It’s hard to describe the first impression a person gets when meeting Kenyan musician Avril. The press has circulated so many versions of her that there’s no clear way to tell which one is true, if any. The side of her that a lot of people don’t get to see is “Nyambura”. Avril reveals that her role as “Mis B’have”, in the upcoming MTV youth television drama “Shuga II”, gives her fans the chance to see this side of her.

Avril also describes the experience as being therapeutic, because it allowed her to feel emotions that she relates to. She admits that she had forgotten how serious HIV is to her and her generation. “The youth have become lax and lost sight of their goals, because of overindulgence in alcohol, which goes hand in hand with casual sex. The lesson definitely needs to be re-emphasized,” the singer-actress says.

Since her debut in the music industry in 2006, Avril’s career has grown beyond expectation by featuring songs that have an uncanny ability to stick in your head all day. She is most in her element during a performance. That’s when the magic happens, and Avril's personality jumps out of her petite frame and drives fans wild. “For me it’s all about the energy I give off to the crowd because that’s what I'll get back. So, even when I stand in front of a corporate crowd, I make sure they are as excited as I am. Nothing scares me when I’m on stage,” she admits.

Avril is as bold in her fashion choices as in the music she makes. Her stage attire -- little shorts and ripped-up stockings – is designed to shock, adding to her projected persona. She also translates this style to her everyday outfits, wearing custom-made designs from budding Kenyan designers. Avril favors those who are bold enough to venture beyond safe fashion trends. While some may admire the singer-actress's bold sexuality, many critics think she should tone things down.

Avril responds, “I make no apologies for celebrating my femininity, and I don’t intend on stopping anytime soon.”

The nude picture scandal that rocked the tabloids late last year is still fresh in many gossip columns and in Avril’s mind. “With the help of my mother and a genuine group of friends, I weathered the storm and got back to focusing on my career,” she reveals.

Headstrong determination and business tenacity fuel her current staying power in the entertainment industry. The love-hate affair that Avril has with the press isn’t as icy as people would think. The performer holds no grudges against the media, because the situation she is in comes with the territory. She elaborates, “I decided to be mature by accepting being in control of my destiny, and not by [accepting] opinions that cannot be controlled.”

When Avril isn’t ruffling feathers in the entertainment world, she pursues a cause close to her heart. The singer-actress has lost two close family members to cancer, and has decided to partner with the Aga Khan Hospital and the Kenya Cancer Foundation to host regular screenings throughout the year, not just in October.

“I have seen firsthand the way many young people live life too fast on a primarily fast food diet, which leads to the dwindling health of younger generations and higher cases of cancer for this generation.”

The year seems promising for the budding starlet, and hopefully it will match her bold signature style for life.

Catch Avril in the “3 Punches” section of UP Magazine’s February issue.