Style Princess, Drama Queen, Lazy and Fake: those are all titles that Ify has been labelled with but ask me about her and I will tell you she is one of the best things about Big Brother Nigeria. She gave us entertainment with her sexy dancing, her singing (or her lack of talent in it), the
“Are they? Are they not?” romance with K-black as well as her fashion, beauty and spirited nature!!!
I spoke to this 2nd runner up of BBN on a quiet Tuesday night and it was one of the best interviews I've done....so much laughter, giggles and a whole lot of talking from the Style Princess.
BS: Hi Ify, how are you?
Ify: Hi, I am fine thank you. How are you and South Africa, Oh I miss it so much!!!BS: South Africa’s great, just cold. Did you have a good time when you were here?
Ify: Oh! Yes, it was fantastic; the people were so friendly and warm. I really had a lot of fun and I miss it but it was cold, I remember when we went to Club Uhuru I did not bring a jacket and when we left the club, I was freezing cold!
Brown Shuga: Before we even start with the interview, I have to tell you about a dream I had last night. I don’t know, maybe I dreamt about you because I was preparing for this interview etc but I dreamt I was in Nigeria, attending your wedding!!! Did Mudi propose or was it just a dream??
Ify: (Giggling) No he didn’t, but I’m keeping my fingers crossed for that one….
BS: Yeah gal, I hope it happens too. I hear he came with you guys to SA?
Ify: Yes, he hadn’t been to SA before so he decided that he was going to come with us so he could see the place. BS: So, it had nothing to do with Katung?
Ify: (Giggles again) No no no no!!!
BS: So what made you enter Big Brother?
Ify: I’ve always loved reality shows and I thought I had a neck for it so when I heard about BBN, I applied, went to audition and luckily I was selected.
BS: What exactly were you doing before you went into the house, because all we read is that you were an entrepreneur?
Ify: I worked for an IT company in Client Liaison.
BS: So did you have to resign from your job to go into the BBN house?
Ify: I actually resigned shortly before I was called to the house but it was because I wanted to start my own business in line with my fashion & beauty interests!!
BS: I have always wondered about this, who pays your bills when you go into the Big Brother house? (I was obviously thinking about my truworths & Foschini accounts here)
Ify: Well, In Nigeria we normally pay upfront e.g. pay in advance for 2 years so you don’t have to worry about monthly payments. For example my stuff was paid off and my electricity is pre-paid so the only thing I pay monthly is my phone. BS: So, do you intend to stay in the public eye?
Ify: Yes, probably for the next 2 years or so, it’s been great really. I’m still trying to get used to it actually. I would meet people for example and they’d tell me they used to watch me wake up in the morning, take my time to get ready and apply make up, and I'd go wow!! It's amazing really. BS: Talking about make up, I was actually disappointed that we only met at the club, was hoping you’d do my make up just once while you were here..
Ify: Ah, don’t worry, the next time I come to SA, we’ll hook up and I’ll do your make up for you.. 
BS: Thank you gal!! So you’ve been feeling a lot of love from the public?
Ify: Oh Yes! Especially in South Africa, the people were amazing! BS: Of course, you were a favourite with South Africans because they thought it was easier to hear what you were saying than the other housemates. On the other hand Nigerians had a problem with your “accent”.
Ify: Yes, I couldn’t understand it because this is how I speak and I’ve been speaking like this for years. I was just taught to speak properly that’s all. I mean I went into the house to give the world a different image about Nigeria. I wanted to be heard and to be seen and represent Nigeria as best as I could.
Instead of appreciating all that, people were criticising an accent. Their comments did not change me though; I am still the same person. They have actually gotten used to me because they meet and talk to me and I still sound the same. But I guess people are entitled to their own opinions.
BS: Some viewers did stand up for you to say, it is not possible for someone to fake an accent everyday for 3 months.
Ify: Exactly, I guess if people see potential in a person, they just want to drag you through the mud. Big Brother was a big platform for me and I am sure that I am still going very far!!
I’m sure if it weren’t for the way I speak or the way I presented myself in the auditions, I would not have been selected as a housemate. I mean even when I do interviews, people tell me that I should be in Public Relations because I am such a good communicator.
I just think people should look beyond an accent and see what’s inside the person. Look at who is Ify, what has she got to offer. BS: Well said Sista! Talking about going places, I am so! in agreement that you are going far coz you are still going to release your single as well?
Ify: My single?
BS: Yes (I start singing)
♫U Modify me,
U Modify me♫
Ify: (She laughs hysterically and joins me in the song)
♫You make me go ah ah ah♫ 
BS: What were the highlights of your trip to SA?
