The winner of Big Brother Naija All Stars, Ilebaye Odiniya, has said she is hurt over actions of some housemates who are yet to congratulate her after winning the reality TV show.
She said this xuring a conversation on Chude Jideonwo’s #WithChude.
She explained that the failure of her fellow housemates to congratulate her evoked memories of her early experiences with betrayal, which had made her wary of friends.
She added that the isolation and bullying she endured in the house left her feeling alone and abandoned.
According to her, the experience of being ignored by some housemates served as a painful reminder of her loneliness during her time in the Big Brother house.
“I am still hurt that I didn’t get congratulations from some of the housemates because I know that If I were in their shoes, I would be happy for them. In the bathroom scene with Ike, she said, ‘I felt sad and lonely, I was like what did I do to deserve this? Even if I have done something to hurt you, you should have just come to me to talk about it, not throwing my clothes. I just felt like ‘God open the ground let it swallow me’. My energy just went low,” she explained.
When discussing her preparations for her return to the show for the All-Stars season, she said her primary goal was to enjoy the experience and maintain a positive outlook.
She said, “I just went there to have fun. I was just like I wanted to go have fun, and my only strategy was just to pray and believe God that I would at least get to the final stage. I didn’t think I was going to win; my prayer was that I should just last and stay till the 6th week or final if God permits.”
On the rumour that her strategy was to gain public sympathy by saying she was being bullied, she said, “I think that is false because my win is by grace. This is my year, what is meant for you is going to be for you. I feel like I was prepared for the journey because my going and coming out in the third week the first time was a taste of it the first time. I also think that people genuinely loved me for who I am not because of pity.”
Recounting how she felt being maltreated by fellow housemates, she noted, “I was misunderstood a lot, I went through a lot, people did stuff to hurt me. I wouldn’t say I was bullied but rather I was treated unfairly.”
Ilebaye also clarified her relationships with the male housemates during her time on the show.
“In the house, I wanted to get to know Prince. He was cool, and I noticed he was scared, so I told him ‘I am the kind of girl that does not like competition, I am the kind of person that when I am for you, and I am just for you alone’. But I think he probably felt like I was just joking, and that we should just leave the house first,” she stated.
She added, “There is nothing serious between us, we are just guys, I like intelligent people- and I like the way he speaks and thinks. On her relationship with Cross, she said, it was nothing serious, it wasn’t like I wanted a relationship. The house is going to be boring if you don’t have somebody beside you – cuddling, I was like let’s just have fun, and it was nothing serious.”
Sharing her future plans, she said, “I want to be the biggest runway model in the world and own my orphanage home. Also, I want to go into acting and own my own business. I just want to sit down and think about something that will bring out my identity.”
