The reality star made headlines after stepping out in a gown reportedly constructed from 500 loaves of bread, a bold fashion statement that quickly went viral across social media and entertainment platforms.
“I didn’t make the dress” — Queen clarifies designer role
In a BBC interview, Atang clarified that she was not involved in the creation of the outfit, attributing the design to renowned fashion designer Toyin Lawani and her fashion house, Tiannah Empire.
“First of all, I was not the one who made the dress. Tianah Empire, the king of fashion, made it. It is just for me to get the clothes ready to put on,” she said.
She explained that fittings and adjustments took several weeks, with multiple sessions required to ensure the unconventional design could actually be worn.
Pain, weight, and a difficult red carpet moment
Beyond the visual spectacle, Atang described the dress as physically overwhelming, saying the weight almost caused her injury during the event.
She revealed that the outfit left her with a serious back wound and that she struggled to remain composed while wearing it.
“But for me, the weight of the dress almost broke my waist. If you check my back… I have a serious wound there,” she said. “I literally cried while wearing that dress. I first said I needed to catch my breath.”
According to her, the discomfort was so intense that she had to remove the outfit shortly after putting it on in order to breathe properly before wearing it again.
“The first few seconds after wearing the dress, I had to take it off and cried a lot. Then later, I told them I was ready to wear it again,” she added.
Fashion statement tied to business promotion
Atang also explained that the concept behind the outfit was not purely artistic but also tied to promotional strategy, as the design was meant to subtly highlight her business interests.
She said she initially had no intention of attending the AMVCA that year, having focused on personal business goals, but was later persuaded by her stylist to show up with a more striking appearance.
“I did not plan on going for this year’s AMVCA before… AMVCA was not in my dictionary this year,” she said.
Her designer reportedly encouraged her to avoid a simple outfit, insisting instead on a bold look that would stand out at the event.
Late arrival, viral moment, and unexpected attention
Despite arriving after the red carpet had closed, Atang said she still made it a priority to appear physically at the event rather than simply posting photos online.
“I wanted to go to the event physically even after the red carpet had closed. I did not want to post the picture online alone, so people would not say it was AI-generated,” she said.
She admitted she did not anticipate the level of attention the outfit eventually received, noting that while she expected mixed reactions, she was surprised by the widespread media coverage.
“I did not expect my dress to go viral like this. I expected people would have mixed feelings about it. But I noticed that major news outlets reported it,” she concluded.