Abimbola Fernandez facts for kids

Darnel Abimbọla "Bim" Fernandez (born May 25, 1989) is a French-born American singer and the daughter of a Nigerian billionaire and ambassador, Antonio Deinde Fernandez. In 2014, she gained attention as the singer for the band Pink Grenade. The band released two music videos that received millions of views online but also caused a lot of discussion. She left the record label later that year.

Early Life and Education

Abimbola Fernandez was born in a suburb of Paris, France. Her father, Antonio Deinde Fernandez, was a well-known billionaire from Lagos State in Nigeria. The Fernandez family line has roots in the early 19th century, tracing back to a Portuguese-Brazilian trader who started a family in Lagos.

Bim's mother was an African-American woman named Sandra Inett Price, who took the name Aduke Fernandez. Bim was the second daughter born to the couple. Her father was a descendant of the Olumegbon noble family, a ruling house in Lagos.

After Bim was born, her family lived for a short time at the famous Hotel Ritz Paris. They later moved to a large home called the Chateau de Bois-Feuillette in Pontpoint, France.

Moving to America and Scotland

The family then moved to New York. Her father bought a historic home called the All View Estate in New Rochelle. Bim started learning the violin when she was four years old. At age six, she attended the Rye Country Day School and later went to the Convent of the Sacred Heart in Connecticut.

When she was 10, her family moved to Edinburgh, Scotland. There, she attended Fettes College. At 13, she began playing the guitar. After graduating from Fettes at 18, she took classes at The Art Institute of New York City. In 2009, she enrolled at Oxford Brookes University in England but left after a month to focus on her music career. Her father did not approve of this decision at the time.

Because of her father's work, many world leaders visited their home, including Pope John Paul II, George H. W. Bush, Kofi Annan, and Nelson Mandela.

In 2003, while Bim was at school in Scotland, her parents separated. Their divorce became a major news story.

Career in Fashion and Music

As a teenager, Bim Fernandez modeled for the famous designer Vivienne Westwood during Edinburgh Fashion Week. She also inherited a large collection of designer clothing from her mother, including pieces from Givenchy, Chanel, and Oscar de la Renta.

Starting Her Music Career

Bim began writing songs on her guitar as a teen. She became friends with members of bands like Forever the Sickest Kids and Gabe Saporta from Cobra Starship. In 2009, she sang backup vocals on Cobra Starship's song "Nice Guys Finish Last." She also appeared on the cover of their successful album Hot Mess and their single "Good Girls Go Bad".

Using the stage name Madame Luxe, she worked with other musicians. She was the singer on the song "Painting the Sky" by the artist Draper. The song was released on an EP in 2012.

She also worked with the DJ group Cash Cash, singing on their songs "Tongue Twister" and "We Don't Sleep at Night." These appeared on the Japanese version of their album The Beat Goes On.

Pink Grenade and Solo Work

In 2013, Bim Fernandez signed with SMH Records. The record label formed a band called Pink Grenade with her as the lead singer and guitarist. She co-wrote the songs "Let's Take It ..." and "Lipstick."

In 2014, the band released music videos for these songs. The videos were very popular, getting millions of views in just one week. However, they were also seen as provocative and were removed from some websites. The songs were part of the Pink Grenade album Fear of a Pink Planet.

Fernandez left SMH Records in November 2014.

Personal Life

Bim's mother passed away from colon cancer in May 2013. This sad event made Bim more determined to succeed in music, which had been her mother's wish for her. For a few years, her father had stopped supporting her financially because he did not agree with her career choice, but her mother had always encouraged her.

When her father died in September 2015, Bim posted many family photos and loving messages about him on her Instagram account. After his death, there were disagreements within the family about his final wishes.