Onyi Moss is a creative powerhouse known for her distinctive storytelling, blending visually compelling imagery with depth and emotion. She is a British-Nigerian photographer, filmmaker, and singer-songwriter based in Manchester, UK.
Born on August 16, 1986, in Abuja, Nigeria, Onyi was raised in a home where both art and intellect thrived. Her father was an accountant, while her mother, an artist with a passion for gardening, later transitioned into a career in law. Before that shift, Onyi was fortunate to be immersed in art, music, and nature—especially flowers, a theme that frequently appears in her work.
Growing up in Nigeria, Onyi saw firsthand how difficult it was for artists to thrive, as reflected in her mother’s experience. With this in mind, she made a calculated decision to study Accounting, earning a BSc in the field from Madonna University just before her 20th birthday. After graduation, she worked at a bank, saving nearly every penny to fund a new adventure abroad.
On her 22nd birthday, Onyi moved to the UK to pursue a career in finance. She qualified as a Chartered Accountant (ACCA) but struggled to secure relevant employment due to a lack of UK work experience. While searching for opportunities, she spent time binge-watching reality TV shows to take her mind off unemployment—a habit that would unexpectedly alter the course of her life.
One day, she stumbled upon Fashion Bloggers on E!, a show featuring women who told beautiful stories through imagery. This moment reignited her love for art, setting her on a new path. Instead of paying rent that month, Onyi made a bold choice: she bought a camera. Teaching herself photography through YouTube tutorials and hands-on practice, she honed her craft while working full-time in finance after eventually landing a job at a bank.
Balancing her day job with her growing passion, Onyi dedicated evenings and weekends to photography, sharing her work online. Before long, brands took notice and began commissioning her for content. By the summer of 2017, she made the leap into full-time creativity, leaving the corporate world behind.
Since then, Onyi has collaborated with luxury brands such as Gucci, Carolina Herrera, Giorgio Armani, Penhaligon’s London, and Viktor & Rolf. In 2019, she became a brand ambassador for Pandora UK and won Cosmopolitan’s Best Fashion Influencer Award.
Expanding her artistic expression, Onyi released her debut single, In Your Eyes, in January 2021, with an EP to follow. She also premiered her first film series, Black Women Are Soft Too, a powerful project that highlights the softness and humanity of Black women.
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