Karen Igho is synonymous with
Big Brother Africa Amplified, having emerged winner of the show in 2011. She
spoke with Reporter, Lukmon Akintola, on the various negative speculations in
her life, how she spent her winnings from the show and what led to her being
assaulted at a recently gig.
Big Brother Africa Amplified, having emerged winner of the show in 2011. She
spoke with Reporter, Lukmon Akintola, on the various negative speculations in
her life, how she spent her winnings from the show and what led to her being
assaulted at a recently gig.
You are back to work as a salaried staff. How did you spend your
winnings from the Big Brother Africa show?
winnings from the Big Brother Africa show?
I built a house for my mother. I built another for my
grandmother and I invested. Presently, I am working to make more money.
grandmother and I invested. Presently, I am working to make more money.
You have your hands in a lot of projects, including acting,
programme presentation and a clothe line. How do you manage all these?
programme presentation and a clothe line. How do you manage all these?
The list comprises the different things I do. I have people who
coordinate them and the ones I have to do personally I do. Karenified, my
clothe line, is still there. Last year, I rushed the first collection to meet
with my birthday because I wanted to raise fund for an orphanage which I wanted
to visit. My plan in future is to make it bigger. Now, I am taking my time and
getting to understand the creative side of me better because I want it to
reflect in the designs.
coordinate them and the ones I have to do personally I do. Karenified, my
clothe line, is still there. Last year, I rushed the first collection to meet
with my birthday because I wanted to raise fund for an orphanage which I wanted
to visit. My plan in future is to make it bigger. Now, I am taking my time and
getting to understand the creative side of me better because I want it to
reflect in the designs.
You recently ventured into acting. What motivated it?
I took a summer course in acting and tried my hands in some
works while I was in school. That experience improved my confidence in acting
and programme presentation which are some of the things I now do.
works while I was in school. That experience improved my confidence in acting
and programme presentation which are some of the things I now do.
You are quite close to Denrele. What is the nature of your
relationship?
relationship?
I met Denrele in 2008. Then, I had just come back from the
United Kingdom and my cousins invited me to his birthday party. We met there
and exchanged contacts and became friends. He is very instrumental to where I
am today and I am very grateful to him.
United Kingdom and my cousins invited me to his birthday party. We met there
and exchanged contacts and became friends. He is very instrumental to where I
am today and I am very grateful to him.
But there is a rumour that you are dating?
The rumour started as a joke and it went viral. Denrele is
basically my brother and friend.
basically my brother and friend.
Do you have marriage on your agenda?
I won’t go and start looking for a man who will marry me, would
I? Let’s just say I am waiting for God’s time, but I am still working on my
career and I intend to build a brand before marriage.
I? Let’s just say I am waiting for God’s time, but I am still working on my
career and I intend to build a brand before marriage.
What would your ideal man be like?
He must be a God-fearing man to start with. I also like down to
earth people. The chemistry must also be strong because that matters a lot.
earth people. The chemistry must also be strong because that matters a lot.
This is not a description one would have expected from a lady
who is described as being wild?
who is described as being wild?
Well, looks can be deceptive.
What project are you working on at the moment?
I am working as one of the cast of a new movie which is yet to
be titled. I have also been invited to be part of a soap opera which will be
hitting the screen soon.
be titled. I have also been invited to be part of a soap opera which will be
hitting the screen soon.
You were recently assaulted at an event. What really happened?
I was actually invited to an event by Denrele Edun. I attended
in company of a friend and my bouncer. The short version of the story is that I
was slapped by a policeman in uniform. It is a shame that a man would descend
so low as to hit a woman because no man is allowed to do that.
in company of a friend and my bouncer. The short version of the story is that I
was slapped by a policeman in uniform. It is a shame that a man would descend
so low as to hit a woman because no man is allowed to do that.
Can you give us the long version?
I got to the event and parked, but the policeman said he was
saving the space for someone and that if I was not going to give him money, I
should park somewhere else. I told him to let me go to the event and return.
When I got back, I saw that my car had been blocked. He allowed someone else
park behind me because I did not give him money. When I told him that I wanted
to leave and that he should help me look for the owner of the car, he told me
he wasn’t working for me. I think the man did not really know who I was. He
said he would slap me if I was rude to him and before I knew it, he hit me. My
jaw shifted and my face was swollen for a week. Interestingly, he even
threatened to shoot if anyone helped me. He later fled the scene when he saw
people were about to intervene.
saving the space for someone and that if I was not going to give him money, I
should park somewhere else. I told him to let me go to the event and return.
