Temitope Maiyegun has lived everywhere from Nigeria to Vienna. Now Philly-local, she talks Kanye and candy.
Street: There is a Facebook group entitled “The REAL Temi Maiyegun.” Are you in fact the real Temi?
Temitope Maiyegun: If there’s a fake Temi, let me know! The group came about during the summer before my junior year, when people claimed there were two sides to me that people don’t get to see until they get to know me: the crazy and the evil. Although the pictures in this group may attempt to portray this, I really am sweet and not evil.
Street: Who’s the coolest person you’ve ever met?
TM: Johnny Knoxville at an airport in Paris. The best part was that I was wearing a Penn sweatshirt, and he didn’t mistake Penn for Penn State.
Street: What’s your guilty pleasure?
TM: Sourpatch Extreme and Guylian Chocolate (Belgian chocolate).
Street: What’s the soundtrack to your life?
TM: “The Good Life” by Kanye West.
Street: If your life were to be made into a movie, who would you want to play you?
TM: Mo’Nique. She is absolutely hilarious, and I think she would play me very well.
Street: What would the movie be called?
TM: Keepin’ it Real, ’cause I try to keep it as real as possible.
Street: You’re quite the busy bee on campus. What do you do to unwind after a long day of running Delta Sigma Theta, Onyx and UMOJA?
TM: Sleep, sing and Mad4.
Street: You usually go by Temi, the abbreviated version of your name. Are there any other abbreviations you like?
TM: Tem, Tem Tem, T, Tope, Epotimet.
Street: What’s the best part about being in Onyx?
TM: It gives me the status of being part of a super-intelligent bunch of Penn leaders, and I am given the opportunity to yell through campus anytime, “Onyx what, Onyx who, say it loud…”
Street: Your Facebook profile says you’re on the road to recovery from an addiction to candy. How is that going? Did you partake in any 12-step programs to help you?
TM: It is rather rough. I have relapsed about five times, but I am currently on step three, the detox process. I have never quite passed this stage, but I am hoping this is the time.
