Following her emergence as the winner of Big Brother Naija Season 11, Show Ya Sef, Temi Nkem has opened up on the strategy that helped her emerge as the winner of the reality show.
The 21-year-old, whose real name is Temitope Chigbue, said her approach throughout the competition was to remain true to herself while navigating the realities of the game.
In this interview with The Entertainment Reporter, Temi also discusses her plans for her ₦90 million cash prize, completing her university education, her decision to remain in Nigeria and her plans for life after BBNaija.
You have just won BBNaija and a major cash prize. What do you plan to do with the money?
I will be investing a very big sum of my money. Everybody knows I studied Accounting and Finance. I also took an extra degree in Treasury, so I know how to work with my money.
I’m Igbo, so I’m going to get my money to grow. I’m going to invest it, and at the same time, I’m going to invest it in my future as well.
I’m also going to give some to my parents, and obviously, I’m going to spend some on myself. I need a little treat for myself. I need a holiday, a few holidays.
You mentioned investing in your future. What does that look like for you?
I’m going to complete my university education.My university education is in the UK, but I can do it online. I’m going to stay here for a minimum of two years. I want to see what Nigeria has for me, see what Africa has for me and build on that.The sky is the limit, isn’t it?
Coming into the show, did you actually believe you could win?
Honestly, I thought I wouldn’t win.Coming into the show, people were telling me that people who come from abroad don’t really win and that I might not have a chance.
So that actually dawned on me. I thought, you know what? I might as well have my fun.
The show was called Show Ya Sef, so I might as well still show myself. That’s what I did. And guess what? I still won.
Looking back at your time in the BBNaija house, what would you say was your strategy?
My strategy was to be myself. I just tried to be myself.I know what I’m going to do, so I’m going to do what I’m going to do. I don’t want to say too much and underdeliver.
I’m a diva.
But how much of what viewers saw was actually you, and how much was part of the game?
I would say maybe 30 per cent was the game and 70 per cent was actually me genuinely being curious.I asked questions because I genuinely wanted to understand things. But I also didn’t want anyone in the house to think I was a threat.
Did you ever worry that you weren’t doing enough in the house?
I really thought I was boring, I’m not going to lie.I thought I was sleeping a lot, waking up, going to the arena, sleeping again. I thought you guys hated that.
I thought I was Sleeping Beauty. But it seems like you guys were still finding something.
I was giving you guys quality content.
Which moment in the house would you relive if you had the opportunity?
The Friday Night Arena Game that I won.I went into it just wanting to participate and give it my best. I didn’t expect to win.When I won, I felt amazing. I felt like that was my own bonus.
You also formed some interesting relationships in the house. Who were the people you genuinely connected with?
I genuinely connected with Bluethopia, Bells, Shibi, Godessa and Araga.
Some of those friendships developed later in the competition, but they were people I genuinely connected with.
What about Barry, Kivo and Tram? You had different dynamics with each of them.
I initially found Barry attractive, but I stopped pursuing that connection when I felt he wasn’t taking enough initiative in our conversations.
With Kivo, I was also attracted to him when he entered the house, but eventually I became frustrated when I felt he was trying to tell me what I should or shouldn’t do.
With Tram, I was physically attracted to him, but I didn’t develop romantic feelings for him.
I’ve been telling people that I’m here for fun.
Now that you have emerged as the winner, how are you preparing for life as a brand outside the house?
I don’t know. I’m still living in the moment, still reading the comments and focusing on the positivity.Right now, I’m just taking everything in.
You have suddenly become one of the most recognisable young faces in Nigeria. What do you want the next chapter to look like?
I do want to stay here for a minimum of two years.I want to see what Africa has for me, see what Nigeria has for me and build on that.For now, I’m just enjoying the moment, focusing on the positivity and seeing where this new chapter takes me.