Lupita: How many years a mannequin?

I love Lupita.

Heck, she has even starred in my dreams on more than one occasion. Her cameo appearances in my slumberland have had nothing to do with fashion.

As such, I will have to admit from the onset that I am probably ill-equipped to make any judgement call on her wardrobe or makeup kit.

In any case, I have never been an expert in women’s clothes and will not pass this off as a specialist’s opinion.

But we can all agree that life has been good for Senator Anyang’ Nyong’o's daughter in the Land of Dreams. Hers is a classic case of the American Dream.

From her floor-sweeping all-white Prada stunner at the Toronto Film Festival that could be said to have started her stranglehold on American fashion; through the breakthrough Golden Globe Awards’ Ralph Lauren red cape that inculcated an almost fervent fascination with her looks; to the climax of Nairobi-blue flowing ‘tent’ that did little to flatter her figure; she was transformed into a blue-eyed poster girl. She became every designer’s ideal model.

All this because of her acclaimed execution of the role of Patsey in 12 Years A Slave. All of a sudden, her net worth is being bandied as ranging as low as $50 million and as high as $75 million .

For a reserved girl, who a few years ago probably rummaged through mtumba like the rest of Kenyans, It can be overwhelming...and distracting.

You see, it all started with 12 Years A Slave’s book/ movie, and since then, our daughter has been more of a fashion icon than a movie star.

The number of red carpets she has been blazing and fashion shoots she has attended are more than the movie scripts she has looked at.

That is my worry. It is what could eventually lead to the rude awakening.

That the American Dream can quickly turn into a global nightmare is something that is well-documented.

Lupita has played dress-up long enough and it is time she started scouring through more scripts and spent less time mulling over the content of her closet.

When Miu Miu tapped her to be one of its Spring 2014 campaign faces, it was because of her celebrity status.

Because of her movie appearance in 12 Years A Slave. Only more stellar performances in box office smashers can guarantee that status, and hence more endorsements, sans that and all the glitter and glitz soon fizzle out.

If we are to be really, brutally honest, a golden statuette for a supporting role does not send Hollywood into a dazed spin.

It is not an assurance for more roles, neither does it qualify you as a consummate actor. Thankfully, Brad Pitt has taken her under his Plan B Entertainment wings.

Of her upcoming projects, I am only looking forward to the Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens, which is now at the post-production stage awaiting release sometime this year.

Her role in Chimanda Ngozi-inspired Americanah could bump her ratings, but I am not holding my breath. No movie has ever done any justice to a good book.

Meanwhile, I consider her appearance in Queen Katwe, currently in pre-production for a 2016-release date to be stereotypical. But this is good nonetheless.

All I wish for, all I want to see, is Lupita being the star we all know she is — not some glorified mannequin for designers to relive their childhood days of prettying up exotic dolls!

TWITTER: @omondipaul