opportunity to
prove her own potential.
‘People think I’m exactly like Paris Hilton, that I do
nothing, I don’t work for myself, I don’t take my own money, I just spend my
dad’s money, and I’m a spoiled brat. I hope they’re not right.’
