Linda Musiimenta, a fashion designer with Trendy Fashions is living her dream.

Having completed a one-year diploma in Fashion and Design at Kyambogo University, Musiimenta is already self-employed. During her senior six vacation in 2011, she wrote a one-page proposal to solicit support from designers to help her realise her fashion dream.

To Musiimenta, fashion is more than just talent, and she spoke to Racheal Ninsiima about it.

What did you want to be when you grew up?

A neurosurgeon! I had read Ben Carson's Gifted Hands and I told myself that I am going to study hard and be like him. Unfortunately, I was so poor at sciences. Seeing where I am today, I feel fulfilled although I am not yet there.

Tell me how you got into your line of work.

It started with my passion for art because of my ability to easily mix colours during my O-level at Mengo Senior Secondary School (2006-2009). In 2010, I travelled to Norway on a students' exchange programme for a fortnight and I realised that the Western world is moving towards African fashion. I carried on with art in A-level and it was one of my best performed subjects.

What inspired you?

The trip to Norway where I learnt to use resources I have to make something beneficial. We came up with annual fashion shows with charity causes attached to them.

During my S.6 vacation in December 2011, my friends and I developed a concept of connecting fashion and design with the community. It started with a family of a single mother of three with HIV. We held our first fashion show last April 13, with five other designers, and we raised funds to help the lady.

Have you worked with any big names in fashion?

We have had the privilege of working with the most talented fashion designers like Brenda Maraka and Raphael Kasule, which have helped us develop as individuals.

Memorable day at work.

We had almost cancelled our first fashion show a day before the event. Everything was not working out and when we sat as a 10-man committee, only three people were positive that it could turn out well. However, we pushed on and about 900 people turned up.

What have you learnt from work?

Three lessons; one is that people are the greatest resource you can ever have. Planning ahead of time is really important because then you have a plan you can follow, and I have learnt to take disappointments as inspirations to work harder.

Your role model?

When it comes to fashion, it is Marilyn Skinner, Pr Gary Skinner's wife, because of her tremendous fashion sense. And when it comes to business, it's my brother, Raymond Muhangi; he always encourages me to reach for my dreams even when the concept is vague. And my friends.

Philosophy in life.

Wow... If you set your mind to something, you can always achieve it.

How would you want to be remembered?

As someone who had a great fashion sense that she used to make people's lives better.

Who is the worst dresser according to you?

Hahahaha... that's tricky... but what I consider badly dressed may be fashionable to someone else. We had a teacher at school that would wear brown shoes, red socks, blue shirt and a Uganda flag tie.

Favourite outfit.

A dress

Most expensive thing in your closet.

Hmm... a Tommy Hilfiger perfume that was given to me as a gift.

How many pairs of shoes do you have?

Realistically speaking, 10.

What do you do for fun?

I watch lots of movies and my latest is After Earth by Will Smith. I also love woloksing (chatting) with my friends.

Worst thing you did that got you into trouble.

In P. 6 at Kitante primary school, I refused to be caned by my science teacher for not getting above 70 per cent. I instead escaped from school and I poured sand on one side of the uniform in order to convince my aunt something bad had happened to me. I wore jeans beneath my uniform the next morning and the teacher told me to choose between getting caned and getting demoted to P. 5. I chose to go back to P.5 but another teacher bailed me out and I was given one stroke.

If given a chance, would you enter Big Brother?

(Laughter) No, I wouldn't. It's not my kind of thing.

One thing that drives you crazy

In fact they are two: one is dishonesty and people who litter the environment, like those who throw banana peels out of car windows.

Share one silliest and funniest status you have put up on a social networking site.

Hmmm (long thought). I one time took a photo with my best friend's sister's baby and updated it as my WhatsApp photo. I received loads of comments so much that I had to remove it after a few hours.

When you meet God, what would you want to say to Him?

Thank you.