Phyna criticises BBNaija, saying alumni struggle after the show as fanbases stagnate and the reality show loses its former prestige
Former Big Brother Naija (BBNaija) winner Phyna, real name Ijeoma Josephina Otabor, has criticised the reality show, claiming many ex-housemates struggle to maintain careers after leaving the house.
Speaking during a livestream, Phyna argued that the show’s fanbase is no longer expanding, leaving former contestants dependent on the same audience without attracting new supporters.
“The steeze housemates do have on the show they don’t have it again, because it’s the same fan base that moves from one to another, no new people, nothing new. It’s just the same people,” she said.
Phyna also highlighted a decline in the show’s credibility, noting that BBNaija alumni are no longer held in the same regard as in previous seasons.
“And that aside, the show has lost credibility compared to the way it was before, because when you tell someone now that I came out of BBNaija, they won’t rate you like they do then,” she added.
Phyna won the seventh season of BBNaija, tagged ‘Level Up’, on October 2, 2022, claiming a grand prize of N100 million and becoming the second female winner of the show after Mercy Eke in 2019.
Her remarks have reignited discussions about the long-term impact of reality TV fame in Nigeria and the challenges ex-housemates face in sustaining public attention and career growth.