When I got back, I saw that my car had been blocked. He allowed someone else
park behind me because I did not give him money. When I told him that I wanted
to leave and that he should help me look for the owner of the car, he told me
he wasn’t working for me. I think the man did not really know who I was. He
said he would slap me if I was rude to him and before I knew it, he hit me. My
jaw shifted and my face was swollen for a week. Interestingly, he even
threatened to shoot if anyone helped me. He later fled the scene when he saw
people were about to intervene.
You were harassed in front of your bouncer and he did not do
anything?
anything?
My bouncer had been discharged to go home before it all
happened. If he was there, it would not have happened.
happened. If he was there, it would not have happened.
What is the latest on the issue because we heard you were
heading to the court?
heading to the court?
We have settled out of court. The truth of the matter is that
whichever way we want to look at it, the deed had been done.
whichever way we want to look at it, the deed had been done.
What has changed about you since you won Big Brother?
I am still Karen Igho. This is still the lady you used to know.
The difference is that I am more mature, older and wiser now. You will not
catch me doing certain things. I now see life in a different way and I know a
lot more now.
The difference is that I am more mature, older and wiser now. You will not
catch me doing certain things. I now see life in a different way and I know a
lot more now.
What was growing up like for you?
I grew up in the village. I stayed with my grandmother and we
lived in a mud house. Whenever it rained, we would be soaked inside the house.
The food we ate then was straight from the bush. Growing up, I had a lot of
bush meat, which is why I love Nigerian food. I call them vintage food.
Although I eat international dishes, I prefer Nigerian food.
lived in a mud house. Whenever it rained, we would be soaked inside the house.
The food we ate then was straight from the bush. Growing up, I had a lot of
bush meat, which is why I love Nigerian food. I call them vintage food.
Although I eat international dishes, I prefer Nigerian food.
How do you relax?
I like to cook. I learned it from my mother and my grandmother.
My father died when I was 12 years old. Growing up for me was not easy. My dad
was from a wealthy family; he is Peter Igho’s brother. I am sure everyone who
knows my story will tell you that I was abused as a child. But I was not abused
sexually; I was maltreated because I had to live with relatives. Nobody would
treat you like his own child. My parents had me when they were young and they
had various things they wanted to do. I had to stay with different relatives.
My father died when I was 12 years old. Growing up for me was not easy. My dad
was from a wealthy family; he is Peter Igho’s brother. I am sure everyone who
knows my story will tell you that I was abused as a child. But I was not abused
sexually; I was maltreated because I had to live with relatives. Nobody would
treat you like his own child. My parents had me when they were young and they
had various things they wanted to do. I had to stay with different relatives.
So, you did not share the father-and-daughter relationship with
your dad
your dad
I know I had a dad. But I don’t know anything about him. I also
know that whenever I saw him, I got really happy. I did not know anything about
him, not even his birthday.
know that whenever I saw him, I got really happy. I did not know anything about
him, not even his birthday.
And your mum did not tell you about him?
My mum got married to someone else and I didn’t grow up with her, but my
grandmother.
My mum got married to someone else and I didn’t grow up with her, but my
grandmother.
A lot was written about you while you contested in the Big
Brother show. Do they still hurt when you flash back?
Brother show. Do they still hurt when you flash back?
After three years, I have forgotten all the negative memory that
came with the show. The stories that were written about me were not just false
but slanderous too. It was unfortunate that I was locked up in the house and
could not defend myself. People believed the untrue stories and it continued to
spread, but winning the show enabled me to win a lot of hearts even those who
believed all the negative things people said about me.
came with the show. The stories that were written about me were not just false
but slanderous too. It was unfortunate that I was locked up in the house and
could not defend myself. People believed the untrue stories and it continued to
spread, but winning the show enabled me to win a lot of hearts even those who
believed all the negative things people said about me.
Which of the stories touched you the most?
The story that I was a stripper affected me a lot. Till date, it
still baffles me. I was locked up in a house for 90 days. I didn’t kiss or have
sex with any guy and people still believed that I was a stripper. How possible
is that?
still baffles me. I was locked up in a house for 90 days. I didn’t kiss or have
sex with any guy and people still believed that I was a stripper. How possible
is that?
You spent a while in the United Kingdom. What were you doing?
I went there to study. I studied business administration at the
Southwark College. I also took a summer class in theatre arts.
Southwark College. I also took a summer class in theatre arts.