Ify: Everything, the cold was the only low point of my visit but Soweto was so amazing!! I loved Soweto it was so different from what we’d heard about it. Come to Nigeria and you will see what slumps are here.
We even went to a bar in Soweto, the experience was amazing, I figured out; rather not judge a place until you’ve been there because people had painted an ugly picture of Soweto, crime etc. Actually a friend of mine was mugged in Soweto so she just told us about how bad it is.
BS: That could have happened anywhere really
Ify: Yes, all in all I had a wonderful time in your country. BS: Sounds like you’d jump at an opportunity to relocate here?
Ify: Oh Yes! It is a beautiful place. South Africa actually changed my way of thinking and my perspective on life. I am now out of the box that I was in, it had broadened my horizon and encouraged me to accept and want to work hard. BS: Wow! I am touched, all these wonderful things being said about my home! Tell me about the Dublin trip you won, when are you going?
Ify: I pushed it back to September. 
BS: Oh! How thoughtful, you wanted to give me enough time to organise my VISA?
Ify: (Laughs) Yes, Yes, Yes, please please come with me!!!!! BS: Take a number gal!
Seriously though, I heard you are planning on taking your brother? When we all thought you’d be taking Mudi, how sweet of you!
Ify: Yes, I just thought it’d be a nice way to thank my brother for being there for me. Mudi is coming with us though so it will be nice. BS: Ok, where does this brother get all this money from???? He’s going all over the world with you!!
Ify: It’s not that he has a lot of money, he makes sacrifices. He’s sacrificed a lot for me and he’s been there for me through thick and thin. He’s really a wonderful man.
BS: He’s a lucky man too and after everything that you went through in the house there should be no doubt in his mind that you love him.
Ify: Oh Yes he knows!! BS: But I’m sure it was not easy for him to see some of the things that happened in the house with you and Katung. What did he say to you about that?
Ify: Yes it was not easy but he is mature and he understands me and we discussed it.
BS: For the record, if I were in your shoes, locked in a house with Katung for all that time, damn I would have done the same!!!
Ify: Yeah, the thing is, that could have happened to anyone! Mudi and I sat down and talked about this and he said he now understands me better as he had an opportunity to see me from a different perspective. Now he appreciates little things about me that he took for granted.
BS: Oh, I am really happy to hear that you guys are ok!!! Some of your housemates acted after they left the house; will you be doing the same?
Ify: No, I don’t really like acting; I’m more into presenting, the media but not acting. BS: Were you also on Oboma for the interview with the housemates?
Ify: Yes, it was fantastic!! I have always to be on Channel O and it was live so really it was great and the response from the public was nice. It was my first time on a live TV show!!
BS: Speaking about Channel O, did you see Katung’s hour on Crush?
Ify: No, they gave him a full hour? BS: Yes, I thought wow!! He is the IT!! They covered parts of your trip to SA and they showed you guys arriving at Johannesburg international Airport, you in your gorgeous pink outfit!!
Ify: Wow, I wish I’d seen it. 
BS: What project are you busy with currently, besides the travelling?
Ify: We haven’t really had a chance to settle down with all this travelling and interviews but I’m trying to set up my business and get into the media. BS: What’s in your CD player right this minute?
Ify: My favourite artist at the moment is Zamajobe (I don’t really know how to pronounce it but she sings: BS: Your favourite TV program?
Ify: Entertainment Channel!! BS: Why am I not surprised!!
BS: Who do you think is the sexiest TV star?
Ify: Halle Berry and George Clooney, I like George Clooney, he commands respect and he is so charismatic!! BS: Who would you rather be stuck in a lift with?
Ify: Mudiaga!!! BS: What advice would you give to anyone who’s about to go for their Big Brother auditions anywhere in the world?
Ify: Believe in yourself, believe in simplicity. Be yourself and just keep it simple. BS: Do you really think being yourself is enough when you’re audition for a chance to win $100 000?
Ify: You have to believe in yourself and portray yourself the best way you can.
BS: Before we wrap u I must say, I really miss your Friday night fights with Katung! I’d always be in a hurry for everybody to go to bed so I could watch you two.
Ify: (Laughs) Oh!! We were just being ourselves, you know, trying to be normal while cautions of the camera and knowing at the back of your mind that somewhere out there people are watching you… BS: Well we were watching alright! I really wanna say thank you for entertaining me for 3 full months, it was fun watching you.
Ify: Oh! Thank you very much and I will call you soon coz I would like to visit South Africa again. BS: You’re more than welcome; I look forward to hosting you. Thanks for your time.
Ify: It’s been a great pleasure, thank you.